To understand how conduction works, you need to think about the tiny particles that make up matter.
The particles of all matter are in constant random motion, but the particles of warmer matter have more energy and move more quickly than the particles of cooler matter.
When particles of warmer matter collide with particles of cooler matter, they transfer some of their thermal energy to the cooler particles.
From particle to particle, like dominoes falling, thermal energy moves through matter.
Click on the image to run a particle simulation of thermal conduction.