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School Science Workshop... Hot & Cold! | Fizzics Education
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Hot & Cold Workshop

Hot & Cold Workshop

Explore the science of heat conduction in this hands-on school science visit

🔥 Physical World: Thermodynamics & Heat Transfer

Hot & Cold

Conduction, Convection and Thermal Energy

How does energy move from one object to another? In this high-impact thermodynamics workshop, your classroom transforms into a laboratory for thermal investigation. Students explore how heat propagates through different states of matter and how we harness these transfers for everything from household heating to space exploration.

This station-based exploratory session allows students to physically test conductivity, observe how convection currents drive our planet’s weather, and witness the power of temperature differentials. From chemical reactions that absorb energy to Stirling engines that run on heat, this workshop makes the invisible flow of energy visible.

Hands-On Station Activities:

  • Space-Age Materials: Test conductivity using an actual space shuttle thermal tile.
  • Energy Transformation: Learn how mechanical and electrical energy create heat.
  • Thermal Mechanics: Discover how temperature differences can drive a working engine.
  • Global Systems: Model how convection drives ocean currents and atmospheric flow.
  • Reaction Chemistry: Investigate exothermic and endothermic chemical changes.

Expert Content & Presentation

Led by Churchill Fellow Ben Newsome, we provide full risk assessments and syllabus-aligned inquiry for every session.

Ben Newsome Fizzics Education

4 Million+ Students Inspired since 2004

Global Online Class:

Live interactive heat science programs available for any school globally via high-definition video conferencing.

🌡️
Full thermal demonstrations.
🎥
Zoom, Teams, or school software.

Australian National Curriculum Mapping for all our science incursions

Australian ACARA Content Outcomes:

Science F-10 Version 9.0

Year 2
  • Recognise that materials can be changed physically without changing their material composition and explore the effect of actions including bending, twisting, stretching and breaking AC9S2U03
Year 1 & 2
  • Describe how people use science in their daily lives, including using patterns to make scientific predictions AC9S1H0, AC9S2H01
  • Pose questions to explore observed simple patterns and relationships and make predictions based on experiences AC9S1I01, AC9S2I01
  • Compare observations with predictions and others’ observations, consider if investigations are fair and identify further questions AC9S1I05, AC9S2I05
Year 3
  • Identify sources of heat energy and examine how temperature changes when heat energy is transferred from one object to another AC9S3U03
  • Investigate the observable properties of solids and liquids and how adding or removing heat energy leads to a change of state AC9S3U04
Year 4
  • Examine the properties of natural and made materials including fibres, metals, glass and plastics and consider how these properties influence their use AC9S4U04
Year 3 & 4
  • Examine how people use data to develop scientific explanations AC9S3H01, AC9S4H01
  • Consider how people use scientific explanations to meet a need or solve a problem AC9S3H02, AC9S4H02
  • Pose questions to explore observed patterns and relationships and make predictions based on observations AC9S3I01, AC9S4I01
  • Compare findings with those of others, consider if investigations were fair, identify questions for further investigation and draw conclusions AC9S3I05, AC9S4I05
Year 5
  • Explain observable properties of solids, liquids and gases by modelling the motion and arrangement of particles AC9S5U04
Year 6
  • Compare reversible changes, including dissolving and changes of state, and irreversible changes, including cooking and rusting that produce new substances AC9S6U04
Year 5 & 6
  • Investigate how scientific knowledge is used by individuals and communities to identify problems, consider responses and make decisions AC9S5H02, AC9S6H02
  • Pose investigable questions to identify patterns and test relationships and make reasoned predictions AC9S5I01, AC9S6I01
  • Compare methods and findings with others, recognise possible sources of error, pose questions for further investigation and select evidence to draw reasoned conclusions AC9S5I05, AC9S6I05

Australian National Curriculum Mapping for all our science workshops & shows

NSW K – 10 Science Syllabus mapping

NSW Science Syllabus Content

A student:

  • ST1-8PW-S describes common forms of energy and explores characteristics of sound energy
  • ST2-6MW-S describes how adding or removing heat causes a change of state
  • ST2-8PW-ST describes the characteristics and effects of common forms of energy, such as light and heat
  • ST2-9PW-ST describes how contact and non-contact forces affect an object’s motion
  • ST3-6MW-S explains the effect of heat on the properties and behaviour of materials
  • ST3-7MW-T explains how the properties of materials determines their use
  • ST3-8PW-ST explains how energy is transformed from one form to another
  • ST3-9PW-ST investigates the effects of increasing or decreasing the strength of forces

NSW Science and Technology K–6 Syllabus (Implementation from 2027)

For implementation advice, visit the NESA Science and Technology site.

Stage 2

ST2-SCI-01 uses information to investigate the solar system and the effects of energy on living, physical and geological systems

  • Recognise that matter is anything that has mass, takes up space and consists of small particles
  • Observe matter existing as a solid, liquid and gas
  • Describe water changing states using Tier 2 and Tier 3 vocabulary
  • Describe how heat affects the movement and arrangement of particles
  • Recognise heat transfer via conduction, convection and radiation
  • Measure temperature using a thermometer in degrees Celsius
  • Conduct fair tests to compare how materials absorb or reflect heat
  • ST2-PQU-01 poses questions to create fair tests that investigate the effects of energy
Stage 3
  • ST3-PQU-01 poses questions to identify variables and conducts fair tests to gather data

NSW K-10 Mapping
Print NSW PDF Mapping

VIC Curriculum F–10 Version 2.0

Science

Foundation to Level 2
  • Objects can be made of different materials with observable properties. VC2S2U04
  • Materials can be combined for particular purposes; mixtures vary from base materials. VC2S2U05
  • Pose questions based on experiences to explore patterns and relationships. VC2S2I01
  • Share findings using everyday and scientific vocabulary. VC2S2I06

