How are Conductors and Insulators Different? Explore with This Lesson!

Is it hot in here?

Then we must be talking about conduction and insulation! 

This thermal and electrical energy presentation includes vocabulary words, discussion slides, and comprehension checkpoints that make it easy to assess your student’s understanding of the concepts while teaching the lesson.

Students can use this presentation as a reference or guide when working on any activity or classwork that explores the properties of conductors and insulators. 

This teaching presentation was designed to introduce and discuss the concepts of:

• Thermal Energy
• Electrical Energy
• Conduction and conductors
• Insulation and insulators

By looking at examples of how energy is transferred, students will walk away from this lesson with the ability to differentiate between insulators and conductors of thermal and electrical energy.

Additional Ways to Use Your Insulators and Conductors Presentation

Take this presentation even further with more activities to solidify conduction and insulation comprehension.

Pre-Lesson Activity

Got a flipped classroom? Students can be assigned this presentation as independent reading, either at home or prior to starting the lesson together as a group. Ask students to provide examples of each of the vocabulary words to assess their understanding. 

Turn & Talk

Ask students to write questions on a sticky note as the resource is presented. Then put students into groups of 3 or 4 to help each other answer the questions on their sticky notes. Even if the answer was uncovered farther into the lesson, challenge students to address every sticky note question to ensure all group members comprehend the concepts.  

Be the Teacher

As a post-lesson activity, ask students what they would put on a quiz if they were the teacher. Have your students write their own 5-question quiz using the information in the presentation. Then, direct them to trade papers with another student to take the quiz.

How to Get Your Teaching Slides

If you are ready to use this teaching presentation in your classroom, head on over to the green download button! Here, you can access the editable Google Slides version of this resource. Please note that you will first be prompted to make a copy of the resource to your personal drive before accessing it.

This resource was created by Colleen Burke, a teacher in New York and a Teach Starter Collaborator. 

More Insulator and Conductor Resources for Your Lessons!

Turn up the heat on conduction and insulation with these additional activities: 

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Conductors of Electricity Reading Comprehension Worksheet

Challenge your students to show what they know about electrical conductors with this reading comprehension worksheet.

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Insulators & Conductors Sorting Activity

Distinguish between insulators and conductors with a picture-based sorting activity.

teaching resource

Insulators and Conductors Poster Set

Teach your students about the characteristics of insulators and conductors with this set of science posters for the classroom.