IOWA 4-9 SCIENCE PROJECT
TEACHER GUIDE for: Magnets 5-Making a Magnet Marlene Gaston
MAGNETS.474 Grades 4-7
CONCEPT OBJECTIVE: Students will investigate and observe that some metal
objects can be made into temporary magnets by touching or rubbing the metal
object with a permanent magnet.
PROCESS OBJECTIVE: To develop a student's observing, exploring, recording,
predicting, and inferring skills.
MATERIALS (for each student):
1 copy of Student Activity Worksheet 5
1 permanent magnet
Several straight pins or paper clips
1 large iron or steel nail or rivet
(for the whole class):
Many objects made of a wide variety of materials. The students can also
be asked to bring these objects from home.
(HINTS: Stress bringing nothing of value from home.
Stress bringing a wide variety of metal objects.)
EXPLORATION:
1. Distribute 1 magnet, several straight pins or paper clips, and 1 copy
of Student Activity Worksheet 5 to each pupil. Place the teacher's collection
of objects at several stations in the room.
2. Teacher's directions to students:
"Does a nail normally pick up paper clips (or straight pins)?"
(Students will usually agree not, but a quick demonstration is good.)
"Could I make this nail into a magnet so it would pick up paper clips
(or straight pins)?" (Some students may know to touch a magnet to the
nail. Out of the students view, place a magnet on the nail so the students
see only the nail. Demonstrate picking up the paper clips (or straight pins).
Show the students what you did if they do not know. Some students may also
know about rubbing the nail with the magnet. Demonstrate by rubbing the
nail many (30-100) times in one direction with one pole of the magnet, then
pick up paper clips (or straight pins) with the magnetized nail.
"Can all objects be magnetized? Find out by touching and rubbing many
different objects and trying to pick up paper clips (or straight pins).
Record your observations on Student Activity Worksheet 5."
Allow as much time as necessary for students to try a wide variety of a
materials. (45-60 min.)
CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT: (This activity could be done in small groups or with
the whole class)
1. Ask the class:
"What objects can be made into temporary magnets?" As the students
respond, ask "What material do you think that object is made of?"
List the materials on the blackboard. If there is a difference of opinion
as to which list an object belongs, students can prove their observations
very quickly with the equipment.
"Are there similarities between the materials listed on the board?"
"Is this list of materials similar to a list we have had before?"
(Students should remember the list of materials that are attracted to magnets.)
2. Ask the students to make a rule about kinds of materials that are able
to be made into temporary magnets. (Most metals can be made into a temporary
magnet and nonmetals and a few metals can not be made into a temporary magnet.)
APPLICATION AND EVALUATION A:
Hold several "temporary magnet contests."
Who can make the strongest temporary magnets? (Students should agree how
they will measure strength.)
Who can make a temporary magnet that remains magnetized the longest? (Again
students must agree how this will be measured.)
APPLICATION AND EVALUATION B:
Ask each student to become an inventor. Take an object that is normally
not a magnet and plan how you could use it if it could be magnetized.
Plan a sharing time for the inventors.
MAGNETISM STUDENT ACTIVITY WORKSHEET 5
CAN BE MADE INTO A | CAN NOT BE MADE INTO A
TEMPORARY MAGNET | TEMPORARY MAGNET
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OBJECT | MATERIAL | OBJECT | MATERIAL
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