10 Culturally Responsive Lesson – Korean Culture for Energy Transfer II
Grade 6 Science Lesson
Topic: How Do Heating Systems Work?
Guiding Question
How do heating systems transfer thermal energy in different cultural contexts?
Standards Alignment (TEKS – Science)
6.9 Force, motion, and energy
The student knows that the Law of Conservation of Energy states that energy can neither be created nor destroyed; it only changes form.
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6.9(A): Investigate methods of thermal energy transfer, including conduction, convection, and radiation.
Learning Objectives
Science Content Objectives
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Students will identify and describe the three methods of heat transfer: conduction, convection, and radiation.
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Students will explain how heating systems rely on thermal energy transfer.
Multicultural and Global Learning Objectives
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Students will compare and contrast traditional heating systems used in Korea and the United States.
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Students will recognize how cultural practices and environmental conditions influence engineering solutions.
Materials
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Pencils
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Student worksheets
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Chromebook or other electronic device
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Videos and digital resources on thermal energy transfer
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Videos on traditional Korean heating systems (Ondol)
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PowerPoint slides explaining scientific concepts
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Images and visuals of heating and cooling systems
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Google Translate (for multilingual support as needed)
Learning Cycle
Engage
Students are shown images of Ondol, the traditional Korean underfloor heating system. In a whole-group discussion, students respond to the following prompts:
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What do you see?
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What do you already know?
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What similarities do you notice between this system and heating systems in your home?
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What differences do you notice?
The teacher records student ideas to surface prior knowledge and misconceptions.
Explore
Students watch two short videos introducing Ondol and how it functions as a heating system.
While watching, students complete a Venn diagram on their worksheet to compare Ondol with modern U.S. heating systems and make predictions about how heat is transferred in each system.
Explain
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Students share their predictions and reasoning with the class.
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The teacher shows a follow-up video or demonstration to test student predictions and address misconceptions.
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The teacher explicitly introduces and explains conduction, convection, and radiation, connecting each concept to examples from Ondol and modern heating systems.
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A visual model of Ondol is used to identify where each type of heat transfer occurs.
Elaborate
In small groups, students discuss the following question:
How do heating systems connect to your home today and to the homes of your ancestors or family members?
Students are encouraged to share cultural, familial, or geographic connections to heating practices.
Evaluate
Formative Assessment
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Whole-group and small-group discussions
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Verbal explanations during class
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Responses recorded on the worksheet
Summative Assessment
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Short quiz assessing understanding of conduction, convection, and radiation
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Written reflection comparing heating systems across cultures
Student Worksheet (Summary)
Students will:
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Analyze an image (Figure 1) of a heating system using observation prompts. What are the similarities and differences?
Figure 1. Korean Ondol vs. American FirePlace (generated by Gemini)
- Complete a Venn diagram comparing Ondol and modern heating systems.
Figure 2. Venn Diagram of Ondol and Modern heating systems (Generated by Gemini)
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Make and revise predictions about heat transfer.
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Explain how removing a barrier between hot and cold water affects thermal equilibrium.
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Identify additional heating systems they know from home or community contexts.
References (APA 7th Edition)
Texas Education Agency. (n.d.). Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills for Science, Grade 6. https://tea.texas.gov/academics/curriculum-standards/teks
Khan Academy. (n.d.). Heat transfer: Conduction, convection, and radiation. https://www.khanacademy.org/science/physics/thermodynamics
Encyclopaedia Britannica. (n.d.). Ondol. https://www.britannica.com/technology/ondol
National Geographic Society. (n.d.). Thermal energy. https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/thermal-energy/
U.S. Department of Energy. (n.d.). Heat transfer. https://www.energy.gov/eere/energy-efficiency/heat-transfer
