Overview

Grades

3+ (Ages 8+)

Time

40 minutes per lab

Unit Essential Question(s)

How do magnets interact with each other and with other objects?

Unit Understandings

The following concepts will be covered throughout this Unit:

How to gather data, recognize patterns, and make predictions.
How to identify objects that are attracted or repelled by magnetism.
How magnets can create a force that can push or pull certain objects without direct contact.

Lab Summary

Click on the following tabs for a summary of what the students will do and learn in each lab.

Lab 1 - Magnets and Movement

Main Focus Question: What determines if an object is magnetic?

Students will test the basic magnetic property of different materials using the Magnet Car magnets, collect the data, and form a conclusion from the investigation.
Students will describe the interaction between like and unlike magnetic poles.
Students will experiment with using magnetic force to "drive" the Magnet Car.

Unit Standards

Unit Standards will be addressed in every Lab within the Unit.

Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)

NGSS 3-PS2-3: Ask questions to determine cause and effect relationships of electric or magnetic interactions between two objects not in contact with each other.

How Standard is Achieved: Students will use the magnets on the Magnet Car to test different materials to determine if they are magnetic/non-magnetic in the Engage and Play Part 1 sections. They will share their observations and identify the properies that make these objects magnetic or not in the Mid-Play Break. In Play Part 2, students will then be tasked with applying what they have learned about magnets to drive the Magnet Car from start to finish using magnetic force only.

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