Teach Engineering
Magnetic Materials
The design challenge: develop a method to separate steel from aluminum. The first lesson plan in an eight-part series introduces the class to the grand challenge of ciming up with a method to streamline a sorting process at a...
Curated OER
Pop Art Pins & Magnets
Students examine cereal and snack boxes and then create magnets and/or pins using the Pop Art demonstrated in these pieces. This multi-level lesson plan emphasizes the differences between commercial art examples and fine art examples.
Teach Engineering
Solenoids
Metal slinkies, coils of wire, magnetic fields, and MRIs. To determine the safety hazards of MRI machines, class members use the provided formula to calculate the magnetic field along the axis of the solenoid.
Teach Engineering
Thrown for a Loop
Round and round it goes. Class members observe a current carrying loop in a magnetic field and calculate its associated torque. They then apply what they have learned to example problems to solve for the torque and to calculate the...
Curated OER
Iron For Breakfast
Third graders are challenged to use scientific thinking, they experiment and observe which objects are attracted to a magnet. Pupils use the evidence to construct an explanation as to what common property the objects attracted to a...
Curated OER
Solar Kit Lesson #5 - Build a Simple Ammeter
Emerging electricians build a simple ammeter for making measurements on an electric current. They test the placement of solar cells in both series and parallel circuits and examine the magnetic field produced by the movement of electrons...
Curated OER
Rocks and Minerals
Take young geologists on an exploration of the collection of rocks and minerals that we call Earth with an upper-elementary science lesson. Through a series of class discussion and hands-on investigations, students learn about the...
Curated OER
What is Magnetism?
Learners investigate magnetism. In this physics lesson, students create a KWL chart about magnetism and research various suggested websites to find out more about magnetism. Learners log on to the "BrainPOP" website and view a short...
Curated OER
MRI Safety Challenge
Learners write journal entries where they analyze potential safety dangers of an MRI machine. In this MRI lesson plan, students pretend that they are safety engineers, and produce a pamphlet of all of their findings.
Curated OER
Tortoise and Hare Races
Practice basic map skills with the story of The Tortoise and the Hare. After listening to the story, class members create a map that indicates the starting line, the path the animals took, where they stopped to rest, and the finish line....
Perkins School for the Blind
Building a Basic Series Circuit
Make science a fully accessible subject for your learners with visual impairments. They'll use tactile models to explore the nature of basic electrical circuits. Template board, wires, batteries, and Velcro are used to construct the...
Dick Blick Art Materials
Woodsies “Extraordinaire”
"This looks like an owl!" Kids get a chance to create all sorts of things by arranging various shapes, painting them, and gluing them together. A great way to encourage creativity and spontaneity.
Texas State University
Earth: Deposition and Lithification
Geology geniuses analyze sediment samples with a hand lens and sort according to physical characteristics. They also learn about the processes of cementation, compaction, and lithification within the rock cycle. The lesson plan is...
Curated OER
What are Metamorphic Rocks and How are They Formed?
Even though the student handouts are not included in the write-up, this lesson contains the instructions for terrific activities to use when teaching middle schoolers about metamorphic rocks. First, they compare granite to gneiss and...
BBC
Sound and Hearing
First and second graders recognize that sound is generated in a variety of ways, and that it comes from many different sources. They explore tone and volume, realizing that there are different ways to describe sound. Some musical...
BBC
Light and Shadows
Light is such an amazing thing! Elementary schoolers explore the wonderful world of light and shadow. The lesson is meant to be carried out on a whiteboard. Objects are placed in front of a light source, and learners must predict what...
Teach Engineering
Archimedes' Principle, Pascal's Law and Bernoulli's Principle
What do Pascal's law, Archimedes' Principle, and Bernoulli's Principle have to do with fluid mechanics? The included PowerPoint presentation provides the basic definitions and equations associated with the three. A set of homework...
Curated OER
The Magnetometer
Physical or earth science pupils prepare a magnetometer by inducing magnetism into a pair of straight pins. As the pins hang from a thread, they can be used to detect the magnetic field or poles of a magnet. They could also be used as a...
Curated OER
Magnets
Students explore the different types of magnets and their common uses. In this magnets lesson students create their own magnets.
Curated OER
Magnetism and the Scientific method
Learners explore magnets and magnetic Fields. They experiment with various objects to determine which will be attracted to the magnet. Their results are recorded in a scientific method worksheet.
Curated OER
Magnets 2: How Strong is Your Magnet?
Pupils work together to test the strengths of various types of magnets. After testing, they create a graph showing how the strength changes as the distance from the magnet increases. They discuss how forces can act from various...
Curated OER
Exploring Magnets
Second graders experiment with magnets. In this magnet lesson, 2nd graders attach a magnet to several different objects to see what it sticks to. They place objects in between a magnet and metal to see if the magnetic force still works.
Curated OER
Exploring Magnetic Fields
Middle schoolers develop the concept that magnets attract and repel items and exert a magnetic field that can vary in strength.
Curated OER
Magnets 1: Magnetic Pick-ups
Students are introduced to the power of magnets. In groups, they look at different objects and make predictions on whether they believe they are magnetic or not. They test their predictions and share their results with the class.