Boiling Stones and Bison Bones

This heat transfer activity highlights the American Indian use of fire-heated stones to boil water. It provides students with an interesting application of heat transfer by conduction, and shows them how scientists can determine the amount of heat that has been transferred. Students will gain a better understanding of heat transfer and a greater appreciation for how American Indians used available resources to accomplish tasks.

1. Web page (click here) with background information that will help you understand one interesting way that Native Americans used boiling stones.

2. YouTube video (3.5 minutes) called The Boiling Stones Demonstration.

3. Online Assignment for students to do. CLICK HERE to download a worksheet called "Bison Bones and Boiling Stones".

4. PowerPoint Presentation

5. YouTube video: (3 minutes) called No pots? No pans? No problem. This short video shows how to do the activity.

6. Student Handout for the Lab-Activity: CLICK HERE to download a copy of the student activity handout.

7. Teacher Handout for the Lab-Activity: CLICK HERE to download a copy of the teacher's handout.