A recipe for candy requires that the liquid ingredients be stirred constantly until the liquid reaches a temperature of 140°C. What type of spoon - wood or metal - will prevent burns to a person's hand while stirring the hot liquid? Explain your choice.

This lesson on conduction is taught as part of a unit on heat. The lesson follows the ICM, including a hands-on investigation and colloquium, testing the effect of hot water on an iron spoon, a plastic spoon, a wooden spoon, and a plastic straw covered in aluminum foil. Through the small group investigation, students will discover which object is the best conductor of heat.