PaigeHuefner

4thgrade
Science

I.

II.

III.

MAKINGTHERMOMETERS
StateStandard:Standard2Objective1.b
A. Standard2Objective1.b
1. Observe,measure,andrecorddataonthebasicelementsofweather
overaperiodoftime(i.e.,precipitation,airtemperature,windspeedand
direction,andairpressure
B. Standard2Objective2.b
1. Graphrecordeddatatoshowdailyandseasonalpatternsinweather.
C. Standard2Objective3.a
1. Identifyandusethetoolsofameteorologist(e.g.,measurerainfallusing
raingauge,measureairpressureusingbarometer,measuretemperature
usingathermometer).
Objectives:
A. Studentswillmakeandusethermometerstotracktemperaturechangeover
time.
B. Vocabulary
1. ASL:
a) TEMPERATURE
b) THERMOMETER
c) MEASURE
2. English:
a) temperature
b) thermometer
Procedures:
A. Theteacherwillfirstgothroughtheprocesstomakeathermometerandshow
theclasshowitworks,thenitwillbethestudentsturntomaketheirown
thermometers.(Dependingontime,studentsmaymakethermometersworkingin
groupsof2)
B. Tomakeathermometertomeasureairtemperature:
1. MATERIALS:
a) clear,plasticbottle(11oz.waterbottleworks)
b) water
c) rubbingalcohol
d) clearplasticdrinkingstraw
e) modelingclay/playdoh
f) foodcoloring
g) traytomakethermometeron
h) paperandstringtomaketagsforthermometers
2. PROCESS:

a) Fillabout1/4ofthebottlefullwithequalpartsofwaterandrubbing
alcohol.(Theteachershouldhaveameasuringdevicefor
studentstousethatwillbeequal.)
b) Addafewdropsoffoodcoloring(studentschoice,mustbeeasily
visible).
c) Putthestrawinthebottle,butdon'tletittouchthebottom.
d) Usethemodelingclaytosealtheneckofthebottle,sothestraw
staysinplace.(Makesurethestrawdoesnottouchthebottomof
thebottle.)
e) Holdyourhandsonthebottomofthebottleandwatchthemixture
moveupthroughthestraw.(Makesurenottopushonthewater
bottle)
f) Explainthatwhentheliquidinthebottomofthethermometer
heatsupthattheliquidexpands(becausethemoleculesare
movingfaster)andshowswhatthetemperatureis.Whenthe
liquidcoolsdowntheliquidlowerstoshowadecreasein
temperature.Thisisthesamewayotherthermometerswork.
3. EXPLANATION:
a) Whydoesthishappen?Refertosection2.f.Justlikeany
thermometer,themixtureexpandedwhenitwaswarmed.This
madethemixturenolongerfitinthebottomofthebottle.Asthe
alcoholexpandedthecoloredmixturemovedupthroughthe
straw.
b) Ifthebottleweretogetextremelyhot,themixturewouldhave
comeupthroughthetopofthestraw.
4. Explainwhatyouaredoingasyougotothestudents.Makesure
especiallywhenyoushowhowyouheatthebottomofthethermometer
thatyouexplainandreinforcethewaterexpandingtoraisethe
temperature.(Dontpushonthebottomofthebottle)
C. Oncetheteacherhasmadeathermometeranddemonstratedhowitworks,itis
nowthestudentsturntomakeathermometer.Eachstudentgetstomaketheir
ownthermometer.(Asanote,theteacheristheonlypersonwhoshouldwork
withtherubbingalcoholanditshouldbeveryclearthatstudentsarenottodrink
theirthermometersunderanycircumstance.)Theteachershouldwalkthe
studentsthroughtheprocessasagroupstepbysteptomakesureeveryone
createsathermometerthatwillwork.
D. Explaintostudentsthattheirthermometersarentexactmeasureswedont
knowexactlythedegreethattheyareshowing,buttheydoshowtemperature
change.Tonightwewillleaveallourthermometersintheclassroomsotheycan
becomeroomtemperature.Thenwewillmarkonthemwhatthetemperatureis
andatthatpointthestudentswilleachpickadifferentplaceintheroomor
schooltoputtheirthermometer.Wewillcomparethethermometersonceaday
(atdifferenttimes)forthenextweektoseehowthetemperatureschangeinthe

IV.

V.

locationswhereweputthethermometers.(Someshouldgoindarkareasand
othersinsunlight.)Measurementsandpictureswillbetakeninthemorningand
thenagainbeforestudentsgohome.
1. Theteachermaycheckthethermometersanadditionaltimeeachday
andtakepictures.
E. GivethestudentstheTemperatureworksheetsandhavethemcompleteday1
usingtheclasstemperaturereadingatthebackoftheroomandtakea
thermometeroutsidetotesttheoutsidetemperature.
F. Studentswillrecordtheclassroomandoutsidetemperatureeachdayaswellas
observingthethermometerstheyhavemadeasaclass(wewilllookatthemasa
grouporinsmallgroupsandtheteacherwilltakepicturestoreviewattheendof
nextweek)
G. Ifthereistime,givethestudentspracticeworksheetsformeasuring/recording
temperature.Workthroughafewasaclassandthenhavethemtryontheirown.
Evaluation
A. Studentsunderstandingoftemperatureandhowitchangeswillbeobserved
usingthesheetstheywilltracktheirthermometerson.
Materials
A. clear,plasticbottle(11oz.waterbottleworks)
B. water
C. rubbingalcohol
D. clearplasticdrinkingstraw
E. modelingclay/playdoh
F. foodcoloring
G. traytomakethermometeron
H. paperandstringtomaketagsforthermometers
I. Temperaturerecordingworksheets
1. 4regular
2. 2largeprint
J. Temperaturepracticesheets