+
Activity
Science Buddies

Science Buddies: Spin Right 'Round With This Simple Electric Motor

For Students 6th - 8th
If you put on clothes that were washed in a washing machine, rode in a car, ate food from a fridge, warmed up lunch in a microwave, or played a video game, you used an electric motor. Try this science fair project and you'll learn how to...
+
Activity
Museum of Science

Museum of Science and Industry: Online Science: Build an Electric Motor

For Students 3rd - 8th
Step-by-step illustrated instructions show how to build a simple electric motor using everyday materials to make a wire coil spin. An explanation of the science involved is given at the end, as well as tips on troubleshooting any...
+
Article
Florida State University

Florida State University: Magnet Lab: Team Tesla: How We Keep the World's Most Powerful Magnets in Shape

For Students 9th - 10th
Our magnets are like world-class athletes - Team Tesla, if you will. They have an awful lot of power, but to stay in that kind of shape, they need to eat and drink - a lot.
+
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.
+
Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: The Good, the Bad and the Electromagnet

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Using plastic straws, wire, batteries and iron nails, student teams build and test two versions of electromagnets-one with and one without an iron nail at its core. They test each magnet's ability pick up loose staples, which reveals the...
+
Lesson Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: The Electric and Magnetic Personalities of Mr. Maxwell

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students are briefly introduced to Maxwell's equations and their significance to phenomena associated with electricity and magnetism. Basic concepts such as current, electricity and field lines are covered and reinforced. Through...
+
Lesson Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Electromagnets

For Teachers 9th - 10th
In this activity, the learners will complete the grand challenge and design an electromagnet to separate steel from aluminum for the recycler. In order to do this, students compare the induced magnetic field of an electric current with...
+
Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Building an Electromagnet

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students design and construct an electromagnet that must pick up 10 staples. They begin with only minimal guidance, and after the basic concept is understood, are informed of the properties that affect the strength of that magnet. They...
+
Unit Plan
Georgia Department of Education

Ga Virtual Learning: Magnetism and Electromagnetism

For Students 9th - 10th
In this interactive learning module, students learn about the basic properties of magnetism. Practice problems are provided for ongoing assessment.
+
Lesson Plan
Other

Bc Hydro: Power Smart for Schools: Electromagnetism

For Students 6th - 8th
This set of activities has students using everyday items (batteries, magnets, compasses, iron and paper clips) to reveal the connection between electricity and magnetism. Ideally, students will already have experience building simple...
+
Lesson Plan
OpenSciEd

Open Sci Ed: 8.3 Forces at a Distance

For Teachers 8th
This unit allows students to investigate the cause of a speaker's vibration in addition to the effect.
+
Unit Plan
Open Ed

Open Ed Sci: 8.3 Forces at a Distance

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This unit launches with a slow-motion video of a speaker as it plays music. In the previous unit, students developed a model of sound. This unit allows students to investigate the cause of a speaker's vibration in addition to the effect.
+
Interactive
Other

Stile: 2.1 Lesson: Electromagnetism (Part 1)

For Students 4th - 6th
This is a sample lesson on electromagnetism. It includes animated diagrams, interactive exercises, an audio option for reading the text, and comprehension questions throughout where students can type their answers or pick from...
+
Website
NASA

Nasa: Oersted and Ampere Link Electricity

For Students 9th - 10th
NASA provides a nice blending of the achievements of three scientists, Oersted, Ampere, and Maxwell. This done by NASA-sponsored International Solar-Terrestrial Physics group. Lots of pictures, diagrams, and scientific explanation. Good...
+
Unit Plan
E-learning for Kids

E Learning for Kids: Science: Italy: How Are Magnets Made?

For Students 3rd - 5th
Paolo works in a Pizzeria. He is trying to make his own magnets. Join him and help him learn.
+
Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Building an Electromagnet

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students will demonstrate how an electric current can make an iron object magnetic by building an electromagnet with a steel nail, insulated wire, a simple switch, a battery/cell, and small metal washers. Students predict the number of...
+
Handout
Wikimedia

Wikipedia: Magnet

For Students 9th - 10th
Wikipedia.com provides an excellent introductory site on magnets. Including basic information describing different types of magnets and their characteristics.
+
Handout
Wikimedia

Wikipedia: Electromagnet

For Students 9th - 10th
Easy-to-read information and an illustration of an "electromagnet," a type of magnet in which the magnetic field is induced by the flow of an electric current.
+
Website
Canada Science and Technology Museum

Canada Science and Technology Museum: Background Information for Magnets

For Students 9th - 10th
What makes a magnet? Learn all about magnets in this Q&A section. Educator resource materials are linked to this site.
+
Article
Florida State University

Florida State University: Magnet Lab: What Is a Bus Room?

For Students 9th - 10th
The MagLab's bus tunnel has an aluminum track, but it doesn't carry passengers: it carries electricity, up to 56 megawatts of it.
+
Interactive
National High Magnetic Field Laboratory

Magnet Academy: Transformers

For Students 9th - 10th
Use this interactive, simple transformer to make a complete circuit via induction using two separate coils with iron cores inside.
+
Handout
National High Magnetic Field Laboratory

Magnet Academy: Timeline of Electricity and Magnetism: 1820 1829

For Students 9th - 10th
Hans Christian Orsted's accidental discovery that an electrical current moves a compass needle rocks the scientific world; a spate of experiments follows, immediately leading to the first electromagnet and electric motor.
+
Activity
Exploratorium

Exploratorium: Science Snacks: Magnetic Suction

For Students 9th - 10th
An experiment to find out how an old-style doorbell works.
+
Activity
Exploratorium

Exploratorium: Science Snacks: Modulated Coil

For Students 9th - 10th
Can you hear a magnet? In this activity you will be able to transfer the sound from your iPhone, iPod or radio to a cassette-tape player.