Thermal equilibrium is a basic concept in thermodynamics. In India, this concept is generally
introduced at the first year of undergraduate education in physics and chemistry. In our earlier
studies (Pathare and Pradhan 2011 Proc. episteme-4 Int. Conf. to Review Research on Science
Technology and Mathematics Education pp 169–72) we found that students in India have a rather
unsatisfactory understanding of thermal equilibrium. We have designed and developed a module of five
activities, which are presented in succession to the students. These activities address the
students’ alternative conceptions that underlie their lack of understanding of thermal equilibrium
and aim at enhancing their understanding of the concept.