COLORS

MATTER

COLORS MATTER

Name

Level 1

Is a black shirt hotter than a white shirt?

PREPARE
3 identical glasses
Black & white
construction paper
Tape
Water
Thermometer

YES
BEFORE

NO
AFTER

PROCEDURE

1. Wrap one glass with white

paper, one with black and
secure with tape.
2. Fill all 3 glasses with room
temp. water.
3. Measure the temp. in each
to make sure it is the same
in all 3 glasses.
4. Place your glasses outside in
direct sunlight for an hour.
5. After an hour, check the
temp. of the water in each
glass.

Did you like the experiment?

Yes
No
237

Was your guess correct?

Yes No

2014 Traci Bender

COLORS MATTER

Level 2

Name___________________

PREPARE

QUESTION

3 identical glasses
Black & white
construction paper
Tape
Water
Thermometer

Is black clothing warmer than light colored clothing?

1. Wrap one glass with white

paper, one with black and
secure with tape.
2. Fill all 3 glasses with room
temp. water.
3. Measure the temp. in each
to make sure it is the same
in all 3 glasses.
4. Place your glasses outside in
direct sunlight for an hour.
5. After an hour, check the
temp. of the water in each
glass.

I think that
OBSERVATION
Draw or write what you saw.

ANALYZE

Record the temperatures.

White covered cup

degrees

Black covered cup

degrees

238 Clear cup

degrees

How much did you like this experiment?

1 2 3 4 5

Yes
No
Was your hypothesis correct?

CONCLUSION

2014 Traci Bender

PROCEDURE

MY HYPOTHESIS

COLORS MATTER
PREPARE
3 identical glasses
Black & white
construction paper
Tape
Water
Thermometer

Level 3

Name___________________

QUESTION
Can our bodies stay cooler by wearing light colored clothing?

MY HYPOTHESIS

PROCEDURE

1. Wrap one glass with white

paper, one with black and
secure with tape.
2. Fill all 3 glasses with room
temp. water.
3. Measure the temp. in each
to make sure it is the same
in all 3 glasses.
4. Place your glasses outside in
direct sunlight for an hour.
5. After an hour, check the
temp. of the water in each
glass.

OBSERVATION
Draw or write what you saw.

CONCLUSION
Was your hypothesis correct?
What happened?

ANALYZE

Record the temperatures.

White covered cup

degrees

Black covered cup

degrees

239 Clear cup

degrees

How much did you like this experiment?

1 2 3 4 5
2014 Traci Bender

TEACHER NOTES
WHAT SHOULD
HAPPEN?
The water in the cup
wrapped in black
construction will reach a
higher temp. than the
one wrapped in white.

Colors
Matter
Be sure to place the same amount of water in each glass and make sure
they are in direct sunlight.

TIPS & SUGGESTIONS

htps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W
QdXbf8huuQ
HOW IT WORKS
Bright colors, particularly white, will reflect heat rather than absorb it.
White objects will therefore stay cooler than others. Black Objects
absorb heat energy and quickly heat up in the sun or when in the path
of other radiated heat.

LESSON EXTENSIONS
Try this experiment using different colors of paper.
Try wrapping a glass in foil and see what happens.

240

2014 Traci Bender