2.3. Curriculum materials
For the aims of this study the first four sections of the
module of Heat and Temperature (
H
&
T
) of the Physics by
Inquiry curriculum were used.
2
The first section (Section
1
)
focuses on constructing an operational definition for temper-
ature, the second section (Section
2
) focuses on investigating
temperature changes when samples of hot and cold water are
mixed, the third section (Section
3
) introduces concepts con-
cerning heat and heat transfer in the context of two objects of
different temperatures that interact thermally. Moreover, the
third section focuses on clarifying/distinguishing the role of
heat and temperature in thermal interactions. The fourth
section (Section
4
) focuses on the thermal properties of matter,
particularly, heat capacity and specific heat capacity. In these
four sections, the students are encouraged (a) to make the
necessary mental commitment by guiding them through the
process of constructing a conceptual model for how temper-
ature changes starting from direct ‘‘hands-on’’ experience that
involves mixing varying amounts of hot water and cold water,
as well as, water and other substances, and (b) to develop the
concepts necessary to describe matter in terms of its thermal
properties