Unit 7 Living Things and Air

Topic

Putting out a fire

Curriculum Link

7.2 Burning

Estimated Lesson Time

80 minutes

Introduction

This activity consists of three learning tasks on the concept of 'Fire Triangle' and 'Repeat Measurement'. At first, students are engaged to think how a fire could be put out by watching a video clip. In Task 1, students conduct an experiment on how to put out fire with copper snuffer. Teacher introduces the concept of 'Fire Triangle' and 'Repeat Measurement'. In Task 2, teacher demonstrates how to boil water in a paper container without burning the paper. Ask students to explain this with 'Fire Triangle'. In Task 3, students conduct an experiment to explore which metals can conduct thermal energy efficiently.

Key Question

What are the secrets in putting out a fire?

Learning Objectives

In this activity, the students should be able to

  1. Know the concept of 'Fire Triangle' and 'Repeat Measurement';
  2. Explain why a candle flame could be put out by copper snuffer;
  3. Observe, measure & record data during experiment (SP1);
  4. Compare the thermal conductivity of different materials (SP2).

Teaching Plan

Task (Time) Brief Description Materials Objectives

Engagement
(10 min)

Students are engaged to think how firemen put out a fire in the following video clips.

Forest fire:

Firefighters and neighbors put out fire and save Shepherd home.mp4

Teacher could engage students to attend the ways to put out a fire by asking 'How a fire could be put out?'

    

Elaboration
(20 min)

Students explore how to put out fire with copper snuffer by task 1

  • [Note: (1) Copper snuffer is a coil of copper wire. (2) Be careful not to touch the heated coil. (3) Use a candle with small flame only, a large flame will not work.]    
  • Teacher explains the above phenomena with heat conducing and then introduces the Fire Triangle as the necessary elements for most fires.
  • Teacher introduces 'Repeat Measurement' as the way to increase the reliability of data collected.
(1), (2) & (3)

Exploration
(10 min)

Task 2: Heating up water with paper container.

Teacher demonstrates how to heat up water with paper container and invites students to explain.

 (2)

Elaboration & Exploration
(30 min)

Teacher asks students to explore methods to compare the thermal conductivity of different metals with the concept 'repeat measurement'.

(3) & (4)

Evaluation
(10 min)

Evaluate students' understanding of the principle of extinguishing fire by conduction of heat.

Explain why firemen do not use this method to put out fire.

 (1)

Apparatus and materials required: