The purpose of this assessment probe is to elicit students’ ideas about thermal expansion. It is designed to find out whether students attribute expansion of the space between molecules to the rise of the liquid in a thermometer. Elementary school students use thermometers to measure the temperature of objects and materials and are developing the procedural skills of using a thermometer. Middle school students continue to use thermometers and learn how a thermometer works. High school students deepen their understanding of kinetic molecular theory and relate the thermometer phenomenon to particle ideas about thermal expansion. Teacher notes, standards, assessment, and references are provided. This book selection also includes the Table of Contents, Dedication, Preface, Introduction, and Index.