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What can magnets do?
Invisible Forces Unit | Lesson 4 of 5
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What can magnets do?

Invisible Forces Unit | Lesson 4 of 5
Lesson narration:
English Spanish
Scroll for prep
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DISCUSS (1 of 3):

What are some of the things you observed?

DISCUSS (2 of 3):

Was there anything that surprised you?

Why did that surprise you?

DISCUSS (3 of 3):

What are two or three questions you have about magnets that no one in your class knows the answer to?

Can you think of experiments that would help answer your questions?

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Demo: Once a paperclip touches a magnet and becomes a magnet itself, does a paperclip STAY that way? Or does it stop being a magnet?

Try it! (Your teacher can demonstrate this.)

Reveal answer

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DISCUSS: What do you think you could do with magnets that would be interesting?

There are so many possibilities. Here’s one I like: the magnetic sweeper I used in the parking lot to collect nails and sharp objects so they wouldn’t puncture holes in tires.

Anchor Connection

For this Anchor Connection, each student will need one copy of The Biggest Magnet in the World reading.

StormySkiesM1Connection1

StormySkiesM4Connection2

StormySkiesM4Connection3

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force


1 of 10

a push or a pull

attract


2 of 10

to pull toward
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repel


3 of 10

to push away, such as when two magnets with the same poles face each other
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metal


4 of 10

a type of material that is usually shiny and you cannot see through it
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material


5 of 10

what something is made of, like metal, wood, or plastic

property


6 of 10

something you can observe about an object or material
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magnet


7 of 10

an object that can attract or repel certain materials, often metals
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magnetic


8 of 10

something that can be pushed and pulled by magnets
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magnetize


9 of 10

to make a material magnetic
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experiment


10 of 10

a test used to discover new information about a question
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globe by Celestia , used under CC BY
sandals by luntblog , used under CC BY
Lefka Ori mountain range by Miguel Virkkunen Carvalho , used under CC BY
nails by Andrva , used under CC BY-SA
magnet rocks by Roke , used under CC BY-SA
skyline with screws by Simon Hadleigh-Sparks , used under CC BY
Or Venezuela by Didier Descouens , used under CC BY-SA
mineral copper by Daniel Stucht , used under CC BY-SA
silver by United States Geological Survey & Mineral Information Institute
iron by Siim Sepp , used under CC BY-SA
paperclip by Brandon Baunach , used under CC BY
powder steel by Aney , used under CC BY-SA
powder steel on magnet by Aney , used under CC BY-SA
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Activity
horseshoe by Ajcann , used under CC BY-SA
bar magnet by Aney , used under CC BY-SA
Credits
Lesson narration:
English Spanish

Grade 3

Forces, Motion, & Magnets

Magnets & Forces

3-PS2-3

11828 reviews

Activity Prep

Print Prep
In this lesson, students will explore the surprising properties of magnets and experiment with an invisible force that acts at a distance. In the activity, Magnet Discovery, students use ring magnets and common objects to discover the push and pull of magnets and how magnets attract certain types of metals.
Preview activity

I have a Mystery Pack

Ideas for Magnet Experiments worksheet 30 copies
Magnets Are Weird worksheet 30 copies
Magnetic Metal Items
Paper clips, staples, nails, washers, binder clips, metal bottle caps, stainless steel flatware, or anything else made of iron or steel.
Details
30 items
Non-Magnetic Metal Items
Pennies, quarters, dimes, nickels, the metal band on the end of a pencil, aluminum cans, or anything else made of aluminum, copper, silver, or gold.
Details
30 items
Non-Metal Items
Anything made of plastic, wood, glass, or paper. You can even try food items!
Details
30 items
Pencil
30 pencils
Index Cards (3x5)
60 cards
Paper Clips
120 clips
Thread
You can also use string or light ribbon.
Details
15 feet
Ring Magnets
60 magnets
Prep Instructions

Set Up Magnet Test Items

The test items should include some metals that are attracted to magnets, some metals that are not, and some non-metal items. At a minimum, students should examine one item from each of these categories. You may want to set up a test item station so that students can explore multiple items from each category.

Cut Up String

Before class, cut up the string so that each student can have some for their experiments.

Teacher Tip

Magnets are fragile, so be careful. If you smack them against each other too hard, they will break. We trust you’ll be gentle with them, but just in case, it can’t hurt to wear safety goggles.

Grade 3

Forces, Motion, & Magnets

Magnets & Forces

3-PS2-3

11828 reviews
Slow internet or video problems?
Credits
 
Forces Lesson 4: What can magnets do?

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