More About This Resource...

• In this classroom activity, students work in groups to test a variety of fabrics to determine each one's effectiveness as an insulator. The printable five-page handout includes:

  • A series of inquiry-based questions to get students thinking about the conditions in Antarctica and the properties of specialty fabrics.
  • Illustrated activity directions.
  • A worksheet that includes areas for recording their experiment data, and questions that prompt students to compare their results against their original hypotheses.

• Completion Time

  Approximately 1 period

• Topic

  Earth Science

• Subtopic

  Life in Extreme Environments

• Subtopic

  National Science Education Standards
  Grades 5-8:
  Science as Inquiry CONTENT STANDARD A: 

  • abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry

  Physical Science CONTENT STANDARD B: 

  • properties and changes of properties in matter• transfer of energy

  Science and Technology CONTENT STANDARD E: 

  • abilities of technological design• understandings about science and technology

  Science in Personal and Social Perspectives CONTENT STANDARD F: 

  • personal health• natural hazards• risks and benefits• science and technology in society

  History and Nature of Science CONTENT STANDARD G: 

  • nature of science

  Grades 9-12:
  Science as Inquiry CONTENT STANDARD A: 

  • abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry

  Physical Science CONTENT STANDARD B: 

  • structure and properties of matter• interactions of energy and matter

  Science and Technology CONTENT STANDARD E: 

  • abilities of technological design• understandings about science and technology

  Science in Personal and Social Perspectives CONTENT STANDARD F: 

  • personal and community health• natural and human-induced hazards• science and technology in local, national, and global challenges

  History and Nature of Science CONTENT STANDARD G: 

  • nature of scientific knowledge

• Learning Standard

  National Science Education Standards
  Grades 5-8:
  Science as Inquiry CONTENT STANDARD A: 

  • abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry

  Physical Science CONTENT STANDARD B: 

  • properties and changes of properties in matter• transfer of energy

  Science and Technology CONTENT STANDARD E: 

  • abilities of technological design• understandings about science and technology

  Science in Personal and Social Perspectives CONTENT STANDARD F: 

  • personal health• natural hazards• risks and benefits• science and technology in society

  History and Nature of Science CONTENT STANDARD G: 

  • nature of science

  Grades 9-12:
  Science as Inquiry CONTENT STANDARD A: 

  • abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry

  Physical Science CONTENT STANDARD B: 

  • structure and properties of matter• interactions of energy and matter

  Science and Technology CONTENT STANDARD E: 

  • abilities of technological design• understandings about science and technology

  Science in Personal and Social Perspectives CONTENT STANDARD F: 

  • personal and community health• natural and human-induced hazards• science and technology in local, national, and global challenges

  History and Nature of Science CONTENT STANDARD G: 

  • nature of scientific knowledge