Magnetic pick-ups
http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/lessons.cfm?DocID=175
A lesson plan for Grade 4 Science
About this resource
- Appropriate grades
- 4
- Subjects
- science (general, physics and physical science)
- Provider
- American Association for the Advancement of Science
Legal
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In this lesson students will gain an understanding that certain materials are attracted to magnets and some are not. In this first lesson in a two-part series, students carry out many investigations with common objects in order to familiarize themselves with the pushes and pulls of magnets. This idea can then be developed into an understanding that objects, such as the earth or electrically charged objects, can pull on other objects. It is important that students get a sense of electric and magnetic force fields (as well as gravity) and of some simple relations between magnetic and electric currents. Science NetLinks provides a list of materials necessary for completing the activity, student handouts, and detailed instructions. This lesson also contains links to the second lesson in this unit, a website that challenges students to pull iron out of cereal using a magnet, and a link to the “How Stuff Works” website that focuses on the Magna Doodle, a children’s toy.
North Carolina Curriculum Alignment
Science (2005)
Grade 4
- Goal 3: The learner will make observations and conduct investigations to build an understanding of magnetism and electricity.
- Objective 3.01: Observe and investigate the pull of magnets on all materials made of iron and the pushes or pulls on other magnets.
- Objective 3.04: Explain how magnetism is related to electricity.
- Objective 3.08: Observe and investigate the ability of electric circuits to produce light, heat, sound, and magnetic effects.
