Experimenting with Thermometers


Students will use a thermometer to measures temperatures in direct light outside of the classroom. They will also measure temperatures after they have placed their thermometers under a black and white sheet of paper in direct sunlight for 20 minutes. Finally, students will create an investigation to show how direct or indirect light striking an environment causes different temperature readings on a thermometer.


This page contains lesson-specific ECSAPE Lesson Plans and complete, uncut video repository of the ESCAPE Earth Science Professional Development and actual Classroom Implementation. If you would like to access the interactive trainings for this lesson, you may enroll in our ESCAPE Online PD Course.

Background Content


Teacher Professional Development


Classroom Implementation

The following videos were filmed during lesson implementation by teachers in the Orange County Cohort. Please feel free to use these videos to better visualize how the lessons can look in an actual classroom setting. Note that we do not intend for you to try to recreate the lessons exactly as you see them here.

Click play to view each video. You may click on the four-arrow symbol to view the video in full screen.

1. Engage

2. Explore Part A

3. Explore Part B

4. Evaluate