Each pair of students needs:

• small glass laboratory beakers (1 or 5 or more, depending on the chosen set-up)
• ice cubes
• stopwatch or a similar timing device
• low-temperature hot plate
• Insulation Materials Investigation Worksheet
• blank paper and pencils

To share with the entire class:

• assortment of materials to test as possible insulation materials, such as tissues, newspaper, cotton balls, Styrofoam, aluminum foil, cloth, shaving cream, petroleum jelly, snack foods (such as cheese curls), etc.