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OVERVIEW: This is a series of lessons developed on the elementary level on magnetism and electricity. We take magnets for granted. If you asked any of your young students what magnets are used for, they will say "to keep things on the refrigerator!" They do not know that magnets are used in almost every appliance in their house. They also have no idea that magnetism and electricity are related. The aim of this unit is to acquaint the students with what magnetism is and the properties of magnets, as well as how magnets are used in the home and industry. They will learn by reading books on the topic as well as by investigating with magnets. They will learn how to create and use a compass. They will become acquainted with the vocabulary related to magnetism. From there they will go on to explore the properties of electricity. They will become familiar with the vocabulary associated with electricity and the proper use and safety involved in electricity. They will make a complete circuit to light a light bulb, as well as test materials for conductivity and insulation. The students will use the computer as a tool for creating webs, completing databases, importing graphics, research, and online quizzes and assessments.

STUDENT LEVEL: Grades 2-5

MAJOR GOALS And INSTRUCTIONAL OBJECTIVES:

1. Students will become familiar with the vocabulary associated with magnetism and electricity.

2. Students will become familiar with the properties of magnets.

3. Students will learn to plan and conduct experiments and control the variables.

4. Students will observe, describe, and record the results of their experiments.

5. Students will learn to use the skill of prediction.

6. Students will learn to interpret the results of experiments to draw conclusions.

7. Students will use technology to enhance their research, graphics, and assessment skills.

8. Students will develop an interest in experimenting on magnets and electricity.

9. Students will research the history of magnetism and important milestones in the discovery and use of electricity.

10. Students will appreciate how magnets are used in household appliances.

TIMELINE: 6-8 classroom periods (approximately 45 minutes each).

SETTING: Science classroom, homeroom classroom, computer lab; optional field trips: Liberty Science Center (New Jersey), and New York Hall of Science (Queens, New York)

ASSESSMENTS:

1. Vocabulary data sheets and tests.

2. Research on magnetism and electricity.

3. Experiments with magnets and electricity.

4. Reports on magnets and electricity-including biographies of Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Edison, Alexander Graham Bell, and others involved with the topic.

5. Graphing the strength of magnets.

6. Teacher made tests and online tests.

7. Standard setting samples of student work, experiments, lab sheets, and reports.

8. Brainstorming charts and semantic maps.

9. Oral reports.

10. Digital photography.

STANDARDS:

1. Demonstrates understanding of properties of objects and materials.

2. Demonstrates understanding of position and motion of objects.

3. Demonstrates understanding of light, heat, electricity, and magnetism.

4. Asks questions about natural phenomena.

5. Uses technology and tools to gather data and extend the senses.

6. Collects and analyzes data.

7. Represents data and results in multiple ways.

8. Demonstrates scientific competence by completing an experiment.

9. Demonstrates the writing of scientific notation.

10. Produces a report of information.

BOOKS/MAGAZINES/VIDEO

(Most books available at amazon.com)

FOR STUDENTS:

Magnetism:

The Real Magnet Book , Mae Freeman, Scholastic Books, 1967

Magnets and How to Use Them, Tillie S. Pine and Joseph Levine, Scholastic Books, 1963

Amazing Magnets, David Adler, Troll Associates, 1983

Magnets, Laurence Santrey, Troll Associates, 1985

All of the proceeding books tell what magnetism is, the properties of magnets, uses of magnets, and simple experiments.

Electricity:

Discovering Electricity, Rae Burns, Troll Associates, 1982

Electricity, Keith Brandt, Troll Associates, 1985

Junior Science Book of Electricity, Rocco V. Feravolo, Garrad Publishing, Illinois, 1960

Magnets, Rena K. Kirkpatrick, Raintree Publishers, LTD., 1985

FOR TEACHERS:

National Science Resource Center: Science and Technology for Children: Magnets and Motors Teacher's Guide, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. 1997

National Science Resource Center: Science and Technology for Children: Electric Circuits, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., 1997

These are excellent resource guides published by the Smithsonian. They give detailed lesson plans, show the scope and sequence, and standards for the teacher to use.

