Aim: To help the child develop a special facet of the thermic sense, which allows one, by touch alone, to distinguish between materials with different capacities to conduct heat. Dense minerals such as stone, steel, or copper, conduct heat very well and feel cool to the touch since they draw heat off our skin rather than reflect it. Porous, organic materials, such as rubber, wood, or cork, conduct heat poorly and feel warm to the touch, since they reflect body heat against our skin, rather than draw it off. Surfaces that feel cool to the touch are generally perceived to be different in composition from surfaces that feel warm.

Material: This wooden box is divided into five compartments, each of which contains an identical pair made of a particular material. The materials included are metal, cork, wood, stone, and glass.

This product includes a downloadable lesson plan.