Magnetism
TEKS Objective
The student is expected to measure, compare, and contrast physical properties of matter, including size, mass, volume, states (solid, liquid, gas) temperature, magnetism, and the ability to sink or float.
Essential Understanding
The student knows that matter has physical properties and those properties determine how matter is classified, changed and used.
Science Background
Electricity and Magnetism: Windows to the Universe (website) - Explains how electricity and magnetism are related. Additional topics include electromagnetic radiation, planetary magnets, and magnetic fields.
Electricity and Magnetism
Windows to the Universe, www.windows2universe.org
The Wonders of Electricity and Magnetism: MIT World (Video) - Professor Walter Lewin gives a public lecture (1hr 41m) on electricity and magnetism, including amazing demonstrations.
The Wonders of Electricity and Magnetism
by Walter Lewin, MIT World, www.mitworld.mit.edu
Factors Determining Magnetic Properties: School of Champions (website) - Summary explanation of the factors—such as the orientation of electrons, atoms and molecules—that dictate the magnetic properties of different materials.
Factors Determining Magnetic Properties
School of Champions, www.school-for-champions.com
Signature Lesson
Metals and Magnets: American Chemical Society (PDF) - Students predict, test, compare and discuss the magnetic properties of common metal objects.
Metals and Magnets
ACS, www.acs.org
Magnet Lesson Plan: Edweb (pdf) - Students will describe common characteristics of magnets and relate to everyday use.
- Supporting Lessons
- Extensions
- Assessment Ideas
- Literature Connections
- Related
TEKS - Additional Resources
Supporting Lessons
Get the Iron Out of Your Breakfast Cereal: Scientific American (website) - Students use a magnet to extract iron fragments from breakfast cereal.
Get the Iron Out of Your Breakfast Cereal
Scientific-American, www.scientificamerican.com
Magnetic Pick-ups: Science NetLinks (website) - Students explore the magnetic properties of various materials.
Elaboration Lessons and Extensions
Electromagnets: Science and Health Education Partnership (website) - Build electromagnets from wire and metal. Includes downloadable student worksheets.
Electromagnets
Science and Health Education Partnership, www.seplessons.ucsf.edu
Magnetic Lines of Force: Exploratorium (website) – Use a cow magnet and iron filings to show magnetic force lines in three dimensions.
Magnetic Lines of Force
Exploratorium, www.exploratorium.edu
Assessment Ideas
Provide students with various materials and ask them predict which items will be attracted to a magnet and which will not. Students should justify their predictions, and then use a magnet to confirm whether they were correct.
Literature Connections
Amazing Magnetism (Magic School Bus Chapter Book). Carmi, R. (ISBN: 978-0439314329)
Magnetic and Non-Magnetic. Royston, Angela (978-0431138343)
Magnetism. Richardson, Adele (978-1429602259)
Additional Resources
Magnetism, The Game: GPrime (website) - Fun interactive with multiple levels of difficulty. The player attempts to drop a magnetic ball into a metal plate, adjusting the drop point and direction of the ball to counteract magnets that can change the ball’s path.
TEKS Navigation
Grade 4
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