Curated OER
Discovering Magnetic Fields
Fifth graders examine the different types of magnets (bar, horseshoe, disc, ball, etc.) and experiment with the magnets and iron filings to discover the magnetic fields of each type of magnet.
Other
Magnet Sales & Manufacturing: Permanent Magnet Design Guide
Very advanced information about permanent magnets and how they are constructed. Covers different functions they perform, the four classes of commercial magnets, how magnets are measured, design considerations, the B-H curve, calculations...
National High Magnetic Field Laboratory
Magnet Academy: Magnets From Mini to Mighty
If your knowledge of magnets ends with posting a to-do list on the fridge, add this to the list. Learn more about magnets! You can start here with a straightforward rundown of magnet types, uses and strengths, explained in a way that...
Washington State University
Washington State University: Ask Dr. Universe: How Are Magnets Made?
Website addresses curious questions about science in a letter format. Here, Dr. Universe is asked about magnets and how they are made and he attempts to explain in an easy to understand answer.
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Magnets!
Learn about magnets, magnetic forces, and how magnets make things move.
University of Florida
Florida Museum of Natural History: Physical Science
This guide focuses on four physical science topics that fascinate children and scientists alike. They are motion, magnets, sound, and light. With your guidance and support, these topics provide children with many opportunities to explore...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Magnets: What "Sticks"
While working in small groups, students will learn about magnetism by exploring what does and does not "stick" to a manget. Students will learn that only objects made of metal stick to magnets but not all objects made of metal stick.
Wikimedia
Wikipedia: Magnet
Wikipedia.com provides an excellent introductory site on magnets. Including basic information describing different types of magnets and their characteristics.
Wikimedia
Wikipedia: Electromagnet
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.
Other
All About Circuits: Magnetism and Electromagnetism: Permanent Magnets
A good explanation of what the property of magnetism is and how it occurs naturally in lodestone and can be generated in metals such as steel. It describes how a ferromagnetic material such as iron becomes magnetized when near a...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: A Magnetic Personality
Learners learn about magnets and how they are formed. They investigate the properties of magnets and how engineers use magnets in technology. Specifically, students learn about magnetic memory storage, which is the reading and writing of...
Read Works
Read Works: The Sad Tale of the Lonely Magnet
[Free Registration/Login Required] A literary text about life from a magnet's point of view. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
Read Works
Read Works: Magnetism Magnets: Types and Uses
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about magnets and their uses. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
Discovery Education
Discovery Education: Science of Everyday Life: Interaction at a Distance [Pdf]
An experiment where students investigate the strength of magnets. This site includes a lesson plan with both teacher and student information for completing the experiment.
Lumen Learning
Lumen: Boundless: Magnetism and Magnetic Fields: Permanent Magnets
This short module covers permanent magnets, the concept of polarity, and the manufacture of permanent magnets. Includes some quiz questions.
Other
Magnet Man: Cool Experiments With Magnets
Here is a lengthy listing of activities and resources pertaining to magnets and magnetism. Experiments which can be performed with many different types of magnets are described; detailed directions and photos are provided.
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Australian Broadcasting Corporation: News in Science: This Is an Antimagnet
From ABC News in Science, Julie Steenhuysen's article covers research into antiferromagnets (or antimagnets) and their "external magnetic field."
Science Bob Pflugfelder
Science Bob: Build an Electromagnet!
This site presents a procedure for creating your own electromagnet using an iron nail, some wire, and a battery. The site illustrates a connection between electricity and magnetism.
ClassFlow
Class Flow: Magnet Flipchart
[Free Registration/Login Required] Flipchart helps students differentiate which objects are attracted by a magnet and which are not. Students will also predict whether different materials will be attracted or repelled by magnets....
ClassFlow
Class Flow: Magnets
[Free Registration/Login Required] This flipchart helps students differentiate between and identify objects that are attracted by a magnet and those that are not attracted by a magnet.
ClassFlow
Class Flow: Magnets and Springs
[Free Registration/Login Required] This unit gives children experience of forces including attraction and repulsion between magnets, compression and stretching of springs, and stretching of elastic bands. They learn that these forces...
ClassFlow
Class Flow: Magnets Are Amazing
[Free Registration/Login Required] This flipchart is an activity to help students understand magnet force.
ClassFlow
Class Flow: Marvelous Magnets : What's the Attraction?
[Free Registration/Login Required] This flipchart contains a video clip about magnets, click and drag sorting activity, and assessment questions. It's great for primary grades.
Science Struck
Science Struck: Properties, Types, and Applications of Alnico Magnets
An alnico magnet is a special type of magnet that combines several metals in order to adapt the magnet for different applications. Learn about their properties, the different types, how they are manufactured, and what they are used for.