[Image of the arrangement of particles in solids, liquids, and gases]

Levels 3 & 4
  • Solids, liquids and gases have observable properties; changes of state via heat energy. VC2S4U04
  • The properties of natural and made materials influence their use and re-use. VC2S4U05
  • Heat energy can be generated from different sources; temperature transfer. VC2S4U09
  • Plan and conduct scientific investigations using provided scaffolds and fair tests. VC2S4I02
Levels 5 & 6
  • Explain properties of matter by modelling particle motion; mixtures and solutions. VC2S6U03
  • Compare reversible changes (dissolving/state) and irreversible changes (cooking). VC2S6U04
  • Plan and conduct repeatable investigations, deciding variables and identifying risks. VC2S6I02

VIC F-6 Mapping
Print VIC PDF Mapping

School Testimonials

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MET Kellyville

Just wanted to say a big thank you to Nina for coming out to M.E.T. Kellyville today to lead us through the Geology Rocks and Hot and Cold programmes. It was very professionally run and Nina was very patient with the many requests of the students. A huge thank you once again, we look forward to running more workshops in the future.
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Castle Cove Public School

I wanted to tell you how extremely well the Stage 1 incursions went with Nina yesterday and today. She was a fantastic presenter - and impressive in how well she quickly adapted to different class dynamics and levels of understanding within the same year level.

Science Show Activities

Ball Smasher

Striking materials can create a fair bit of heat!

Colour change mug

Engaging demonstration on thermochromic materials.

Cool Conductivity

How does metal respond to changes in temperature?

Convection connection

Learn about how heat transfers drive global weather patterns.

Drinking bird

Classic demonstration of liquid expansion from heat. How does it work?

Get in the mood

Rings that change colour with heat. Retro science fun.

Hand boiler

Boil this liquid with the heat of your hand. Wow!

Heat turbine

Find out about geothermal heat with this great device.

Ice, ice baby!

Counter-intuitive melting of ice - which material will melt the ice first?

LCD mats

Use the heat of your hand to change the liquid crystal materials.

Nitinol

See how nitinol responds to heat and how it is used for robotics.

Radiometer

Convert heat energy into kinetic energy with this fun engine.

Space Shuttle Burn

How can space shuttle tiles survive heat of atmospheric re-entry?

Stirling engine

An engine that runs from the heat of your hand? How does that work?

Tea bag rocket

How does that relate to convection; how do you even make it?

Liquid crystal sheet and hand

Science workshop content

What Students Experience: The Thermodynamics Lab

In this high-energy workshop, students explore the invisible flow of thermal energy. By observing how particles behave at different temperatures, we make the abstract concepts of conduction, convection, and chemical heat transfer visible and tangible.

1. The Thermal Hook

We open with a counter-intuitive ice-melting challenge that defies student expectations. This sets the stage for exploring how heat affects solids, liquids, and gases, and how thermometers measure particle speed.

2. Hands-On Stations

Students rotate through specialised zones to test heat conductivity and model particle motion. They investigate endothermic reactions that get cold to the touch and use thermochromatic materials that change colour with temperature.

3. Kinetic Foundations

The session concludes with powerful demonstrations of gas expansion. We show how these thermal forces drive everything from internal combustion engines to the massive weather patterns of our planet.

EST. 2004

Our Commitment to Quality Science Education

A Trusted School Partner for 20 Years

Fizzics Education delivers reliable, syllabus-aligned visits that engage students and meet the practical requirements of the Australian classroom.

Authentic Physics Apparatus: Using specialised thermal conductivity rods, Stirling engines, and digital sensors.

Particle-Level Depth: Moving beyond “hot vs cold” to explore kinetic molecular theory and energy transformation.

Requirements

🔥 Workshop Logistics

Session Requirements

 👥 Capacity & Timing

 👨‍🎓 Attendance: Max 30 students per class.

 🏫 Target: Appropriate for Years 1 to 6.

 ⏰ Duration: 60 or 90 minute options.

 🛠️ Set/Pack: 45 mins setup + 45 mins pack down.

 📍 Venue Requirements

 🏗️ Tables: 10 tables for rotation stations.

 🔌 Power: Access to 3 electrical sockets.

 🪑 Seating: Chairs are not required.

🛡️ $20M Public Liability
WWCC Checked
📋 Full Risk Assessments
🎓 Expert Science Educators

Go Further!

Complete Units of Work to Cut Your Planning Time in Half

Support your classroom teaching with 270+ syllabus-linked lessons, high-quality videos, printable experiments, and comprehensive marking rubrics designed for K-6 teachers.


Explore the K-6 Bundle

Cost

💰 Workshop Investment

Hot & Cold

$580 inc. GST
60-Minute Workshop
✨ $19.33 per student
(Based on 30 students)
$660 inc. GST
90-Minute Workshop
✨ $22.00 per student
(Based on 30 students)
Early Bird: Book and pay within 7 days to receive 10% off your booking.

View offers & discounts

🔖 Offers: Find out about bulk offers & discounts here.

🌍 Global Reach: Available as a live online class anywhere in the world.

📍 Regional: We visit country schools via Country Science Tours.

📑 Syllabus: Print a PDF Mapping for all K to 6 visits.

Call 1300 856 828

Click below to book your primary school incursion.

4 Million+ Students Inspired since 2004

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Extension Ideas!

Scientist Q & A

Often students attend our science workshops and shows with questions that stem beyond the covered topic area. Ask a scientist aims to give students a chance to get their questions answered! Run as a 30-minute session at a cost of $70 inc. GST.

Read More

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