Melts in Your Bag, Not in Your Hand
Source Institutions
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NOAA
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In this activity, learners use chocolate to explore how the Sun transfers heat to the Earth through radiation. Learners compare the melting rate between chocolate left in the sunshine and chocolate left in the shade outside for twenty minutes on a hot sunny day. Use this demonstration to introduce learners to solar radiation as well as the importance of summer safety and sun protection. Although this works best on a hot sunny day, this activity can be adapted for indoor use.
- Under 5 minutes
- 10 to 30 minutes
- 1 cent - $1 per group of students
- Ages 6 - 14
- Activity, Demonstration, Experiment/Lab Activity, Lesson/Lesson Plan
- English
Quick Guide
Materials List (per group of students)
- Two (2) small pieces of chocolate
- Two (2) small resealable snack bags
- Marker to label bags
Subjects
- Earth and Space Science
- Earth Processes
- Weather and Climate
- Solar System
- The Sun
- Earth Processes
- Life Sciences
- Human Body
- Muscles and Skin
- Health and Nutrition
- Human Body
- Physical Sciences
- Heat and Thermodynamics
- Heat and Temperature
- Heat Transfer
- Energy
- Heat and Thermodynamics
- The Nature of Science
- The Scientific Process
- Conducting Investigations
- Formulating Explanations
- The Scientific Process
Informal Categories
- Outdoor Activity
- Food and Cooking
- Nature and Environment
Audience
To use this activity, learners need to:
- see
- be mobile
- touch
Learning styles supported:
- Involves hands-on or lab activities
Other
This resource is part of:
Access Rights:
- Free access
By:
Rights:
- All Rights Reserved, National Weather Service,
