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Science Teacher Training in an Information Society
Start Teaching about energy

 USIE

Workshop 1

Introduction
Section A
Section B
Activity B1
Activity B2
Activity B3
Activity B4
Activity B5
Activity B6
Activity B7
Activity B8
Section C
Section D
Section E
Section F
Section G

StartContents

Section B  Learning about the innovation

Activity B6 Things that 'just happen' and things 
that don't (cont.)
 
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Examples of pupils’ discussion

The following are examples of statements made by 13-14 year-old pupils explaining the meaning of abstract pictures showing changes that ‘just happen’ and those that don’t.

Hot object spontaneously cools as energy flows from it to the cooler surroundings:

"Something hot losing energy - getting cold."
"This is a room and this is a block and it is giving heat to the room and becoming the same temperature as the room."
"This happens usually, naturally."
"It just happens normally."

The reverse change:

"It's showing taking energy in."
"This is an example right.  There is a glass of water and to make it hot just wouldn't happen."
"It does happen, but it is difficult to make it happen."
"It doesn't happen naturally but people ... You can make it happen."

Objects slowing down and speeding up:

"Something that is going fast and then slows down."
"Something starts moving."
"Natural and ... "
"One works - that one - and that one doesn't usually happen."
"Poltergeist!"

"Something that is moving and that is slowing down - stopping."

"Could be the wind that is pushing it or it just happens."

Coupled changes:

"This is the argument that it's possible, yeah? So you use something that is possible to make something that is impossible possible!"
"The 'down' one is something that happens and the 'up' one is - someone has to make it happen."
 
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