Insulation Exploration: Cube Content

Part 1: Research Insulation

Write a high quality research paper (1 page, double spaced, size 12, legible font, typed) in google docs. Name the document in this EXACT format: Core # Last Name, First Name Insulation Research. Share it with me: abrowder@iwcs.k12.va.us. Do not share it with any other people - this part of the project is individual. Convince me that you have thoroughly read (and watched corresponding videos) in every link below. I should be able to find the answers to all these questions (not necessarily in this order). Make it flow.

Some students have asked me how to double space in google docs. Watch THIS VIDEO to learn how. DO NOT hit enter twice at the end of each line to get a space in between the lines.

Todd Meier, a Facilities Maintenance Operations Engineer who works at Jefferson Lab, came in to teach us about insulation to help launch our project. He brought in many different forms of insulation, discussed advantages and disadvantages of each, discussed forms of insulation that are used commercially and in residences. He even brought in a form of insulation that starts as two separated urethane liquids, and when mixed together expands into a rigid polyurethane foam within 60 seconds. We learned a lot about the application side of what we've been studying and we are very appreciative of his expertise!

What did you learn from his presentation that you didn't already know?

What was the most interesting part of his presentation?

What is the difference between a conductor and an insulator?

“Difference Between Thermal Insulator and Thermal Conductor.” Difference Between, 3 Sept. 2011, www.differencebetween.com/difference-between-thermal-insulator-and-vs-thermal-conductor/.

What is an "R value?"

“Insulation.” Department of Energy, energy.gov/energysaver/insulation.

What are some common forms of insulation used in homes today?

“Types of Insulation.” Department of Energy, energy.gov/energysaver/types-insulation.

“Insulation Materials.” Department of Energy, energy.gov/energysaver/insulation-materials.

What are some alternative forms of insulation used in homes today?

Christodoulou, Leo. “Saving Energy and Money with Aerogel Insulation.” Energy.gov, 7 June 2012, energy.gov/articles/saving-energy-and-money-aerogel-insulation.

Michael Hess. “Berkeley Lab's Gas-Filled Insulation Rivals Fiber in Buildings Sector.” Energy.gov, 19 Oct. 2011, energy.gov/articles/berkeley-labs-gas-filled-insulation-rivals-fiber-buildings-sector.

Why do most conductors feel colder in the winter and hotter in the summer?

“What Is Thermal Conductivity?” Khan Academy, www.khanacademy.org/science/physics/thermodynamics/specific-heat-and-heat-transfer/a/what-is-thermal-conductivity.

Compare and contrast a common insulator to an alternative form of insulation.

Sundem, Garth. “How Does Air Krete Work?” How Does Air Krete Work?, HowStuffWorks, 14 Mar. 2011, home.howstuffworks.com/home-improvement/construction/green/how-does-air-krete-work.htm.

Describe how an "R value" is calculated.

Cellulose.org, www.cellulose.org/HomeOwners/WhatR-valueMean.php.

What properties cause a material to be a good insulator?

Woodford, Chris. “How Does Heat Insulation Trap Heat?” Explain That Stuff, 19 Apr. 2017, www.explainthatstuff.com/heatinsulation.html.

Other than use in insulating homes, what are three other uses of insulators?

Brainard, Jean. “5.17: Thermal Conductors and Insulators.” CK-12 Foundation, CK-12 Foundation, 4 Jan. 2017, www.ck12.org/book/CK-12-Physical-Science-Concepts-For-Middle-School/section/5.17/.

Also, cite your sources. Page 2 of your google doc. Type it exactly as it appears in the links above. A minimum of three sources is required. If you used sources other than this, they must be cited using MLA format. Use this website as a tool to help guide you to format your sources correctly: http://www.easybib.com/

Part 2: Decide on Insulation Material

Create a single Google Document that is shared with each member of your group and me. Name the document in this EXACT format: Core # First & Last Initial of Each Member of your Group Insulation Materials. Collaboratively with your team, come up of a list of 25 unique insulation materials. Use your creativity and the links above and below to come up with your list. Once your list is complete, one person on your team, write me an e-mail (NOT a google document) with your top three choices for insulation and a plan of how you plan to get it here. For each, list the best thing about the insulation material and the worst thing about it (consider cost, ease of use, safety concerns, etc.). Be sure to include all group members names on the e-mail.

