Our year five Cutty Sark have been studying science this week. This weeks project is about thermal conductors. Materials that are good conductors of thermal energy (heat) are called thermal conductors. Metals are very good thermal conductors. Materials that are poor conductors of thermal energy (heat) are called thermal insulators. Gases such as air and materials such as plastic and wood are thermal insulators.
In this experiment pictured above, the children are attempting to discover which of the spoons lets heat travel through it the fastest to melt the butter on the spoon. The spoons are made of metal, plastic and wood. The spoon that allows the butter to melt the quickest is the best thermal conductor.