Our 4^th grade students have been focusing on the science topic,「もののあたたまり方」or “How things are heated.” In this topic of study, students learn about the general properties that different substances (i.e. bronze, water, and air) take on when they are heated and how heat is transferred within that substance.

In a recent class the students took a closer look at how heat is distributed through liquid when in a glass container when being heated. The students used a special liquid called 「サーモインク」or “Thermo ink”. When heated the liquid changes from purple to pink. This made it easy for the students to understand what area of liquid within the container gets hotter when heated, and how the heat is distributed throughout the remaining liquid.

The students enjoyed seeing the liquid change colors and they were able to easily understand the way heat is distributed through liquid. Doing experiments like this is a great way for the students to understand the concepts they are learning about through a hands-on approach that always gets them excited.