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) Activities in this lesson Magnets: what sticks to them? Dancing magnets Magnetic force field patterns Magnetic force through materials Levitating magnets Compass Electromagnet Speaker Magnetic Field Patterns in oil 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. Notes Nelson ran magnet stations: what sticks to magnets?, Magnet pendulum, magnetic force field patterns, magnets through materials to discover the principals of magnets. Then made a magnet using electricity: electromagnet ingridscience (grade 4/5) did magnet stations (Magnet pendulum, Levitating magnets, Magnetic field patterns) then made a compass together before two electromagnet activities (Electromagnet, Speaker), then Magnetic Field Pattern Art - see lesson plan magnet stations and more magnets Science Club I tried mixing the materials from different activities, but this was less satisfactory in terms of learning some more defined concepts about magnets and students even got bored a little more quickly. The structured compass activity was added to the end of this lesson. Grades taught Gr 2 Gr 4 Gr 5
