--- title: 6-8.PS3.A.3 description: 6-8.PS3.A.3 Apply scientific principles to design, construct, and test a device that either minimizes or maximizes thermal energy transfer. image: https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/Right%20Image.png --- [![Teacher Login](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/347944/f56bee57-133e-4975-8055-799f1f23588b.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/347944/f56bee57-133e-4975-8055-799f1f23588b) [Teacher Login](https://app.knowatom.com/signin) [![KnowAtom Logo](https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/KnowAtom%20Logo.svg "KnowAtom Logo")](https://www.knowatom.com/) # 6-8.PS3.A.3 Apply scientific principles to design, construct, and test a device that either minimizes or maximizes thermal energy transfer. [![Download a Sample Unit](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/347944/20eee377-e175-48fe-a039-ae723137a2a6.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/347944/20eee377-e175-48fe-a039-ae723137a2a6) Science & Engineering Practices - [Developing and using models](https://www.knowatom.com/developing-and-using-models) - [Planning and carrying out investigations](https://www.knowatom.com/planning-and-carrying-out-investigations) - [Constructing explanations and designing solutions](https://www.knowatom.com/constructing-explanations-and-designing-solutions) - [Engaging in argument from evidence](https://www.knowatom.com/engaging-in-argument-from-evidence) - [Obtaining evaluating and communicating information](https://www.knowatom.com/obtaining-evaluating-and-communicating-information) Disciplinary Core Ideas - [Weather and Climate](https://www.knowatom.com/weather-and-climate) - [Conservation of Energy and Energy Transfer](https://www.knowatom.com/conservation-of-energy-and-energy-transfer) Crosscutting Concepts - [Patterns](https://www.knowatom.com/patterns) - [Cause and Effect](https://www.knowatom.com/cause-and-effect) [![New call-to-action](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/347944/b5a1446e-d782-4a5f-a019-0b3b98c8304f.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/347944/b5a1446e-d782-4a5f-a019-0b3b98c8304f) ## Browse 6-8.PS3.A.3 Lesson Plans Grade Ranges All K-2 3-5 6-8 [![](https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/Grade/Screenshot%20(32).png) ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/7th-grade-science/mass-and-heat-transfer) ## [Mass and Heat Transfer In this unit, students explore phenomena of natural processes that cause Earth’s surface to change over time, analyzing how energy causes Earth’s matter to transform and cycle from one form to another. In this lesson, students investigate how Earth materials are continually being reshaped and reformed by multiple processes that are powered by energy from Earth’s hot interior and the sun. This page is a high-level extract of this lesson. ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/7th-grade-science/mass-and-heat-transfer) [ VIEW LESSON ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/7th-grade-science/mass-and-heat-transfer) [![](https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/image1-Oct-09-2023-06-50-12-9288-AM.png) ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/8th-grade-science/engineering-greenhouses) ## [Engineering Greenhouses In this unit, students evaluate how Earth is heated unevenly by investigating how the angle that the sun’s rays hit Earth affects temperatures at different locations. In this lesson, students use their scientific knowledge of phenomena related to global warming and climate to engineer a model greenhouse that reaches a specific temperature. This pages provides a snapshot of this lesson.](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/8th-grade-science/engineering-greenhouses) [ VIEW LESSON ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/8th-grade-science/engineering-greenhouses) [![](https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/image3-Oct-08-2023-07-36-38-7863-PM.png) ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/6th-grade-science/chemical-reactions) ## [Chemical Reactions In this unit, students build on their knowledge of energy by exploring the relationship between energy and matter. In this lesson students conduct an investigation into the science phenomenon of how energy is transferred in an endothermic reaction. This page provides an overview of this lesson. ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/6th-grade-science/chemical-reactions) [ VIEW LESSON ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/6th-grade-science/chemical-reactions) [![](https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/image3-Oct-08-2023-08-03-56-9723-PM.png) ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/6th-grade-science/engineering-thermal-control) ## [Engineering Thermal Control In this unit, students focus on the Earth-Sun-moon system to explore how gravity pulls objects including satellites into orbit. In this lesson, students engineer an insulating solution for a prototype satellite that minimizes the amount of thermal energy transferred into or out of it.](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/6th-grade-science/engineering-thermal-control) [ VIEW LESSON ](https://www.knowatom.com/science-phenomena-videos/6th-grade-science/engineering-thermal-control) Standards citation: NGSS Lead States. 2013. *Next Generation Science Standards: For States, By State*s. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. Neither WestEd nor the lead states and partners that developed the Next Generation Science Standards were involved in the production of this product, and do not endorse it. ![KnowAtom Logo](https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/KnowAtom%20Logo.svg "KnowAtom Logo") Quick Links Resources Sign Up for Our Blog ### Sign Up for Our Blog Connect with Us - - - - © 2026 KnowAtom LLC  •  10 Brady Drive Unit 3   •  Ipswich MA •   01938 USA [DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION](https://www.knowatom.com/do-not-sell-my-personal-information) | [Privacy Policy](https://www.knowatom.com/privacy-policy) | [Terms of Use](https://www.knowatom.com/terms-of-use) ```json { "@context" : "http://schema.org", "@type" : "Organization", "address" : { "@type" : "PostalAddress", "addressCountry" : "USA", "addressLocality" : "Salem", "addressRegion" : "MA", "postalCode" : "01970", "streetAddress" : "27 Congress Suite 410" }, "alternateName" : "KA", "areaServed" : { "@type" : "GeoCircle", "geoMidpoint" : { "@type" : "GeoCoordinates", "latitude" : "+42.5182274", "longitude" : "-70.8877569" }, "geoRadius" : "150 km" }, "description" : "Next Generation Science STEM Curriculum", "email" : "fvigeant@knowatom.com", "image" : "https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/KA-GSD.png", "logo" : "https://www.knowatom.com/hubfs/Knowatom-2017/Image/logo-1.png", "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://www.knowatom.com/6-8.ps3.a.3", "@type" : "WebPage", "description" : "6-8.PS3.A.3 Apply scientific principles to design, construct, and test a device that either minimizes or maximizes thermal energy transfer." }, "name" : "KnowAtom", "sameAs" : [ "https://www.facebook.com/KnowAtom", "https://twitter.com/KnowAtom", "https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCS0rbN0RfqaU1xaISrdVpTA", "https://plus.google.com/110709105138117096940" ], "telephone" : "(617) 475-3475", "url" : "https://www.knowatom.com" } ```