Exploring Heat Transfer

When exploring heat transfer I choose foil, wax paper, newspaper, and a cotton towel during my experiment.  I chose foil and wax paper because those are two materials that I would use to cover food.  I choose the newspaper because since I used an entire section I thought it might do well.  In addition, I chose the cloths to see if I was correct about it not insulating very well. 

Foil did not surprise me by being the best insulator.  Newspaper did surprise me by being the worst!  I figured since I used 8 pieces that made a section, it would insulate better than the towel or then wax paper.  The wax paper and towel were the same.  That did not really surprise me since one if very then and the other lets airflow through it easily. 

I would like to test other items.  I am curious how food such as mashed potatoes or steamed vegetable would stay warm with materials such as foil, wax paper, or cellophane.  It seems that some items may stay warmer due to their texture and thickness.  For example rice my cool faster because it allow air to move around the individual grains while mashed potatoes are more dense and air does not flow through them. 

In addition to using other items, I could make it more fun by creating a problem to solve.  For example, after reading Red Riding Hood, I could tell students that they need to find the best material to cover the food with to help it stay warm during a 30-minute walk to grandma's house.  They could then test material they choose and determine the best insulator.  Afterwards students would know what material would be the best to cover their own food if taking it to a picnic or waiting for it to be time to eat. 

I would like students to understand not only what material are good insulators, but also why they are good insulators.  I think I did achieve this after testing materials and then thinking why the outcome was the way it was.