Discover what makes a cup of tea feel hot one minute and cold the next. Young physicists learn about thermal energy, why substances feel hot or cold, and the three means of thermal energy transfer: conduction, convection, and radiation in an engaging video. Participants complete a fill-in-the-blank worksheet to apply concepts from the video.

Concepts

thermal energy, energy

Show More Show Less

Instructional Ideas

• Conduct a think-pair-share activity using a  prompt about why substances feel hot and/or cold
• Review worksheet answers to facilitate a class discussion and assess understanding

Classroom Considerations

• Pause and rewind the video as needed since some parts move quickly

Pros

• Follow-up worksheet provides formative assessment opportunity
• Concise activity makes it ideal for introducing or reviewing thermal energy

Cons

• None