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Grades 6–8. In Unit 6.2 Thermal Energy, Carolina Certified Version*, students work to answer the Unit Driving Question: "How can containers keep stuff from warming up or cooling down?"

This unit on thermal energy transfer begins with students testing whether a new plastic cup sold by a store keeps a drink colder for longer compared to the regular plastic cup that comes free with the drink. Students find that the drink in the regular cup warms up more than the drink in the special cup. This prompts students to identify features of the cups that are different, such as the lid, walls, and hole for the straw, which might explain why one drink warms up more than the other.

Students investigate the different cup features they conjecture are important for explaining the phenomenon, starting with the lid. They model how matter can enter or exit the cup via evaporation. However, they find that in a completely closed system, the liquid inside the cup still changes temperature. This motivates the need to trace the transfer of energy into the drink as it warms up. Through a series of lab investigations and simulations, students find that there are two ways to transfer energy into the drink: (1) the absorption of light and (2) thermal energy from the warmer air around the drink. They are then challenged to design their own drink container that can perform as well as the store-bought container, following a set of design criteria and constraints.

Through these investigations, students:

Build on what they know about the particle nature of matter from 5th grade to develop a particle model of solids, liquids, and gases that includes both structure and movement of particles in relation to the temperature of a substance.
Plan and carry out investigations to systematically test the different parts of the cup system, tracking the flow of matter and energy into or out of the system.
Develop a model of temperature as the average kinetic energy of a group of particles.
Model the transfer of energy from light to kinetic energy of particles when light is absorbed.
Model thermal energy transfer between substances through particle collisions, or conduction, to change the average particle motion in a substance.
Revise their models to include factors that minimize energy transfer by reducing the absorption of light and decreasing the opportunities for particle collisions.
Apply what they have learned about features that can slow energy transfer to design, build, test, and revise a cup system to keep a drink cold.

This 1-Class Unit Kit includes basic teacher access to instructional materials on CarolinaScienceOnline.com, plus the materials needed to teach 1 class of 32 students per day.

Building Toward NGSS Performance Expectations

MS-PS1-4: Develop a model that predicts and describes changes in particle motion, temperature, and state of a pure substance when thermal energy is added or removed.
MS-PS3-3: Apply scientific principles to design, construct, and test a device that either minimizes or maximizes thermal energy transfer.
MS-PS3-4: Plan an investigation to determine the relationships among the energy transferred, the type of matter, the mass, and the change in the average kinetic energy of the particles as measured by the temperature of the sample.
MS-PS3-5: Construct, use, and present arguments to support the claim that when the motion energy of an object changes, energy is transferred to or from the object.
MS-PS4-2: Develop and use a model to describe that waves are reflected, absorbed, or transmitted through various materials.
MS-ETS1-4: Develop a model to generate data for iterative testing and modification of a proposed object, tool, or process such that an optimal design can be achieved.

Science and Engineering Practices

Developing and Using Models
Planning and Carrying Out Investigations
Analyzing and Interpreting Data
Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions
Engaging in Argument from Evidence

Focal Disciplinary Core Ideas

PS1.A
PS3.A
PS3.B
PS4.B
ETS1.A
ETS1.B

Focal Crosscutting Concepts

Systems and System Models
Energy and Matter
Structure and Function

*All enhancements to materials and instruction for this Carolina Certified Version of the unit are approved by OpenSciEd to preserve the integrity of the storyline and the instructional model.