By: Mindi Cupp & Elizabeth Cable
Melody Thomas, Instructor
Magnetism
Content learning goals:
•Magnets interact with different materials
differently.
•Magnets stick to some but not all metals.
•Magnets have two ends…
…a North & South pole.
•Magnets can be constructed out of iron nails.
•Constructed magnets can be demagnetized.
Initial Ideas by the students:
Arkansas State Standards
 Strand 3: Physical Science
Standard 7: Energy and Transfer of Energy
Students shall demonstrate and apply knowledge of energy and transfer of
energy using appropriate safety procedures, equipment, and technology.
3rd Grade-Magnetism
 PS.7.3.4
 Differentiate between magnets and non-magnets .
 PS.7.3.5
 Describe the effect of distance on attraction and repulsion.
 PS.7.3.6
 Construct a magnet by the “Touch/Stroke” method.
Missouri State Standards
Topic: Electricity and Magnetism
Science
Standard 10. Understands forces and motion
Level II [Grade 3-5]
Benchmark 1.
Know that magnets attract and repel each other
and attract certain kinds of other material (e.g.,
iron, steel)
Knowledge/skill statements
1. Knows that magnets can attract other magnets
2. Knows that magnets can repel other magnets
3. Knows that magnets attract certain kinds of materials
4. Knows that magnets attract iron
5. Knows that magnets attract steel
Visual Aid
Used
And the experiment begins…
Mindi’s Experiment
What Sticks to a Magnet?
Content learning goals:
Magnets interact differently with different materials.
Key Questions:
What types of materials stick to magnets?
Do all magnets stick to or not stick to the same types of
materials?
Procedures Used:
Students predicted from various items what would stick to a
magnet then logged their predictions.
Students tested their predictions.
Students recorded their actual observations.
Mindi’s Supplies
•Aluminum Can
•Paperclips
•Marbles
•Wooden Block
•Pennies
•Crayons
•Pencil
•Bobby pins
•Rubber band
Worksheet M1-W1
To be used with:
Activity M1
Magnetic Interactions
NAME:_________________________
Directions: For each item, predict whether it will stick to a magnet. Write
your prediction in the “prediction” column. Test your materials and write the
result in the “result” column.
ITEM
PREDICTION
RESULT
PAPER CLIPS
PENNY
MARBLE
PENCIL
ALUMINUM CAN
CRAYON
WOODEN BLOCK
Other object:
Other object:
Come up with a “rule” that can describe they types of things that stick
to magnets. Write your rule on the back of this page.
Mindi Live…
And the experiment begins…
Elizabeth's Experiment
The Making of a Magnet
Content Learning Goals:
•A nail can become magnetic when you rub it against
a bar magnet.
•During this process, the bar magnet straightens out
the iron atoms inside the nail aligning them in one
direction causing the nail to become a magnet.
•Through the force of magnetism, the nail can then
attract other objects that contain iron. (The nail,
too, must be made at least partly from iron for
this to work.)
• After magnetizing a nail, you can then
demagnetize the same nail.
The Making of a Magnet (con’t)
Key Questions:
 How can you make a magnet from a nail?
 What causes the nail to become
magnetic?
 How do you demagnetize a nail?
The Making of a Magnet (con’t)
Procedures Used:
 Students tested their nails to see if they had any
magnetic properties.
 Students rubbed the nail in a stroking fashion from
the head to the tip with a bar magnet.
 Students tested their nails by attempting to pick up a
paperclip.
 Students then dropped their nail on the floor causing
the atoms with magnetic properties to “mix-up” no
longer being aligned, demagnetizing the nail.
 Students observed that the nail no longer would pick
up the paperclip.
Elizabeth’s Supplies
 Wand Magnet
 Nail
 Paper clips
Making a Magnet
STEP 1: Take your nail and place it next to a paperclip. Does your nail
show any signs of magnetism towards the paperclip? Yes or No______
STEP 2: Take the wand magnet and rub the nail in a stroking fashion in
the same direction beginning with the head of the nail and stroking
towards the tip. Do this about 10 times.
STEP 3: Again, place the nail next to the paperclip. What happens?
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________.
STEP 4: Rub the nail 10 more times. Does this make the magnet
stronger?__________________________________________________.
Continue to rub the nail 10 times and see if you can pick up the
paperclip with the nail.
STEP 5: Drop the nail on the floor. Does this do anything to it's
magnetism? What happens?__________________________________
__________________________________________________________.
STEP 6: How can you make the nail become a magnet again?
__________________________________________________________.
Is your nail a magnet?
Constructing a magnet by
touch/stroke method
Constructing a magnet…con’t
Demagnetizing the nail
Special thanks to :
Mr. Adam Lett, Principal
White Rock Elementary
Jane, Missouri
&
Mrs. Christie Hampson
3rd Grade Teacher & her
awesome class
We appreciate the
hospitality and your
willingness to allow us the
encounter of authentic
classroom teaching. This
experience was beneficial
beyond measure.
Mrs. Melody Thomas
PET Instructor
NWACC
Ms. Joanna Hill
Tech Support
“We appreciate your support
in aiding us with the knowledge
and assistance for this project.
We grew as learners and as future
teachers…”
…Mindi & Elizabeth
Ms. Dianne Phillips
EAST/IMPACTS Facilitator
NWACC