A temperature sensor measures the temperature of the surrounding air. The Fahrenheit and Celsius scales are ways to measure how hot or how cold something is.

Charts are a good way to record data during a scientific experiment. A line graph is a way to graph the change in temperature over time.

Recommended Resources:

http://www.temperatures.com/sensors.html

• Assemble LEGOs and temperature sensors.
• Photocopy graphing and data collection worksheets for students.

1. Set up a table with assorted LEGO's for the students to use.
2. Introduce students to the temperature sensor. Show the students an example of the sensor and explain what it does.
3. Tell the students that their task is to build a structure with a temperature sensor attached to it. Their structure will keep a record of the temperature over a week, and the students will check it regularly.
4. Arrange the students in teams of three or four.
5. Have the students brainstorm an idea of what they wish to build. Have them draw a sketch of their structure.
6. Allow the students to go to the LEGO table and take the pieces that they will need to build their structure, including a temperature sensor. Remind students that they must include the temperature sensor somewhere in their design.
7. After the students have built their structures, have different groups show the class their structure. Make sure that they show and discuss where they put their temperature sensor and why.
8. After the groups have completed their structures and have had a chance to show them to the class, have each groups place their structure somewhere around the classroom. Tell the students they may place them wherever they want but that the place has to be safe for the structure so that it will not be disturbed. Encourage students to place their structures in different places such as by a sunny window, next to a heater, in a dark corner, in a place where part of the day it is sunny and part of the day it is dark, etc.
9. Discuss data collection and graphing with the class. Have students use the data collection worksheet provided, or graph paper to create a chart in which to record the temperature of their structure and the date and time that they observed the temperature. Have the students record the initial temperature of their structure.
10. For the next week, have students check their structure two or three times a day. Morning, lunch time, and before school ends are suggested times.
11. At the end of the week, have the students visually represent the data that they have collected. Have the groups discuss their results. Ask students if they see any pattern in the temperatures they recorded.
12. After the students have had time to discuss their results in their groups have each group present their results to the class. Make sure that each group tells the rest of the class about the location of their structure.
13. On the blackboard, write each group's findings, and the location of their structure.
14. Once each group has shared their results, ask students to look at the whole class's results and discuss in their groups any conclusions they can make from all the groups' results. Allow the students to discuss this for five minutes.