Intro to Heat Transfer: Conduction, Convection & Radiation: a guide for parents
Grades 6–8 • Science • Free, no login
One campfire, three ways heat moves. Race three spoons in hot soup, then sort real-world examples.
Kitchen Table Prompt
Heat always moves from hot to cold. If you touch it, that's Conduction. If hot air or water rises, that's Convection. If you feel warmth through empty air, that's Radiation.
Standards this lesson covers
- National / 44+ States (NGSS): MS-PS3-3 & MS-PS3-4 (Design a device that minimizes or maximizes thermal energy transfer; relate energy transferred, particle motion and temperature change (PS3.B: energy moves from hotter to colder))
- Texas (TEKS): TEKS 7.8A & 6.9A (Model how thermal energy moves from warmer to cooler objects until equilibrium, comparing conduction, convection and radiation)
- Florida (NGSSS): FL NGSSS SC.6.E.7.1 (Differentiate among radiation, conduction and convection, the three ways heat moves through Earth's systems)
- Virginia (SOL): VA SOL 6.4.c & PS.7.b (Thermal energy is transferred through radiation, conduction and convection across physical systems)
- North Carolina (SCOS): NC SCOS PS.6.2.1 & 6.P.3.1 (Use models to compare the direction of heat transfer by conduction, convection and radiation from warmer to cooler matter)
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