University of Colorado
Terra Bagga
One way to identify possible volcanic activity on other planets is by testing the planet for magnetism. A science lesson begins with pupils constructing their own planet from a dead battery, magnets, paper, and tape before labeling the...
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Compass Deviation
Learners identify and describe the difference between the magnetic north pole and true north. They consider why sailors could not steer a straight course to the New World from the Old.
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Magnets
Students explore the concept of magnetism. In this magnetism instructional activity, students use bar magnets to conduct experiments regarding magnetism. Students also use a magnetic compasses to examine magnetic poles.
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Making a Magnet / Compass
Fifth graders explore the components of a compass and how it is utilized to determine geographical directions. The magnetic field of Earth and the magnet used to magnetize the needle used in the experiment are compared and contrasted in...
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Electricity/Magnetism
Fourth graders explore magnets as fundamental parts of generators and how they are used to produce current electricity. They distinguish between the north and south pole of magnets and the difference between repel and attract. Students...
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Magnetism
Students investigate magnets. For this magnetism lesson, students begin exploring magnets. Students study attraction and repulsion and discover the poles of a magnet.
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Magnetic Force
Students are introduced to the attraction and repulsion of magnetic forces. In groups, they observe how the forces react with different materials and record their data. They develop their own conclusions about the poles of magnets and...
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Magnetic Discovery Bottle
Students examine how to conduct simple investigations and use simple equipment to gather data. In this magnet lesson students decide what types of objects are attracted to magnets.
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Magnets and Springs
Students explore magnetic attraction. In this magnets lesson, students participate in an interactive whiteboard activity in which objects are dragged onto a virtual table and categorized as to whether they are "repelled" or "attracted"...
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Properties of Magnets
Second graders read and discuss the book "What Magnets Can Do." They recall the explanations of magnet, attract, repel, and magnetic poles from their reading. They work in pairs to discover the properties of magnets using a magnet and...
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Naturally Magnetic Elements
Young scholars explore naturally magnetic elements. In this magnets lesson plan, students examine the periodic table of elements. Young scholars discover the parts of an atom and determine which three elements are magnetic.
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Magnetic Experiment
Third graders experiment with magnets. In this magnet experiment lesson, 3rd graders explore magnetic attraction and repulsion. Students rotate through four stations and investigate the properties of magnets.
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Let's Think About... Magnets and Gravity
Students watch an episode of the PBS show "Jay Jay the Jet Plane," and explore magnets and gravity. They conduct various experiments involving magnets and sand, bean bags, and a fishing pole with magnets.
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Teaching About Magnets in Kindergarten
Students explore magnets through the five lessons of this unit. The everyday uses of magnets and an awareness of magnetic attraction form the basis of the skills presented in these lessons.
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Ice-Fishing
Students go ice-fishing. In this magnet instructional activity students use magnetic fishing poles at the sensory table. the sensory table is full of cotton balls. They find magnetic numbers that have been hidden.
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What is the Attraction?
Second graders investigate the law of polarity. In this magnets instructional activity, 2nd graders discover how magnets are used in everyday life and which objects in our environment are magnetic. Students experiment with bar magnets...
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The Magnetometer
Students build an instrument. In this magnetism lesson, students learn about the north and south poles of magnets and build a magnetometer that detects the direction of a magnetic field.
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Making A Compass
This interesting science lesson is about the compass. Students make a compass out of a magnet, sewing needle, cork, and a glass dish. The lesson includes both a pre and post-test for the students to take, and some very good links to...
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What Do Magnets Do?
Second graders discover the physical properties of magnets. In this physics lesson, 2nd graders investigate the differences between natural and man made magnets and the uses of each. Students complete 4 separate RAFT assignments based...
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TE Activity: Yogurt Cup Speakers
Sixth graders build a speaker as they investigate the roles of electricity and magnetism. They discover the properties of magnets, create an electromagnet, and determine the direction of a magnetic field. They show cause and effect...
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Using Magnetotactic Bacteria to Study Natural Selection
Students observe bacteria that are able to orient themselves using the Earth's magnetic field.They comprehend the difference between anaerobic and aerobic organisms. Students can tell the difference of the shape of magnetic force field...
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The Flying Paperclip
Students investigate items that interrupt magnetic fields. In this physics lesson plan, students explain why the paper clip in the experiment seems to fly. They write a detailed explanation of what they did in this activity.
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Magnetorheological Fluids
Students conduct a series of experiments on magnetorheological fluids. In this physics lesson, students explain how these fluids behave in varying magnetic field strength. They give practical applications of magnetorheological fluids.
University of Colorado
Terra Bagga
Earth's magnetic poles switch positions about every 200,000—300,000 years. In the activity, groups create a planet with a magnetic field. Once made, they use a magnetometer to determine the orientation of the planet's magnetic field....