Magnets and Us
What would our lives be like if there were no magnets?
Magnetism

Magnetism

In this lesson, students will learn basic facts about magnetism.

Lesson 1: day one (30 minutes)

Teacher will show video on Magnetism. After viewing this video, students will gather in groups to discuss the video, and will make a chart of important facts about Magnetism that were discussed in the video.

Lesson 2: day one (15 minutes)

Initiate a Scientific Journal which the student will be instructed to write down three facts and make accompanying drawings.

Journal notetaking is to be done alongside  experiments on magnets the classroom will be doing next.

Elements of notetaking to be explained to students:

  1. Write your name, date, and class topic on top of page;
  2. Each day gets a new sheet, try to write on one side of the paper;
  3. Leave space between note for review later;
  4. It is ok to listen and not write all the time - jot down important facts the teacher labels as important;
  5. Use colors, shapes or words to identify different ideas;
  6. Draw a picture or make a diagram to help remember an idea;
  7. Have plenty of writing utensils;
  8. Sit up close and make eye contact;
  9. FOR TEACHER: give your students a break every twenty minutes if the intensity of study is overwhelming ; - )
The Next two activities can be selected from the site Kid Science Experiment, which has a wealth of experiments specific for children.

Lesson 3: day two (30 minutes)

The teacher will bring out four boxes, one for each of four groups, where some objects that may or may not be attracted to magnets. Using a fishing pole (a pencil with a line connected to it, and a magnet attached to the end of it), the students will determine which objects are affected by magnetism.

In their scientific journal, students will jote down notes on which objects were affected, and try to infer why the others were not affected.

Lesson 4: day two (20 minutes)

Students will  make their own magnet, and experiment with paper clips, while taking notes on Journal.

Magnet making resources can be found in these books.

Teacher can also use the following worksheet to take notes regarding making a magnet.

Assessment:

Students will be assessed with the Scientific Journal they have started in Lesson 2.



California Content Standards
Science
Grade Four
Physical Sciences
SCI.4.1 Electricity and magnetism are related effects that have many useful applications in everyday life.
SCI.4.1.f. Students know that magnets have two poles (north and south) and that like poles repel each other while unlike poles attract each other.
Investigation and Experimentation
SCI.4.6 Scientific progress is made by asking meaningful questions and conducting careful investigations.
SCI.4.6.a. Differentiate observation from inference (interpretation) and know scientists' explanations come partly from what they observe and partly from how they interpret their observations.
SCI.4.6.c. Formulate and justify predictions based on cause-and-effect relationships.
SCI.4.6.d. Conduct multiple trials to test a prediction and draw conclusions about the relationships between predictions and results.
SCI.4.6.f. Follow a set of written instructions for a scientific investigation.