Curated OER
Magnets
Young scholars explore the science of magnets and how magnets work. They conduct a series of fun experiments and magnetize objects and demonstrate how magnetism operates right through other materials.
Curated OER
Magnets, Electromagnets, and Motors
Learners examine the properties of magnets and electromagnets. In this magnets lesson students create an electromagnet and use it to do work.
University of Notre Dame
Safe Science Lab Safety Awareness
Prepare young scientists for the ins and outs of lab safety with a thorough list of symbols, icons, and rules about staying safe during experiments. Additionally, the resource provides several assessment pages for kids to reflect on what...
PHET
Generator
Michael Faraday was self-educated, earned an honorary doctorate from the University of Oxford, invented the first Bunsen burner, discovered the laws of electrolysis, and proved that a changing magnetic field produces a current. In this...
Curated OER
How Strong is Your Magnet?
Students measure the strength of a magnet and graph how the strength changes as the distance from the magnet increases.
Curated OER
Magnetic Pick-ups
Students gain an understanding that certain materials are attracted to magnets and some are not.
Curated OER
Electricity
Young scholars explore electricity. After watching a PowerPoint presentation, students discuss the composition of electricity and how it is made. They participate in discovery activities by rotation through four activity stations set up...
Curated OER
Electricity Shortage
Students use the Internet to discover what electricity is and how it is made. They examine a site that discusses electricity and magnetism. They discover the ways electricity can be generated.
Curated OER
Finding Magnetic Fields of Earth
Fifth graders, in groups, create paper bag "globes", complete with magnetic poles. They use compasses to determine and label various locations (N. and S. Poles, Prime Meridian, Equator, etc.) and finish it by drawing in the continents...
Curated OER
Cosmic Rays and Solar Cells
In this cosmic rays and solar cells instructional activity, students read about how cosmic rays damage the electrical output of solar cells over time on satellites. Students use a graph of the solar power output compared to the year for...
Curated OER
Push and Pull Magnets
Fifth graders pull a paper clip sitting on paper with a magnet beneath the paper. They experiment to see what happens if they substitute the paper with thicker paper and other materials (plywood, glass, foil, etc.)
Curated OER
Static Electricity - Grocery Store Items
Students investigate static electricity using inexpensive "grocery store" items. They view demonstrations with video segments. They graph the data they collect.
Curated OER
Magnetic Testing
Students explore magnetism. They make observations of everyday items regarding their magnetic attraction and use their experiences to make a prediction.
Curated OER
The Power of the Plug: How Electricity Will Change Our Lives... Again
Students study electricity. In this physics lesson, students review electrical energy by discussing three ways of generating it. Students explore various energy sources used for creating electricity and examine how different states...
Curated OER
Electricity and Magnetism: Ben Franklin and His Influence
Fourth graders explore electricity by examining the life of Benjamin Franklin. For this biographical lesson, 4th graders listen to the teacher read facts of Benjamin Franklin's life and analyze his contributions to our current...
Curated OER
Investigating Static Electricity
In this static electricity worksheet, students read about static electricity and how opposites attract. They investigate positive and negative charge by performing 2 experiments. They write their predictions about what will happen when...
Curated OER
Circuits and Electromagnets- A Total Inquiry Investigation
Students investigate how electromagnets work. In this circuits and electromagnets lesson, students complete a series of four challenges using electricity and magnetism.
Curated OER
Current Thinking About Magnets
Students construct their own magnet and wire device. In this inquiry instructional activity, students investigate the factors affecting the strength of magnetic forces. They manipulate different variable to determine their effect.
Curated OER
Producing Electric Current
Essentially a list of definitions, this slide show will help your students understand the generation of electrical currents using magnets. There is information comparing the frequencies of currents produced and two slides to detail...
Curated OER
What is An Electromagnet?
Students explore and define electromagnets. In this electromagnet lesson, students access an assigned web site to research what an electromagnet is and how it works. They complete a database with information from the web site and...
Curated OER
Electrical Generators
Students study what an electric generator does and its history. In this energy lesson students complete several experiments including building their own electric generator.
Curated OER
Are These Made of Metal?
How can you tell if something is made of metal? Use a table of data and a science experiment to determine which items are made of metal. The experiment requires adult supervision, as it instructs third graders to build an electrical...
Science Matters
Motors
It's time to get moving! The 13th lesson plan in a 14-part unit on electricity and magnetism explores the relationship between electricity and mechanical energy. Budding scientists build motors and experiment with different...
Concord Consortium
Direction of Force Around a Van de Graaff—Negatively Charged
Learn about the direction of magnetic force with a very attractive interactive! Young physicists move a positively charged object around a negatively charged Van de Graaff generator and observe the direction of the forces present. A...