Teaching insulation - keeping hot things hot, and cold things cold

Science - Properties of Materials - Insulation

This lesson perfectly fits with the snowman in a coat thinking activity.

Snowman insulation concept cartoon:

In my Science class I always make sure to conduct a hot temperature insulation investigation before this cold temperature lesson. We will usually insulate cups of hot water with different materials (paper towels, cotton wool, tin foil, bubble wrap) to see which material is the best insulator.

In the next lesson I show my students the above concept cartoon. Some students still need to have the common myth dispelled that the insulator generates heat. We repeat the previous experiment by replacing the hot water with icy cold water.

During this student-run investigation I set up an insulated ice cream demonstration. The students are shocked to see me handling the tasty treats with such disrespect! The shock on their faces when they witness the un-insulated ice cream melt away is equal to their reaffirmed learning that insulators keep warm things warm and cold things cold!