Other
Bc Hydro: Power Smart for Schools: Electromagnetism
This set of activities has young scholars 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...
Science and Mathematics Initiative for Learning Enhancement (SMILE)
Smile: Magnets (Lesson Plan)
A teacher lesson plan which includes six hands-on activities regarding magnets. Students will be able to experience magnetism; explain how magnets, magnetic poles and magnetic fields are related; and formulate the force law for magnets.
Science and Mathematics Initiative for Learning Enhancement (SMILE)
Smile: About Magnets (Lesson Plan)
This site provides a lesson plan which includes a hands-on activity about magnetism and magnetic fields. Parts of the plan would be easily adaptable as a student project (for any grade level).
National Geographic
National Geographic: Build a Magnetometer
Hands-on project where the learner constructs a magnetometer to monitor and measure changes in earth's magnetic field. These changes can then be used to track solar storms.
Science and Mathematics Initiative for Learning Enhancement (SMILE)
Smile: Fish and Clip
Primary activity to help "students understand some of the characteristics of magnets." Would work well in conjunction with a theme on underwater creatures or fish.
Museum of Science
Museum of Science and Industry: Online Science: Build an Electric Motor
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...
American Chemical Society
American Chemical Society: Science for Kids: Characteristics of Materials
Engaging hands-on science lessons for grades 2-6 on the properties of different materials.
Science and Mathematics Initiative for Learning Enhancement (SMILE)
Smile: Introduction to Magnets (Classroom Unit)
A teacher unit which includes several hands-on activities about types of magnets, magnetism, and electrostatics. An activity designed to suit all grade levels. Many parts of the activity would be easily adaptable as a student project.
PBS
Pbs Kids: Design Squad: Build: Inspector Detector
This challenge requires you to design and build a device that can pass above a surface and detect magnetic fields.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Put a Spark in It! Electricity
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...
Texas Instruments
Texas Instruments: You'll Get a Charge Out of This!
In this activity, students make a battery using different fruits and vegetables, a copper penny, and a zinc washer. They use a voltage probe to collect data on voltage and compare the values of different batteries.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Changing Fields
This lesson begins with an activity in which students induce EMF in a coil of wire using magnetic fields. Then, demonstrations on Eddy currents show how a magnetic field can slow magnets just as Eddy currents are used to slow large...
PBS
Pbs News Hour Extra: Satellites Orbit the Sun to Better Predict Solar Storms
For the first time, NASA scientists have generated a full image of the sun, front and back, using twin orbiting satellites. The new view of Earth's star will allow for the study of solar weather events like coronal mass ejections that...
Other
Spacetech's Orrery: Earth Our Home Planet
This site provides a very interesting overview of our home planet, Earth. Content includes a focus on the atmosphere, the pull of gravity, and the active surface.
Discovery Education
Discovery Education: Curriculum Center: Science
The Discovery Channel provides numerous topics that are the most popular science topics taught in upper elementary and middle school. Content is organized by topics (Bacteria, Oceans, Solar System, etc.); all topics include quick facts,...
Other
Family Tree Kids: Making Family History Fun
Family Tree Kids is an online magazine fro making family history fun. Learn how to make picture magnets. Stick notes to your locker with old family photographs, or build a pictorial family tree on your refrigerator. Use the link to...
Other
Fayette County Schools: Frankenstein & Electric Safety
Site contains a science-based literacy activity that explains how to use electricity in a safe manner. A worksheet is provided.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Building an Electromagnet
Learners 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...
Have Fun Teaching
Feeling Bright, Green and Proud (words with R-Blends)
What words begin with an r-blend? Group each picture card into the correct category according to its initial consonant blend. After they complete the list, have kids write words into each box in the worksheets. Fun and educational for...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Hybrid Vehicle Design Challenge
This module is written for a first-year algebra-based physics class, though it could easily be modified for conceptual physics. It is intended to provide hands-on activities to teach the overarching concept of energy, as it relates to...
Curated OER
Solar Flare
We rely on the sun to sustain life, but there are many things about the sun that the human eye is unable to detect. This media rich site offers a spectacular look at coronal mass ejections, magnetic loops, and solar flares. Interactive...
Exploratorium
Exploratorium: Science Snacks: Motor Effect
Create a simple device to see how a force is exerted on a current by a magnetic field. This activity shows how an electric motor can be made with this force.