How does a Thermometer work?

Hello!

We have talked for the last week about our theories of how thermometers work.  The friends have drawn a written about this, and are identifying influences that could be involved.  Here are some examples.

Then, once we had identified our theories and questions, today we read from some articles to give us more knowledge.  And we watched an interesting video to help us understand the rudimentary elements involved in common thermometers.  Two words that came up were expand and contract.   The friends realized that things that are expanding can be expanding in different directions, and in a thermometer's case the material expands up and down.

The children were very interested in following up on this.  They had identified things they wanted to understand and took steps to make this happen.  Now they are using their own words to explain this phenomenon.  Please feel free to ask you child about this.  You may want to read some of the information again.  Also, the friends were interested in trying out this experiment on their own.  The ingredients are fairly common, so you might be able to make this a fun family activity! 

http://www.energyquest.ca.gov/how_it_works/thermometer.html

http://www.ehow.com/how-does_4566847_a-thermometer-work.html

http://www.bing.com/videos/watch/video/how-does-a-thermometer-work-toulmin/6e4376a503fa8fd16d016e4376a503fa8fd16d01-597427487993?q=how+does+a+thermometer+work&FROM=LKVR5&GT1=LKVR5&FORM=LKVR

Another side element was the fact that Galileo was involved in the creation of a first thermometer. What were some of Galileo's other theories and discoveries?


I hope you enjoy exploring and talking about this together.  Thanks for everything!

Love, Jennifer