How do animals stay warm?

Lesson: Science

Class: Year 6 Year: 2022 - 2023

During Science today we have investigated 'how do animals stay warm?' We predicted using our knowledge of adaption, classification and habitats. We then predicted after hearing the synopsis of the investiagtion - would oil or air affect the temperature of your hand in a glove? Most predicted they would act as thermal insulators to keep our hand warm and that these would help us to keep our hand in the ice cold water longer than with just a glove on. We discussed the variables to keep the same and those to change. We then carried out the investiagtion - one person in the pair wear two gloves on one hand and submerge it into the ice cold water, as soon as your hand feels cold, remove it from the water. Repeat three times. Then add air to the glove using a straw, again submerge your hand into the water and see if you can keep it in the water for longer with the air acting as a thermal insulator. Lastly add oil to the centre of the two gloves and test three times to see how long your hand can remain in the water for. We then wrote about our findings. Most of us concluded that oil was the best thermal insulator acting as a layer of fat or blubber allowing us to keep our hand in the water for the longest amount of time before feeling cold. We linked our knowledge to survival and those animals in the arctic adapt their bodies to suit the climate, needing specific insulators to keep them warm.