Kindergarten

K.1 Energy: Sunlight

Why do some surfaces get hot and how can we make them less hot?

Developer	Score	Report	Awarded
OpenSciEd	Total Score: 9 E: Example of  high-quality  NGSS design	Download Report (PDF)

Unit Summary

Have you ever wondered why some surfaces outside are hot and others are less hot? This unit begins with a shared experience of observing how surfaces feel hot and less hot outside around the schoolyard. Then students make and record observations of different surfaces in different places in their schoolyard. Students identify the problem that blacktop can get too hot and be uncomfortable to play on. They brainstorm solutions to this problem, draw design solutions, and collaboratively build and test their designs. Students end the unit by creating a class consensus design based on their comparisons of the design features and materials that worked best to prevent the blacktop from getting too hot.