Conduction or insulating rods?

Outlines and structures observations for an experiment to assess the relative conductivity of rods of different materials. It is best resourced using conductivity rods that can be bought from science educational suppliers, but you can also use other objects, such as straws for plastic, splints for wood and stirring rods for glass. It is not meant to be a good example of a fair test, but they should strive make it as fair a possible. The basic idea that metals conduct better than non-metals is the main learning and one that the are prompted to identify from their results without being asked specifically to do so. They may expect this to happen, and they have the opportunity to show this in their prediction before the test.
Risk assessment issues are based largely around the use of hot water. Standing up to do the experiment, use of heat mats, adults pour the hot water, etc are the key points to cover here. I suggest you ask the pupils to touch the rods a coupe, of cm above the rim of the beaker to get most clear heat detection.

The work may lead up to a more scientific and fairer test to compare the metals only, having established that the metals are the best conductors as a group.

There are optional follow up questions on the second page re the mechanism of conduction, and these are best completed after some teacher and/or video input re this.