Who's the coolest?
Summary
In this physical science lab, students will make a cooler out of everyday materials. The first day will be spent keeping ice frozen. Students will then make ice cream observing chemical reactions. Finally, students will perfect their cooler to keep their ice cream cold. To report their findings, students may write a traditional lab report or prepare a Power Point presentation.
Learning Goals
Goals for the students will be to discover what material works best as an insulator. Students will also observe heat transfer concepts. In addition, students will understand chemical reactions as they make ice cream. Finally students will observe changes in energy forms. Through this process, students will use observaton, critical thinking, data analysis, questioning, hypothesizing, writing, and possible presentation to learn these concepts.
Context for Use
This lab could be done in virtually any type of classroom setting. Students working in groups would be most beneficial. The level of concept depth would depend on the grade being taught. You could simplify this lab and use it in primary grades as well. I propose three to four days to complete this inquiry lab.
Description and Teaching Materials
This lesson would be introduced after some discussion on heat transfer and insulators. I will have materials available upon requests. I anticipate using newspaper, cardboard, Styrofoam cups (for putting the ice cream in) and tape. Students will be instructed with the goals and objectives and begin planning their coolers. Closure strategies would incorporate discussion after the power point presentations or lab reports. To the best of my knowledge this lab was composed by myself.
Teaching Notes and Tips
This is a new activity for me so I am unsure of any "bugs" that might be incorporated. I think this will be a great lab because it is inquiry and interesting. Having ice cream being incorporated should only pique student interest.
Assessment
Rubric:
Plan: 5 pts
- approved, complete, investigation applies to question
- thorough, hypothesis, shows trial and error
Procedure: 10 pts
- shows each step, complete, materials given, diagram,
- applies to question, variables
Ice cream formation: 5 pts
- creates ice cream, follows procedure
Cooler formation: 10 pts
- functions as a cooler, holds item
Lab Report/Power point: 20 pts
* Lab report typed- objective, purpose, variables, hypothesis, materials
Safety, cleanup, procedure, diagram, graphs, tables,
Discussion, conclusion
- Power Point- above criteria, typed on screens with pictures
presented to class
Cooperation/contribution: 5 pts
* Contributed to group, made valuable contribution to group
Clean up: 5 pts
* All materials were cleaned up each day
Plan: 5 pts
- approved, complete, investigation applies to question
- thorough, hypothesis, shows trial and error
Procedure: 10 pts
- shows each step, complete, materials given, diagram,
- applies to question, variables
Ice cream formation: 5 pts
- creates ice cream, follows procedure
Cooler formation: 10 pts
- functions as a cooler, holds item
Lab Report/Power point: 20 pts
* Lab report typed- objective, purpose, variables, hypothesis, materials
Safety, cleanup, procedure, diagram, graphs, tables,
Discussion, conclusion
- Power Point- above criteria, typed on screens with pictures
presented to class
Cooperation/contribution: 5 pts
* Contributed to group, made valuable contribution to group
Clean up: 5 pts
* All materials were cleaned up each day
Standards
Standard IB Scientific Inquiry 9-12