This activity is about keeping a "mouse" warm.  It is designed to be done indoors.  It teaches students about insulating materials and dressing for the outdoors.

Set-Up 

• Explain the word insulation.
  • Insulation is a material that does not conduct heat or cold well.
  • Most of our cool weather clothing uses insulating materials - down, fur, wool or synthetic materials.
• Give each student or pair of students a clean, empty film canister with a tight fitting lid. The canister will soon be filled with hot water and become their "mouse".
• Challenge the students to make or find an insulator that will keep the "mouse" warmer than another "mouse" in the room.
• Display a variety of insulating materials the students can use.
  • Example include: wool, nylon, cotton, styrofoam, dish washing scrubbies, socks.
  • You could include items from the school's lost and found such as scarves and mitts.
• Have tape, pins, twine and other fastening materials available.

Student Activity 

The students

• Make an insulating jacket for their canister.
• Get their canisters filled with hot tap water.
• Record the water temperature.
• Quickly place their "mouse" in its insulating jacket.
• Place their labeled canister on a table with the other "mice".
• Measure the water temperature every 10-15 minutes over a two-hour period.  Record both time and temperature.
• Plot their data on graph paper.
• Also plot data from three of four "mice" that had jackets made of different materials.

Discussion Questions 

• Based on your graph, who made the best insulator?
• Why do you think it worked so well?
• Which materials make the best insulator?
• Which materials make the poorest insulator?
• How could you improve your "mouse" insulator next time?
• What conclusions can you draw about selecting clothes for cool weather?