Urban heat island activity: a schoolyard surface temperature hunt

1. Ask: "Which part of our schoolyard feels hottest on a sunny day?" Students predict and rank five surfaces.
2. Groups visit each surface at about the same time and record the temperature in degrees Fahrenheit, plus whether it is in sun or shade.
3. Back inside, groups make a bar graph and compare it with their prediction.
4. Discuss: what makes some surfaces hotter? Bring in color, material, shade and plants.
5. Groups propose one change for the schoolyard (trees, a light-colored surface, a shade structure, a garden) and use their data to support it.
6. Optional: repeat on a cloudy day and compare.

Safety: do not touch hot pavement with bare hands or feet, wear hats, drink water, and keep the time outside short on hot days. Never point an infrared thermometer at anyone's eyes.

Differentiation: students who need support measure three surfaces with a partner. Students who are ready calculate the difference between the hottest and coolest surfaces and repeat at a second time of day. English learners can use "___ was hotter than ___ because ___."

Quick check: ask a group to explain one result using the words sunlight, material and shade.

Educators, what was the biggest difference your class measured between two surfaces? Share your numbers and what your students proposed in the replies.