Lesson plan

Magnet stations and more magnets/electromagnets

Summary
Free play at several stations to figure out how magnets work. Then guided activities to explore other uses of magnets: compass, electromagnet, magnet art.
Science content
Physics: Motion and Forces, Newton’s Laws, Gravity (K, 2, 6)
Physics: Electricity, Electromagnetism (7)
Procedure

This is a long lesson.

Run magnet stations with a small selection of activities.

Follow with a group magnet activity:
Ask what is the biggest magnet they can think of.... the Earth. Make the compass.
Make your own magnet using electricity. Make the electromagnet.
Make a device that works with a magnet:a speaker.
For a messy but beautiful art project, make and photograph magnetic field patterns in oil.

Look at images of devices that use magnets: door buzzer, speaker, maglev train, scrap yard magnet.

Grades taught
Gr 2
Gr 4
Gr 5