Lesson Overview: This activity explores the use of insulation to slow the transfer of heat through materials. Bark (on stems of trees and shrubs) and soil are two kinds of materials that insulate living things from the heat of fires.

Lesson Goal: Increase students’ understanding of heat transfer and the usefulness of insulation to slow the process of heat transfer.

Objectives:

• Students can describe how insulation affects the flow of heat through a substance.
• Students can explain how tree bark and soil can protect living tissues from the heat of fires.