NASA
Nasa: Engineering Design Challenges: Thermal Protection Systems Educator Guide
This classroom activity teaches students to work in groups to design and build a thermal protection system simulating one on a space vehicle. Provides background information, lesson plans, and assessment questions.
Texas Instruments
Texas Instruments: Jason: How Do Pinnipeds Stay Warm?
From Shore to Sea: Pinnipeds have adapted to extreme weather conditions by developing layers of insulation materials. In this activity, students will perform an experiment to explore how different types of insulation materials work.
Texas Instruments
Texas Instruments: Insulating Against the Cold
In this activity, students use a Temperature Sensor to test the insulating efficiency of different samples of fabric. They examine the properties that make a fabric a better insulator. They extend this to understand how animals adapt to...
Museum of Science
The Atom's Family: Building a Better Pyramid
Help the Mummy conserve energy inside the pyramid by adding layers of insulation. By using this site you will find out what happens when you add more layers of insulation.
TED Talks
Ted: Ted Ed: How an Igloo Keeps You Warm
If you ever find yourself stranded in the snowy Arctic, you're gonna need to know how to build an igloo. But how can building a house made of ice keep you warm? It's Okay To Be Smart explains. [5:16]
University of St. Andrews (UK)
University of St. Andrews: Insulators
The nature of insulators is described at the atomic level. Band gap theory is used to explain what distinguishes insulators from conductors.
Other
Warmair.com: Attic Insulation Calculator
An online JavaScript application which allows visitors to investigate the relative amount of heat being lost from their homes due to insufficient insulation. The current R-value and a hypothetical R-value can be entered and the energy...
Other
National Aviary: Curriculum: Bird or Dinosaur? The Feather: Three Jobs
Activity leads you through an investigation of three key functions of feathers: insulation, flight, and display.
Other
The Atom's Family: Cooling the Mummy's Tomb
Help the Pharaoh design a better tomb by investigating insulation materials.
Careers New Zealand
Careers Nz: Building Insulator
This site contains information on becoming a building insulator in New Zealand. While some of the information is specific to New Zealand, most of it is uniform to the career. Includes job description, tasks and duties, personal...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Stop Heat From Escaping
One way to conserve energy in a building is to use adequate insulation. Insulation helps keep the hot or cool air inside or outside of a building. Inefficient heating and cooling of buildings is a leading residential and industrial...
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Earth Science: Greenhouse Effect
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Explains the greenhouse effect and how humans affect the greenhouse gas level.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Earth Science: Greenhouse Effect
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Describes different greenhouse gases and how human actions impact the greenhouse effect.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Physical Science: Nonmetals
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Nonmetals and their properties.
Other
Alliance to Save Energy: Educator Lesson Plans
A series of teacher lesson plans for various grade levels. Topics pertain to insulation (among other things) and other energy conservation and energy efficiency topics. Can be easily adapted for a student project or lab investigation.
ArtsNow
Arts Now Learning: Dance With Heating, Cooling, and Insulation [Pdf]
In this lesson, 3rd graders use movement and dance composition to aid their comprehension of heating, cooling, and insulation.
Georgia State University
Georgia State University: Hyper Physics: Conductors and Insulators
This site from Georgia State University provides information on the distinction between conductors and insulators. Factors contributing to the insulating ability of materials are discussed.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Mn Step: What's the Coolest?
This is an investigation into how to insulate something so that it stays frozen. Students will experiment with different materials to try to create the best cooler. They will then follow a procedure to make ice-cream, and learn about the...
Museum of Science
Miami Museum of Science: The Mummy's Tomb: Building a Better Pyramid
Explore the effect of insulation as you add it to a pyramid. This simulation shows you how much energy is required to cool the pyramid as you add more layers.
Other
Warmair.com: Insulation
The role of insulation in preventing heat loss is discussed. The concept of thermal resistance is introduced and explained. Understandable language but no graphics.
PBS
Pbs Teachers:nasa's Return to Flight: Testing Insulating Materials
Examine online articles about the Columbia mission accident and liquid fuel propulsion. Conduct an experiment to determine the best material for insulation.
Better Planet Productions
Earth Care: Where's the Heat? [Pdf]
Students will work alongside the school caretaker to determine ways in which their school loses heat, and learn about strategies that can reduce or prevent this.
ClassFlow
Class Flow: Thermal Energy
[Free Registration/Login Required] This flipchart reviews properties of thermal energy. Examples of Electrical energy, light waves, sound waves and conduction, convection and radiation are given.
Physics Classroom
The Physics Classroom: Static Electricity Review
This review from the Glenbrook South High School provides a series of questions on various topics associated with static electricity (such as electrical insulation). Answers and explanations are hidden, yet easily accessed from within a...