"How to Insulate a House" 5 May 2006.HowStuffWorks.com. <https://www.howstuffworks.com/how-to-insulate-a-house.htm>

Part 3: Peer Review Research Papers

Look at the computer chart list on the top of the iPad cart. Share your document with the three people listed above you in the list. If you are in the top three on the list, then share it with the people at the bottom of the list. You are required to peer edit three papers and have your paper edited by three peers. Verify that the writer has:

-Not plagiarized

-Has paragraphs

-Has no misspelled words

-Is double spaced

-Has at least 3 sources cited (of high quality, no wikipedia), single space

-Has answered the questions listed in Part 1

Keep in mind, all feedback should be kind, specific, and helpful.

Part 4: Creating a Bar Graph Using Google Sheets

Watch this video on how to create a bar graph on Google Sheets using a computer.

This is another website that can help you.

Watch this video on how to create a bar graph on Google Sheets using an iPad. This is another website that can help you.

Now, using whatever technology is available to you in my classroom, create a bar graph that has exactly 8 bars. Name the document in this EXACT format: Core # Last Name, First Name Practice Bar Graph. Each person in your group must do this individually. Be creative (and appropriate) with the topic for your bar graph. The data doesn't have to be "real." The focus is on learning how to create an electronic bar graph. Be sure that your graph:

-Has 8 bars

-Has a label on the horizontal axis

-Has a label on the vertical axis (including units)

-Has a high quality title (that incorporates the titles on the horizontal and vertical axes)

-Has appropriate increments (maximum and minimum) values on the vertical axis

Part 5: Peer Review Practice Bar Graph

Look at the computer chart list on the top of the iPad cart. Share your document with the three people listed BELOW you in the list, and me too: abrowder@iwcs.k12.va.us. If you are in the bottom three on the list, then share it with the people at the top of the list. You are required to peer edit three practice graphs and have your practice graph edited by three peers. Verify that the constructor of the graph has:

-Has 8 bars

-Has a label on the horizontal axis

-Has a label on the vertical axis (including units)

-Has a high quality title (that incorporates the titles on the horizontal and vertical axes)

-Has appropriate increments (maximum and minimum) values on the vertical axis

-Has the tallest bar first

Provide feedback (digitally) that is kind, specific, and helpful.

Part 6: Photographs

Together with your team, create a draft of what the "picture" side of the cube is going to look like. Get a piece of bulletin board paper, measure it out exactly 2' x 2' (same size as cube side) and sketch out where exactly the pictures are going to go. Each picture is 4" x 6." Specify which pictures are going in which spot. Create a single Google Document that is shared with each member of your group and me. Name the document in this EXACT format: Core # First & Last Initial of Each Member of your Group Photography Captions. Be sure you have this in the right format/size/font style so that it will work for you when I print these captions out. (I'm not going to print any pictures out just yet - I'll wait until we run the test, and then I'll print out each of the photos that you'd like). Specifically indicate if there are pictures that you want to take, but you haven't gotten to that step yet, so you can make sure you get pics of that step too!

Part 7: Laser Cutter

Each student's name is going to be cut into a piece of wood. Send me an e-mail (one per group) that states the first name and last name (as you want it engraved using the laser cutter).

Part 8: Vinyl Cutter

Each of the four sides of the cubes is going to be labeled something along these lines: Research, Graphs and Conclusions, Reflections, Photos. Decide the exact titles that you'd like and the color of vinyl that you want for each. Send me an e-mail (one per group) that states all the titles and the colors for each (you may have 4 different colors, or 1 single color, for unity). Vinyl is stickers, like bumper stickers, like the ones on the back of the little organizers in my window sills.

Part 9: Graphs & Conclusions

After the outdoor test of the materials has been completed, collaboratively analyze the data in THIS document. Then, using that document and/or your data collection sheet, EACH person in your group is responsible for creating a unique graph. If you’re tracking data changes over time, it should be a line graph…all other graphs should be bar graphs. Your bar graph should very likely have the shortest bar first. This graph MUST be created within the SAME document that you have already shared with me from your 'practice bar graph.' For each graph, you must also create a data table. Lastly, each person is responsible for writing a conclusion paragraph that describes the results of the experiment, possible explanations as to why the results were this way, and potential further explorations of study.

Part 10: Putting it ALL together

Finalize your cube by attaching everything to it using the staple gun & applying the vinyl letters.