Physics For Every Kid, Janice Van Cleave, John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, 1991 This has 101 easy experiments in motion, heat, light, machines, magnetism, electricity, and sound.

VIDEOS:

Magnets! Magnets! Barr Films, 12801 Schobarum Ave. P.O. Box 7878, Irwindale, Ca. Toll-Free 1-800-234-7878. This is a short (13minutes) video which shows the fundamentals of magnetism. Appropriate for children in grades k-3.

Electricity and Electrical Safety The Children's Video Encyclopedia Tell Me Why Series, Volume XXII, 1990 Tell Me Why, Inc. 730 Washington Street, Marina Del Rey, Ca. 90290 (213) 821-3329. This is a 30 minute video on such topics as definition of electricity, atoms, making electricity, circuits, insulators, conductors, static electricity, and electrical safety.

WEB SITES:

http://pittsford.monroe.edu/jefferson/calfieri/physics/Electricity.html

This is a simple site for students to get facts from. Explains circuits, charges, insulators and conductors.

http://pittsford.monroe.edu/jefferson/calfieri/physics/Magnetism.html

Same simple site as above, except has basic magnetism facts.

http://pittsford.monroe.edu/jefferson/calfieri/physics/Magnetism.html

A wonderful site that lists about 50 places magnets are used in the home, etc. Great scavenger hunt on magnets for kids!

http://library.thinkquest.org/11924/emagnet.html

A traditional Thinkquest told and played out in very simple terms for the elementary student. I like how it relates magnetism and electricity.

http://home.interserv.com/~skyblade/magindex.htm

This site offers graphics to show the force of magnetism. It is also here the background paper came from! Also has links to magnet quiz.

http://brainpop.com/science/forces/magnetism/index.weml?&tried_cookie=true

This is a Brain Pop site that offers a wonderful movie on magnets and an online quiz.

http://school-for-champions.com/science/magnetism_ques.htm

This has an interesting format. Readers write in questions and they are answered! There is also an online quiz. The homepage explains everything with wonderful graphics.

http://www-istp.gsfc.nasa.gov/Education/Imagnet.html

This is a NASA sponsored site that talks about the Magnetosphere. For older children.

http://exploratorium.edu/snacks/iconmagnetism.html

A site that gives different experiments on magnetism. For older children.

http://my.execpc.com/~rhoadley/magindex.htm

This site is the Magnet Man! Lots of information on magnets, history, quizzes. Some parts are for older grades.

http://wondermagnet.com/dev/magfaq.html#q18

This site asks many questions about magnetism, and spends a paragraph or more explaining each question.

http://galaxy.net/~k12/electric/index.shtml

This site is a series of experiments on magnetism and electricity developed for fourth graders.

http://physics.isu.edu/~shropshi/emact.htm

A series of experiments developed for grades 3-6.

http://phys.virginia.edu/classes/620/magnetism_activities.html

A series of activities for teachers to use with their students.

http://edtech.kennesaw.edu/web/electric.html

A wonderful site with links to on and offline projects, lesson plans, research, and activities.

http://ftschool.org/fourth/science/electric_magnet.html

This site contains definitions of terms dealing with magnetism and electricity.

http://web.uvic.ca/educ/lfrancis/web/glossary.html

This site has a glossary of magnet terms, and wonderful pictures showing how atoms are what makes magnets work!

http://web.uvic.ca/educ/lfrancis/web/word-scramble.html

A magnet word scramble activity for children to do.

http://web.uvic.ca/educ/lfrancis/web/A-WEBPAGE.html

The homepage for the above two sites that answers every question a child would want to know about magnets.

http://science-tech.nmstc.ca/english/schoolzone/Info_Magnets.cfm#temp

The Canada Science and Technology Museum site with information on magnetism.

http://science.howstuffworks.com/first-time.htm?referer=electromagnet.htm

This location shows how electromagnets work.

http://www97.intel.com/scripts-tji/learner/lesson.asp?moduleSel=2&unitSel=2

This site is sponsored by Intel and has wonderful quizzes, videos, and exercises that the students can do online. They build an electric circuit, identify the parts of a flashlight, and learn how electromagnets are made. Great and interactive!