Magnets & Electricity
Investigation 1: The Force
Part 4
Detecting the Force of Magnetism
Students explore ways to detect the magnetic force. They find several ways to detect the force and make it visible using things such as compasses and iron filings.
3. Lesson set up and Management
2.1.2 Plan and conduct simple investigations, using appropriate tools, measures and safety rules.
2.1.3 Use data to construct reasonable explanations.
2.1.5 Record and report observations, explanations and conclusions using visual oral, written, and mathematical expression.
3.1.2 Propose, design and test a solution to a problem.
3.1.3 Evaluate how well a design or product solves a problem.
1. Magnetism can be induced in a piece of steel that is close to or touching a magnet.
2. Magnets attract or repel one another.
3. The magnetic force causes magnetic interactions.
4. A force is a push or pull.
3. Lesson set up and Management
Materials:
1. Make sure that you prepare your magnet boxes and iron filings. Have masking tape on hand if you do not want the students to put them together.
2. If the magnet boxes are not completed and you would like to have the students prepare them, review the preparation of the magnet boxes on pg. 32 carefully with students.
3. You can bring a variety of other magnets for further discovery.
4. Make one copy of Student Sheet No. 6 for each student.
5. The iron filings work better when they are in a double bag. The single bags tend to let the iron filings out when exploring with the magnets.
6. Discuss how to read a compass when you hand them out. Many students have never used one before. Practice finding directions by using towns nearby.
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Students working together to find the magnets hidden in the boxes. |
Student Management:
1. Keep all materials at the station at which they are working. Don't let them carry the materials around. Let the students wander and explore.
2. Keep an eye on the child who may want to test the items near the caution signs.
3. Be on the look out for those who think they can untape the box and find the magnets the quick way.
4. Be on the look out for the child who will try to open the magnet filings bag. This can make a huge mess so stress the importance of not opening them before teaching the lesson.
5. Keep Moving! If you are constantly moving, it will keep everyone on task.
1. You can lengthen or shorten the time on any lesson.
2. Use Pages 2 & 3 to help guide further inquiry at the end of every part.
3. Give students time to discuss their observations with each other.
4. Give journal reflection time.
5. Keep word banks and content inquiry charts up so students can see and have more time to copy later, if needed. It's nice if you can keep them up all the time and just add to them as you go.
Writing Support:
1. Reflective journaling on the day's lesson.
2. Start and finish each lesson with a KWLQ chart. ("What do I know?", "What do I want to know?", "What have I learned?" and "Are there any more questions to investigate?").
3. Write a creative story in narrative form about a day in the life of a magnet.
4. Have students write all word banks and inquiries in their journals.
Reading Support:
1. Read FOSS Science Story "How Magnets Interact" either as a read aloud or for partner reading.
2. Check the Resource section of the teacher's guide for more reading suggestions or the literature link on this site.