WEATHER

What's the Temperature?

Children will explore different temperatures.

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What You'll Need
What To Do
Resources
Print Lesson

Lesson Objective

Children will use a thermometer to understand hot and cold temperatures.

Science

What You'll Need

  • Student thermometers – 1 per child
  • Plastic bowls – 2 per child
  • Ice cubes – 4 per child
  • Warm water – 1 bowl per child

What To Do

  1. Distribute bowls of ice cubes.
  2. Have the children feel the ice cubes to explain the term cold (see Guiding Student Inquiry).
  3. Display a thermometer and explain how it is used to measure temperature (see Guiding Student Inquiry).
  4. Have the children locate the mercury line on their thermometer; then place it in the bowl of ice cubes.
  5. Discuss what happened to the red line on the thermometer (see Guiding Student Inquiry).
  6. Have the children make a prediction about what will happen to the red line by placing the thermometer in hot water (see Did You Know?).
  7. Distribute bowls of warm water.
  8. Have the children feel the warm water to explain the term warm.
  9. Have the children locate the red line on their thermometer; then place it in the bowl of warm water.
  10. Discuss what happens to the red line.

Guiding Student Inquiry

  • Explain how the ice cubes feel.
  • Make a prediction about what might happen to the red thermometer line if we heat or cool the thermometer.
  • Tell me what happened to the red thermometer line when you put the thermometer in the ice cubes.
  • Explain how the water feels.
  • Tell me what happened to the red thermometer line when you put the thermometer in the water.
  • Why do you think the red line moved?
  • What is something else that could make the red thermometer line move?

Explore, Extend & Integrate

  • Test different locations in the classroom to see if the red thermometer line changes, such as by a heat register, by the window, in a closet, or wrapped in a cloth.
  • Take the thermometers outside and note the change in the red line.
  • Test locations outside to see if the red line changes, such as on a swing, on the slide, or on a window sill.

Check for Children’s Understanding

  • Do children understand that the red thermometer line is affected by the temperature?
  • Do children understand that the colder something is, the further the red line will drop on the thermometer?
  • Do children understand that the warmer something is, the further the red line will rise?

Resources

Did You Know?

Thermometers measure temperature by using a liquid material, either mercury or ethyl alcohol, that is sensitive to changes in temperature. Most thermometers for domestic use contain ethyl alcohol that is colored with red dye. The part of the thermometer containing the red liquid is in a narrow tube with a bulb at the bottom. The red line on the thermometer changes when it is heated or cooled. When a thermometer is heated, the red liquid inside the narrow tube expands, causing the liquid to rise, or go up, in the tube. When the thermometer is cooled, the red liquid inside the tube contracts, causing the liquid to go down inside the tube.

Temperature is typically measured by degrees Fahrenheit or degrees Celsius. A Fahrenheit temperature is based on the temperature of water freezing being at 32 degrees. Temperatures measured in degrees Celsius are based on the water freezing mark being 0 degrees. We feel temperature through our sense of touch. Most people feel comfortable around 70 degrees Fahrenheit.

Vocabulary: Child-Friendly Definitions

  • temperature – the degree of heat or cold in an object or an environment.
  • thermometer – an instrument for measuring temperature.
  • ethyl alcohol – a clear liquid used to make some medicines and used in thermometers.
  • cool – a little cold; not warm.
  • warm – having some heat; not cold.
  • prediction – a statement that something might happen or is expected to happen.

Lesson Tips

Take caution to make the water very warm, but not so hot as to scald fingers.

Books

  • What Is a Thermometer? by Lisa Trumbauer
  • All About Temperature by Alison Auch
  • Temperature by Kay Manolis
  • Hot and Cold (Dinosaur School) by Joyce Jeffries

Home School Resources

Home educators: use these printable lesson PDFs to teach this lesson to your home schoolers. They're available in English and Spanish.

Home/School Connections

Las Conexiones a la Casa

While we believe that the books and resources recommended may be of value to you, keep in mind that these are suggestions only and you must do your own due diligence to determine whether the materials are appropriate and suitable for your use. PNC has no sponsorship or endorsement agreement with the authors or publishers of the materials listed.

Content Provided By

Delaware Museum of Natute & Science

Visit The Delaware Museum of Nature & Science

Common Core State Standards Initiative – These lessons are aligned with the Common Core State Standards ("CCSS"). The CCSS provide a consistent, clear understanding of the concepts and skills children are expected to learn and guide teachers to provide their students with opportunities to gain these important skills and foundational knowledge [1]. Visit the CCSS