Lesson 5 - Understanding Temperature Measurements
 Teacher's Guide

Targeted Instructional Objective: Applying scientific strategies to gain further understanding of the natural world

Content Focus: Identifying scientific principles of temperatures

Temperature measurements rely on uniform scales which reflect changes in the atmosphere. Instruments employing different techniques can be used to register these changes, and a variety of scales have been developed in attempts to measure temperatures more accurately.

General Instructional Goal: Interpret the most common measurements used in defining temperatures

Students apply conversion methods to compare various scales of measurement

Specific Outcomes: Upon completion of the lesson, students will be able to:

1) Identify the four common scales used in temperature

2) Convert measurements of different scales

3) Explain why different thermometers are necessary for accuracy

 
Lesson Content Instructional Process
  • Set
 Topic Introduction: (Teacher defined)

Suggested preview approaches:

1) Discuss current weather, or ask students to guess the temperature, and compare estimates to actual thermometer reading.

2) Review longitude and latitude measurements, using the measurement theme to transition to temperature measurements.
  • Purpose
 Identifying how temperature can be measured and which scales are most frequently used

Applying conversion techniques to compare Fahrenheit, Celsius, Kelvin, and Centigrade measurements

Suggested Strategies:

1) Using a variety of thermometers with different scales (glass thermometers using Fahrenheit, outdoor thermometers indicating Celsius, oven thermometers, etc.) the teacher can ask students:

A) How do these different types of thermometers work?

B) What do the different scales mean?

C) What other kinds of thermometers have you seen or heard about?

D) How can the time a thermometer is left in place affect the thermometer's accuracy? (Thermometers must have enough time to reach the same temperature as the material they measure. These times will change, depending on the design of the specific thermometer used.)

 
  • Guided Practice
 Teacher may wish to read along with the students, pausing for questions.

Optional Demonstration: Before the reading different thermometers can be placed in various locations around the classroom (direct sunlight, under desks, at the floor and ceiling, etc.). Toward the end of the reading the different measurements from each one can be compared to illustrate the concept of atmospheric stability (mixing).
  • Practice/Application
 Individual or small groups convert scales to answer the worksheet questions. The teacher may wish to demonstrate the first answer.
  • Summary
 Synopsis of material covered

Optional Strategies:

1) Whole group spot check of data answers.

2) Identification and comparison of temperatures in the classroom: Why would they be different? How could the "real" overall temperature of the room be determined?

  • Evaluation
 Recommended score of at least 85% on worksheet to ensure student readiness for subsequent lessons.

Necessary Materials:

  • Thermometers: as wide a variety as possible
  • Student worksheet: students may wish to use calculators during conversion practice

Supplemental/Cross Curricular Activities and Ideas

In the Summertime when the Weather is Hot: Comparing seasonal temperatures

Small Group Activity not only has students painting can lids to illustrate why summer is hotter than winter, but also reviews longitude and latitude measurements to show why "summer" in one part of the world may not happen at the same time "summer" occurs in other parts of the world. (Directions for the experiment follow this page.)
 

The Greenhouse Effect: Analyzing the effect of rising global temperature on the earth's environment

Individual or Small Group experiment demonstrates how the "Greenhouse Effect" works, but even scientists argue over what rising temperatures will do to the world's climate. "Greenhouse" experiment stands alone, or can be used as a springboard for in depth investigation, discussion, and debate of the potential results of global warming. (Directions for the experiment follow this page.)

Truly Creative Invention or Just a Twist on Old News: Evaluating scientific contributions

Group Discussion could end up with the call for a vote: Does the improvement of an instrument or device qualify as true scientific discovery? The class can be split into pro and con groups, one to argue that some new element or theory must be introduced for an "invention" to be considered legitimate, the other to point out that almost all "inventions" are based on previous discovery or techniques.

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