Magnets & Motors
Lesson 7
Creating Magnetism Through Electricity
Students learn by experimentation that an electric current causes magnetism.
3. Lesson set up and Management
Energy Sources and Kinds: Understand that energy is a property of substances and comes in many forms, including stored energy, energy of motion, heat energy, and other forms of energy (ST01 1.1.4).
Modeling: Correlate models of the behavior of objects, events, or processes to the behavior of the actual things under investigation; test models by predicting and observing actual behaviors or processes (IN04 2.1.4).
A compass will move in response to a magnet that is placed near it.
An electric current moving through a wire produces magnetism.
3. Lesson set up and Management
Materials:
Have materials in numbered baggies ahead of time.
If the kit is new, then wires will need to be stripped. The kit should have a tool for doing this, however it is not very good.
Newsprint or other paper is needed for brainstorming.
Student Management:
This lesson is listed as an individual student activity in the book. However, if you prefer, the lesson can also be done in pairs.
Make sure you save the brainstorming list in order to see how students ideas change throughout the unit.
Try to make sure students understand what a “short circuit” is, as this will be important later on.
The wires can become hot during this activity so warn students ahead of time.
Writing Support:
Have student write about their reflections of this lesson in their science notebooks.
Reading Support:
See the Student Activity Book for Lesson 7.