Students will discover through hands-on activities that magnets have the ability to push and pull iron objects without touching them.
Additional Resources:
Books:
Magnets by Janice VanCleave
Science Projects about Electricity and Magnets by Robert Gardner
The Magnet Book by Shar Levine and Leslie Johnstone
1-Use science process and thinking skills.
2-Manifest scientific attitudes and interests.
Invitation to Learn:
Demonstrate to the students the “flying” paperclip (a paper clip
attached to a string taped to the table is suspended in mid-air by a bar magnet).
Ask questions like: Why is the paper clip suspended in mid-air? How many other
things can you attach to a string and suspend with a magnet? Does using a circular
magnet alter the experiment? How about a horseshoe magnet? How about this nail?
Instructional Procedures:
Conclusion:
Magnets have the ability to push and pull iron objects without touching them.
Language:
Art:
Have the students design their own types of games to demonstrate the difference between magnet types and their abilities to pull or push iron objects without touching them. Suggestions: fishing poles with various magnets attached to pick up iron objects from a bucket; a paper racetrack where student-designed cars with paper clip bottoms are pulled around with magnets beneath the track; a homemade version of an "Etch-A-Sketch" using iron filings and acetate sheets.
This lesson is part of the Fifth Grade Science Teacher Resource Book (TRB3) http://www.usoe.org/curr/science/core/5th/TRB5/. The TRB3 is designed to be your textbook in teaching science curriculum to your students. This book covers all the objectives of each standard and benchmark. If taught efficiently, a student should do well on the End-of-Level (CRT) tests. The TRB3 is designed for teachers who know very little about science, as well as for teachers who have a broad understanding of science.