Task 2

Materials and tools for a working group:

created „roof “ model (eg black-coated cardboard), 3 boxes, 3 thermometers

In the previous task, pupils found that light turns into heat more when it hits dark objects than when it falls on bright objects. The goal of this task is for pupils to realize that the warming of the objects also depends on how the sun‘s rays fall on the heated object. In this task, pupils can also use the results of the ninth task examination in a set of tasks on electricity, where they investigate the change of light energy into electrical energy.

The teacher introduces the situation of everyday life to the pupils - different roofs of the home. She can discuss with pupils the roofs and why they are suitable, or the best. It is interesting to discuss the color of the roof, considering the results of the first task. It will present the research situation itself through Task 2a. He explains to students that their task is to find out how to build a roof to keep the space below it as low as possible. The worksheet has three different situations and their task is to create a presumption of how to build a roof. They should try to justify their prediction.

Consequently, the teacher leads pupils to verify their predictions. The procedure is not given again, so it is important to reserve enough time for the pupils to think through the process. The teacher helps them with the design process. They warn that they will use a black roof that still has the same size, but is only tilted.

The teacher discusses practical verification of predictions with pupils. Together, they construct a structure so that three different tilted „roofs“ of the same size (for example, a black-coated cardboard) are turned towards the sun. The roofs can be placed on the same paper boxes in which the thermometers are located. It is the thermometers that will be an indicator of any observed changes. Similarly to other tasks, there is a discussion about predictions and the procedure for verifying predictions in the principle of a more valuable part of the activity compared to the practical realisation of the verification procedure. Pupils learn to think precisely in situations in which they need to obtain a credible observation result.

After carrying out the practical verification of the predictions, the teacher invites the pupils to formulate the observation result (in view of the predictionsand general research intent of the activity) in the form of a conclusion. Problem 2b is formulated similarly. However, it is the task of the pupils to find out whether it is important to have a roof directed towards the sun in the orientation of the world. Pupils make predictions and try to justify them. Subsequently, they try to verify their predictions by searching for information on the Internet. Practical verification of predictions would require longer-term observation (at least one full day during sunny weather through regular air temperature measurements under the house roof).