Instructional Case -- Heat Energy in Earth’s System
1. Unit Timeline Overview Matrix of Entire IC
IC name Heat Energy in Earth Systems_
Lesson Parts
Convection Currents
in Air
Class time
Lesson Objectives
Prep Time
Lesson Preparation
Key Vocabulary
2 ea 50-min
periods or 1
90-min block
Review understanding of density.
1 hr one-time
prep of hot
air balloon
Construct hot air balloon with
plastic tarp and heat gun
Conduction
Be able to explain why less dense
substances rise and denser
substances sink.
Activate student thinking about
transfer of heat energy by
moving matter
1
1 hr add’t’l
prep for
lesson
Radiation
Ready videos or photos of
radiation, conduction,
convection for classroom
technology
Density, less dense,
denser
Gather candles, matches,
balloon, hair dryer
Molecules
Copy Coziest Room in Cabin
convection probe
Modeling Convection
with Gases
2
2 ea 50-min
periods or 1
90-min block
Observe the effects of
convection on gases.
In convection, matter matter is
made less dense by the
application of heat, and rises
relative to surrounding material.
Created by San Lorenzo USD: Jillian Apell, Cathy Lee, and Linda Preminger
and San Leandro USD Teachers: Gery Baura and Clinton Huey (2012)
1 to 1-1/2
hours
Copy Convection Rocket
WarmUps and Modeling
Convection with Gases student
worksheets, one per student.
Freeze water in cups or buy ice.
Get cooler to transport ice from
Rise, sink
Energy, heat
distribution
Convection, peat,
convection chamber,
diagram, rocket,
definition, directional
arrow
Lesson Parts
Class time
Lesson Objectives
Prep Time
Lesson Preparation
freezer to lab.
Students produce a dramatic
convection effect by
manipulating areas of hot and
cold.
Prepare cups for holding ice.
Prepare Convection Rocket
paper triangles, and test that
they will rise when set on fire.
Purchase peat pots, matches,
votive candles, and fireplace
lighter.
Make black backdrops with selfstanding boards and black paper.
Set out geoboxes and lids, small
aluminum pans, peat strips, and
colored pencils.
Cut peat strips, plus spares.
Make candles, ice, and ice
containers available available.
Created by San Lorenzo USD: Jillian Apell, Cathy Lee, and Linda Preminger
and San Leandro USD Teachers: Gery Baura and Clinton Huey (2012)
Key Vocabulary
Lesson Parts
Creating a Convection
Current in Water
Class time
Lesson Objectives
Prep Time
2 ea 50-min
periods or 1
90-min block
1) Construct working
convection cell applying
knowledge of heat transfer.
1-1/2 hrs
2) Know convection currents
result from temperature
gradient, and, thereby,
density differences.
3
3) Connect reason for
convection to knowledge
about density in liquids
4) Produce Cl-Ev-R
argumentation to explain
the use of materials
produced a working
convection cell.
Created by San Lorenzo USD: Jillian Apell, Cathy Lee, and Linda Preminger
and San Leandro USD Teachers: Gery Baura and Clinton Huey (2012)
Lesson Preparation
1) Freeze or purchase ice 24
hrs in advance.
2) Gather clean geoboxes,
water heater, rocks, Ziploc
bags, food color, medicine
droppers, binder clips,
stopwatches, watercarrying containers, color
pencils, towels, index
cards.
3) Photocopy student
worksheets (1 set per st).
Key Vocabulary
Convection current,
visible, dense,
denser, less dense,
density, molecules,
observation, claim,
evidence
Lesson Parts
Differential Heating of
Land and Water
4
Class time
Lesson Objectives
Prep Time
1 50-min
period, or 1
90-min block
with time to
spare
1) Predict how Sun heats land
and water.
1 hr
2) Use a model of differential
heating d cooperative group
skills to observe, record and
graph data, explain results,
and produce Cl-Ev-R
argumentation.
3) Connect understanding of
heat transfer, density, and
convection to predict land
and sea breezes, and to
diagram them.
Created by San Lorenzo USD: Jillian Apell, Cathy Lee, and Linda Preminger
and San Leandro USD Teachers: Gery Baura and Clinton Huey (2012)
Lesson Preparation
1) Gather heat lamps and
bulbs, cups or beakers,
sand, water, clamps,
stands, thermometers,
rulers, graph paper.
2) Photocopy student
worksheets (1 set per st).
Key Vocabulary
Radiation,
differential, claim,
evidence, reasoning,
sea breeze, land
breeze, convection,
convection current