Thermal insulators: plan | Science | Quizalize & Oak National Academy

Starter quiz

What is the word or phrase used to describe what a material can do or how it behaves?

physical mass

physical properties ✓

physical weight

physical size
Match the material to the physical property.

sandpaper

⇔

rough ✓

ice

⇔

smooth ✓

wool

⇔

soft ✓
Which materials are not magnetic?

all non-metals and some metals ✓

some non-metals and some metals

all metals
What is the name for materials which do not allow electricity to pass through them easily?

electrical conductors

electrical materials

electrial insulators ✓

electrical wires
What is the name for materials which do not allow sound to pass through them easily?

sound insulators ✓

sound conductors

sound keepers

sound blockers
If you were choosing materials to build a bridge, which of these would be useful to base your choice on?

the materials' names

the materials’ physical properties ✓

the materials’ colour

the materials’ size

Exit quiz

Different materials often have ______ physical properties.

'different' ✓
A thermal insulator is a material that …

allows heat to pass through easily.

does not allow any heat to pass through.

does not allow heat to pass through easily. ✓
What type of enquiry is used when the variable that is being changed has names or labels, e.g. types of materials?

research using secondary sources

fair test

comparative test ✓

identifying and classifying
What makes a material suitable or unsuitable for thermal insulation?

its cost

its colour

its properties ✓

its name
Match the physical property to the expected observation.

cup made from a good thermal insulator

⇔

hot drinks cool down slowly ✓

cup made from a poor thermal insulator

⇔

hot drinks cool down quickly ✓
What does it mean to control variables in an investigation?

change the variables

keep variables the same ✓

know how many variables there are

Worksheet

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Lesson Details

Key learning points

Different materials have different physical properties.
A thermal insulator is a material that does not allow heat to pass through easily.
Different materials can be suitable or unsuitable for thermal insulation depending on their properties.
In a comparative test, the variable that is being changed has names or labels, such as the names of plants.
When we control variables, it means we keep them the same throughout an investigation.

Common misconception

Children may think that thermal insulators only keep things warm.

Task A specifically addresses this misconception. Children will have opportunities to investigate which cup has the best thermal insulation properties for keeping drinks cold in lesson 5 of this unit.

Keywords

Material - A material is the substance that objects are made from such as wood, metal or plastic.
Physical properties - The physical properties of a material are the features that can be observed or measured.
Thermal insulator - A thermal insulator is a material that does not allow heat to pass through it easily.
Comparative test - In a comparative test, the variable that is being changed has names or labels, such as the names of plants.
Variables - A variable is something that can be changed, measured or kept the same in an investigation.