By Miss Moore

4th Grade

Introduction:
Have you ever wondered how your home stays warm when there are inches of snow on
the ground? Can you imagine trying to stay warm in a place that is much, much colder than our
home? BRRRR! Our class is going to build model homes to help the residents of Antarctica
figure out which materials keep a house the warmest. We are going to research and experiment
with the term thermal insulation. When I put you into your groups, the first thing that you will do
is figure out what thermal insulation is. Then, your group is going to build an insulated home out
of various materials. After each home is built, we will compare and see which works the best!

Task:
Lets get started on the new house! Building a house from the ground up can be very
exciting and stressful. However, I am going to give you a little head start by giving you
something to start the process; a shoebox. Everyones box will be the same size so that the area
of the house that we are observing is the same size for each group. After each group has
measured and recorded the temperature of their empty home, you will begin building! Gather
materials from the bins provided and try your best to make a warm, Antarctic home!

Process:
1. Begin by researching thermal insulation. You can do this by using a dictionary, or a
computer. The researcher should make sure that they record the definition on their
graphic organizer and keep it in the folder.
2. After your group has found a definition for thermal insulation, begin brainstorming about
how you think you could insulate a home for someone living in Antarctica. Think about
how materials you would like to use and how you would like to put the materials in the
shoebox. The contractor and designer should both have their graphic organizers
completed after you brainstorm.

3. Before you begin building, the data collector needs to record the beginning temperature
of the house. Put your thermometer through your door for 1 minute. Then, record the
information in the beginning temperature box.
4. Next, it is time to build your house! Check with me before you begin to make sure that all
of your materials are available! As you are building, the data collector should be
recording why each material is being used.
5. Finally, after your house is built, stick your thermometer through your houses door and
let it sit for 1 minute. Keep track of the time by using a stopwatch. The data collector
should record this measurement under the ending temperature box on their graphic
organizer.
6. Make sure that each person has put the following information on the poster so that you
have something to look at while presenting.
While each group member has a specific job title, you will all work together on each part of
the project. For example, the first day you will work on the research portion of the project. Each
member will be helping with this but the researcher is in charge of keeping all paperwork
updated and in the group folder. You will find descriptions of your jobs below:

WHOLE GROUP (REALTORS)- Everyone in the group will be required to speak

during the presentation of your project.

RESEARCHER- You will be in charge of organizing the research papers and

recording any information that you guys choose to use for your project. When your
group members agree on the definition that you have found for the term, thermal
insulation, you must record it on your graphic organizer. (Each group member will
research at least two sites and be in charge of giving you their completed graphic
organizer.)

CONTRACTOR- You will be in charge of keeping a list of materials/supplies that

you guys have used throughout the project. This is very important as you will need to
share this information with the class when your realtor shows the house. Your list of
materials will be placed on a poster for the group to have information as he/she
presents. You will also need to let me know of any materials that you need (in case
they arent in the bin).

DESIGNER- You will be in charge of sketching a drawing of your home to show

what you guys hope for it to look like. Your drawing should have different materials
labeled. This drawing will be placed on the poster along with a copy of the list of
materials used so that the group has information to show as they show the house.

DATA COLLECTOR- You will be in charge of writing three bits of information on

your groups poster. You could explain why your group chose to use each material.
You could also write information about insulators, conductors, or anything interesting
that your group found while researching. You will also record the beginning and
ending temperature of your house.

Each group member is in charge of making sure that their jobs paperwork gets put back
into the group folder at the end of each work session.
REMEMBER THAT YOUR MAIN GOAL IS TO CREATE AN INSULATED HOUSE!
THE POSTER IS ONLY THERE TO HELP YOUR GROUP WHEN YOU SHOW THE
HOUSE! Go over the rubric as a group to make sure that you have everything completed.

Your graphic organizers will look like the ones below. However, I will print and hand one
out to each member of the group.

Researcher:
- http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thermal%20insulation
- http://web.ornl.gov/sci/roofs+walls/insulation/ins_01.html
What our group thinks thermal insulation
means:

Reasons why we think a home may be

insulated:

Definition of thermal insulation that we

found from website:

Reasons from websites:

Contractor:
- https://www.teachengineering.org/view_activity.php?url=collection/wpi_/activities/w
pi_the_best_insulator/the_best_insulator.xml
- http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fairprojects/project_ideas/MatlSci_p016.shtml#materials
Review the experiments on the above
websites. What materials might you want
to use?

Materials we chose to use:

Designer:
- http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project_scientific_method.shtml
- https://www.google.com/search?q=simple+blueprint+of+a+house&hl=en&biw=1301
&bih=620&site=webhp&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi6mLT4hK
rMAhWDOj4KHaDPAW4Q_AUIBigB
Look at the first site and make sure that your group has followed the steps. State
your hypothesis here:

Take a look at the images of blueprints or designs of houses. Draw your groups
design here. Label areas in which your materials might be.

Data Collector:
- http://www.innovateus.net/science/what-insulator
- http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project_variables.shtml
List at least 3 facts that were helpful from the first site:

Temperature before insulators are added: (Be sure to leave the thermometer in the
house for one minute each time you measure.)

Temperature after insulators are added:

Evaluation:
GROUP
EVAULATION:
Visual Appeal of
Poster
Visual Appeal of
House
Effectiveness of
Insulation

INDIVIDUAL
EVALUATION:

5+ errors on
poster, 1 color
used
1 material used

4 errors on
poster, 2 colors
used
2 materials used

3 errors on
poster, 3 colors
used
3 materials used

House was not

warmer after
insulation was
added but the
effort was there
2

2- errors on
poster, 4+ colors
used
4+ materials
used
House was
warmer than
before the
insulators were
added
4

Has papers in
folder but does
not speak during
presentation

Speaks during
presentation and
has papers in
group folder

Doesnt
contribute to
project (no
papers and
doesnt speak
during sale)

Speaks during
presentation but
does not have
papers in group
folder

Conclusion:
Congratulations! You and your group members have successfully completed your research and
experiment! I hope you found a great deal of information while experimenting and searching for
information about insulators. You and your group members have worked together while
researching, building, and practicing interpersonal and public speaking skills. You have also
learned what thermal insulation means and what materials work best as insulators! You could
build your own home some day! Each one of you should be proud of the project that you have
completed! The residents of Antarctica are sure to have warm, cozy homes after hearing about
your designs!

Additional Information and Books:

-

Learning about Antarctica by Christine Peterson

Shackletons Journey by William Grill
Arctic and Antarctica by Barbara Taylor
Lost in the Backyard by Alison Hughes
What are Insulators and Conductors? By Jessica Pegis
Read and Understand Science- Grades 3-4 by Evan-Moor Educational Publishers
Insulate and Weatherize by Bruce Harley

Bonus Points:
If you and your group finish early you may feel free to review the books listed above. You may
also create another home using different materials this time to compare the materials used in
your first home. Be sure to measure the temperature just as you did before.

Citations:
No sites used besides student research sites.