Contextualization

Hello, little scientists! Are you ready to embark on an incredible journey of discoveries about Units of Measurement: Temperature? Temperature is a physical quantity that is present in our daily lives, everywhere. We always hear about how hot or cold it is, but have you ever stopped to think about how we can measure and understand temperature?

Temperature is the measure of the intensity of heat of a body. It is a quantity that helps us understand if something is hot or cold. And to measure temperature, we use a unit of measurement called Celsius Degree (°C). You must have seen this symbol on thermometers, right?

To better understand, let's take an example. Imagine you have a pot of water. If you touch the water, you can feel that it is hot, but you don't know exactly what temperature it is. That's where the thermometer comes in! You could put the thermometer in the water and it would show the temperature in degrees Celsius.

Importance

Learning about temperature measurement units is very important. Knowing how to measure temperature is not only useful for cooking, taking a shower, or knowing if it's cold outside. Temperature is also essential for us to understand many natural phenomena that occur around us, such as the weather, changes in the state of water, and even the functioning of our bodies!

In the study of climate, for example, temperature is one of the most important variables. It allows us to understand and predict if it will rain, if the day will be hot or cold, and so on. Furthermore, in everyday life, knowing the temperature is essential to choose what to wear, how to protect ourselves, and even how to preserve our food.

Finally, understanding temperature measurement units is essential for communication and for science. It is common to see temperatures in degrees Celsius in news, weather forecasts, and even at school. So, let's go on this adventure together to learn more about temperature measurement units and their importance? I'm excited to see what you will discover!

Practical Activity: "Discovering Temperature"

Project Objective

The objective of this project is to allow students to develop a deeper understanding of temperature measurement units, especially the Celsius degree. In addition, they will have the opportunity to explore connections between mathematics, science, and the world around them.

Project Description

In this activity, each group of students will be responsible for building a homemade thermometer and creating a temperature scale in degrees Celsius. They will also have to research and present about the use and importance of thermometers in different contexts.

Required Materials

• Transparent plastic bottles (preferably of different sizes)
• Water
• Food coloring
• Straw
• Clay or modeling clay
• Paper
• Pen
• Adhesive tape
• Books or internet access for research

Step by Step

Part 1: Building the homemade thermometer

1. Take an empty plastic bottle and fill 1/3 of it with water. Add a few drops of food coloring to make the water colored.

2. Insert a straw into the bottle, being careful not to touch the bottom.

3. Use clay or modeling clay to secure the straw in place. Make sure it is centered and straight.

4. With the adhesive tape, attach a piece of paper next to the bottle, so the straw can be read.

Part 2: Creating the temperature scale

1. Now it's time to create the temperature scale. For this, each group should take five temperature measurements using the homemade thermometer. For example, you can measure the temperature of hot water, cold water, room temperature water, ice, and another object or environment of your choice.

2. Write down these temperatures in degrees Celsius on the piece of paper next to each straw marking. Remember that the temperature of frozen water is 0°C and the boiling point of water is 100°C.

3. After recording all temperatures, use this information to create a temperature scale in degrees Celsius on the side of the bottle. You can divide the space between temperatures into five equal parts.

Part 3: Researching and presenting

1. Each group should research and learn about the different types of thermometers, how they work, and where they are used. Some suggestions are the mercury thermometer, alcohol thermometer, digital thermometer, and thermocouple.

2. After the research, students should prepare a short presentation to share their findings with the class. The presentation should include an explanation of the type of thermometer researched, how it is used to measure temperature, and in what situations it is useful.

3. Finally, each group will present their homemade thermometer and temperature scale, and share what they have learned about the different types of thermometers.

Important Reminder: To complete all project steps, it is essential that the group works together, sharing ideas, dividing tasks, and solving any problems that may arise. Good luck, little scientists!