Too Hot To Touch? (A Data-Driven Heat Investigation)
Energy and Change- Grade:
- 5
- Teacher:
- Karen Maninang
This project investigates how different outdoor ground surfaces absorb and retain heat in a desert climate and how these temperature differences may impact environmental safety. Using a BBC micro:bit with a built-in temperature sensor, surface-adjacent air temperatures were measured 2 cm above concrete, dirt, grass, and rubber at 1:30 PM over three consecutive sunny days. Data were collected in both Celsius and Fahrenheit, and a programmed bilingual warning system (“HOT!” / “¡CALIENTE!”) was triggered when temperatures exceeded a predetermined safety threshold. The study examines how surface composition (hard vs. natural materials) influences heat absorption under direct solar radiation. Results indicate that hard, dense surfaces consistently reached higher temperatures than grass and rubber, demonstrating differences in thermal absorption and heat retention. These findings are significant for desert agricultural communities, where farmworkers frequently work close to ground level and may place food containers and tools on hot surfaces. Elevated surface temperatures can accelerate food warming, increase burn risk from overheated tools, and contribute to dehydration and heat-related stress. By integrating environmental science with microcontroller technology, this project demonstrates how low-cost, programmable sensors can be used to monitor heat risk and promote community safety awareness. The results support the development of practical heat-warning systems and encourage safer surface selection for outdoor work and recreation areas in high-temperature regions.
The students carefully collected measurements using a micro:bit on several different surfaces over three days, created graphs, and used their data to explain that grass stayed the coolest and that their original idea about rubber was not always correct. The project shows genuine concern for the community, makes creative use of technology, and is presented in a clear and well-organized manner.