Experiment with "Hot Clothes"

Ever notice how when you wear dark clothing on a summer day, you feel hotter? That's because darker colors absorb more heat than light colors. This experiment uses three t-shirts, some thermometeres, and the sun to teach your child that dark colors retain heat more than light-colored clothing. This activity will provide practice with science while having fun in the sun!

What You Need:

• White, black and green cotton t-shirt
• 3 thermometers
• White, black and green construction paper
• Masking tape
• Scissors
• Pencil or marker
• Paper

What to Do:

1. Have your child cut out a rectangle from each color of construction paper.
2. Lay out the t-shirts and match the color of the t-shirts to each rectangle. Then place the rectangles horizontally on the front of each t-shirt. Tape the top and the bottom of each rectangle onto the shirt, creating a "pocket," but make sure you leave the sides open.
3. Go outside and find a sunny spot and lay each shirt on a flat surface. Be sure the spot won't be disturbed by people, pets, or wind!
4. Place a thermometer into each "pocket."
5. Wait 5 minutes, and then have your child check and record the temperature for each one.
6. Ask your child what he thinks will happen to the temperature of the various shirts and have him write down his predictions on a piece of paper.
7. In about 15 minutes, check each shirt again and record the temperature.
8. Invite your child to compare the temperatures of the three shirts and ask him why he thinks the temperature is slightly different between the shirts. Explain to him that darker colors absorb the sunlight more than lighter colors.
9. Go look in his closet and ask him to point out which clothes are "hot" clothes, and ask him if he would rather wear a black shirt or a white shirt on a hot day.
10. Next time he selects clothing to wear on a hot day, remind him of the experiment. Maybe he'll change his mind about what shirt to put on!