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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Making an Electromagnet

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Young scholars explore electromagnetic forces. In this electromagnetic activity, students construct a working electromagnet and conduct a series of experiments to see what increases the strength of an electromagnet.
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Handout
Georgia State University

Georgia State University: Hyper Physics: Electricity and Magnetism

For Students 9th - 10th
HyperPhysics is an exploration environment for concepts in physics by Georgia State University which employs concept maps and other linking strategies to facilitate smooth navigation. This section focuses on electricity and magnetism.
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Unit Plan
Florida State University

Florida State University: Magnet Lab: Molecular Expressions: Electricity & Magnetism Java Tutorials

For Students 9th - 10th
Molecular Expressions is a comprehensive scientific educational resource that features a considerable collection of interactive Java tutorials relating to electricity and magnetism. Tutorials range in complexity and difficulty of...
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Online Course
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Mit: Open Course Ware: Electricity and Magnetism

For Students 9th - 10th
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology offers a free and open educational resource for educators, students and self-learners. The university's physics OpenCourseWare includes a large section on electricity and magnetism. Numerous...
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Unit Plan
Georgia Department of Education

Ga Virtual Learning: Physical Science: Electricity and Magnetism

For Students 9th - 10th
Students learn about static electricity using terms such as friction, induction, and conduction. They also explain and illustrate the difference between alternating and direct current, and understand the relationship among voltage,...
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Online Course
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Mit: Open Course Ware: Courses: Physics Ii: Electricity and Magnetism

For Teachers 9th - 10th
College-level physics course highlighting electricity and magnetism. This course is divided into several modules including electric fields, magnetic fields, electromagnetic forces, conductors and dielectrics, electromagnetic waves, and...
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Website
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: Solar House

For Students 9th - 10th
In this What's Up in the Environment? video segment, an electrical engineer in Virginia and his 13-year-old son explain how they produce electricity in their home. [3:58]
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Interactive
University of Colorado

University of Colorado: Ph Et Interactive Simulations: Band Structure

For Students 9th - 10th
Explore the origin of energy bands in crystals of atoms. The structure of these bands determines how materials conduct electricity. Java required.
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Interactive
University of Colorado

University of Colorado: Ph Et Interactive Simulations: Electric Hockey

For Students 9th - 10th
Play hockey with electric charges. Place charges on the ice, then hit start to try to get the puck in the goal. View the electric field. Trace the puck's motion. Make the game harder by placing walls in front of the goal. This is a clone...
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Interactive
University of Colorado

University of Colorado: Ph Et Interactive Simulations: Electric Field of Dreams

For Students 9th - 10th
Play ball! Add charges to the Field of Dreams and see how they react to the electric field. Turn on a background electric field and adjust the direction and magnitude. (Kevin Costner not included). Java required.
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Website
Science Buddies

Science Buddies: Solar Cell Power Output vs. Temperature

For Students 6th - 8th
Solar cells provide a clean way of making electricity directly from sunlight. In this project you will build a simple circuit and experimental setup to investigate whether the power output of a solar cell changes with ambient temperature.
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Activity
Science Buddies

Science Buddies: Walking Coins on a (Vertical!) 'High Wire'

For Students 9th - 10th
Here is a project that is almost like a magic trick: with a strong magnet and a simple apparatus you can build yourself, you can make a coin "walk" up and down a wire coat hanger. This project is an interesting way to learn about the...
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Activity
Science Buddies

Science Buddies: Batteries: The Shocking Truth

For Students 6th - 8th
Here you can find what you need to scientifically assess battery performance. In this exercise (that should take about one week) learn how batteries work, how they wear out and most importantly, how to make valid measurements to assess...
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Activity
Science Buddies

Science Buddies: A Battery That Makes Cents

For Students 3rd - 5th
Batteries are expensive to purchase in a store, but you can make one your self for exactly 24 cents. In this experiment, you will make your own voltaic pile using pennies and nickels and determine how many coins in a pile will make the...
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Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Investigating Magnetism

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
In this physical science lab, students will investigate ways to control an electromagnet, how adding coils of wire can change the magnet, and the differences between an electromagnet and a bar magnet. Students will explain in their...
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Activity
Science Buddies

Science Buddies: Shaking Up Some Energy

For Students 3rd - 8th
Shake N' Light flashlights have been advertised on televisions across the nation in the recent year. But many do not understand just how they get energy to light up the bulb without using batteries. Do this experiment to make your own...
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Website
Canada Science and Technology Museum

Canada Science and Technology Museum: Background Information for Electricity

For Students 9th - 10th
The Canada Science and Technology Museum answers some of the most common questions about electricity. For example, get the definition of electricity, the difference between alternating and direct currents, and learn how a fuse works.
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Interactive
New York Times

New York Times: Crossword Puzzle: Electricity & Magnetism

For Students 9th - 10th
The New York Times Learning Network has developed interactive & printable crossword puzzles. The theme of this puzzle is magnetism and electricity. Requires Java.
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Website
Other

Math, Physics and Engineering Applets

For Students 9th - 10th
Written by Paul Falstad, these educational Java applets address myriad concepts related to electrostatics, magnetostatics and electrodynamics. You'll find instructions on how to operate each applet, but little explanatory material.
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Unit Plan
Georgia Department of Education

Ga Virtual Learning: Magnetism

For Students 9th - 10th
In this interactive unit students will see how magnets work and how they are used in some of the most useful and common devices today.
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Article
DOGO Media

Dogo News: Plant Powered Lamps Bring Light to Village in Peru

For Students 5th - 8th
Read about the amazing development of plant-powered lamps that are bringing electricity to a village in remote Peru. Includes video.
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Unit Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Put a Spark in It! Electricity

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Uncountable times every day "with the merest flick of a finger"each one of us calls on electricity to do our bidding. What would your life be like without electricity? Students begin learning about electricity with an introduction to the...
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Lesson Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Generators: Three Mile Island vs. Hoover Dam

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students are given a history of electricity and its development into the modern age lifeline upon which we so depend. The methods of power generation are introduced, and further discussion of each technology's pros and cons follows.
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Unit Plan
Texas Education Agency

Texas Gateway: Electrifying Energy

For Students K - 1st
This tutorial reviews over electrical energy.