Burning

This lesson teaches pupils about the fire triangle and the importance of understanding the three elements that are needed to produce fire: heat, fuel, and oxygen. They will be introduced to the concept of combustion and how it leads to the formation of new materials. The pupils will then participate in a series of hands-on activities to reinforce their understanding of the fire triangle, including a report on the history of combustion and graphs of their experimental results.

Previous Learning

Prior to this lesson, pupils should have an understanding of the states of matter and have identified and named various everyday materials. In Year 4, they learned about the states of matter and observed how some materials change state when heated or cooled.

Keywords

• Fire
• Burning
• Combustion
• Oxygen
• Carbon dioxide
• Fuel
• Mass

Influential Scientists

• Antoine Lavoisier
• Marianne Lavoisier
• Henry Cavendish
• Joseph Priestley
• Carl Scheele

Activities

The Fire Triangle

Pupils will work in groups of two to produce a report on the three elements of the fire triangle. They will also draw the triangle as part of their report.

Fire Needs Oxygen (WS)

Pupils will work in groups of four to investigate the relationship between the size of a glass and the time a tealight can remain lit. They will record the results of their experiment in a table and observe the impact of the availability of oxygen on the combustion process.

What Happens to the Mass of the Candle When Lit? (WS)

Pupils will work in groups of four to measure the mass of a tealight before and after it has been lit. They will observe the impact of combustion on the mass of the candle and record their results in a table.

Science Explained

The lesson explains the process of combustion, including the role of fuel, heat, and oxygen. The pupils will learn that the wax in a candle is the fuel, and the matches provide the heat. The available oxygen in the air is used up during combustion, leading to the formation of carbon dioxide, which then extinguishes the flame. The lesson highlights that the process of combustion is irreversible and that the carbon dioxide produced does not return to its original form as wax.

Important Lesson Guidance

Safety is the top priority in this lesson. It is important that the teacher adheres to the guidance provided and that enough materials are available for the activities, including tealight candles and narrow-gauge iron wool.