All lessons › Hot and cold › Lesson 1
Australian primary science · Year 3 · Lesson 1 of 3
Cooling cup
Inquiry question: What happens to a warm drink left on the table?
Marked no materials needed
Using a simulation
What students learn
Temperature tells us how hot or cold something is, in degrees Celsius (°C). Heat moves from a warm drink into the cooler air, so the drink’s temperature goes down.
Success criteria
- I can read a temperature in °C.
- I can describe how the drink’s temperature changes over time.
- I can say where the heat goes.
Preparation and materials
Before this lesson: Students know some things feel hot and some feel cold.
- iPads with Bottlebrush Education open (nothing else needed) — 13 (one per pair)
- Projector or big screen — 1
Teacher setup
- Open Materials & chemistry › Lab › Keep it warm on your screen to demonstrate.
- Check the iPads are charged.
Safety and adaptations
Follow school science and equipment risk assessment procedures for the materials used.
Review your school policies and curriculum requirements before teaching.
How to investigate
The lesson sequence should leave pupils with evidence to interpret, not only an activity to finish.
- Pairs open Materials & chemistry › Lab › Keep it warm and predict which wrap will keep the water warmest.
- Choose No wrap and press Run 20 minutes.
- Tap the dots (or read the table) to record the temperature at the start, 5, 10 and 20 minutes.
- Test two more wraps and record the same times.
- Describe the pattern: when did the water cool fastest, and where did the heat go?
Teacher modelling prompt
On the big screen, choose No wrap and press Run 20 minutes. Tap the dot at 5 minutes and read it aloud: “62 degrees. It started at 70. It went down 8 degrees in 5 minutes.” Ask: “Where did that heat go?” (Into the cooler air.)
Record and explain evidence
Recording question: What happens to a warm drink left on the table?
| Wrap | Start (°C) | After 5 minutes (°C) | After 10 minutes (°C) | After 20 minutes (°C) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ________________ | ________________ | ________________ | ________________ | ________________ |
Example recording headings; record actual observations, including inconclusive results.
Discussion prompt
Who describes the science correctly?
Check understanding
What should pupils know? Which way does heat move?
Explain with evidence: The water was 70°C at the start and 45°C after 20 minutes. What happened to its heat?
Apply the idea: A cup of water sits in a 20°C room all day. What temperature will it end up? Why?
Teacher answer guidance and saved classroom work are available through the main lesson experience where supported.