OUTREACH : HANDS-ON WORKSHOPS : Magnetism

Explore how magnets work, how we use them in our daily lives with hands-on activities and learn the basic vocabulary.

Michigan Grade Level Content Expectations, Science, 2007

Magnetism Pre-visit Vocabulary

Aluminum: A light, silver-white, metal that is not magnetic.

Attract: A pulling force.

Copper: A reddish brown metal that is not magnetic.

Core: The center of the earth, composed of iron and nickel.

Ferromagnetic: Any metal that is attracted to magnets.

Iron: A hard, silvery-gray, magnetic metal, found in rocks and in red blood cells.

Magnet: A solid object that attracts certain metals, for example iron or steel.

Magnetic: Ability to attract certain metals.

Nickel: A hard, silvery-white magnetic metal found in rocks and meteorites.

Non-magnetic: An object that does not attract metals.

Poles: Opposite ends of a magnet.

Repel: A pushing force.

Magnetism Post-visit Activity

Post-visit activities provide your students with an opportunity to review workshop-presented concepts and introduce related subjects. Below you will find a classroom extension activity and a list of suggested resources for further exploration. We hope that you enjoyed our Outreach Hands-On Workshop, and we look forward to visiting your students again!

Hands-on Activity: Make a Compass

Materials

• Steel sewing needles
• Tape
• Bar magnets
• Shallow plastic containers
• Dish soap
• Thin slices of cork (available in sheets at hardware or building supply stores)
• Water

Procedure

1. Rub the bar magnet across the needle at least 30 times in one direction only. Start at the hole end and rub towards the point end.
2. Fill the container with water and place a drop of dish soap in the center.
3. Lay the needle across the center of the cork. Attach with tape.
4. Float the cork slice in the center of the container.
5. Spin it very gently if necessary. When it stops, it will point north.

Discussion

A compass is a tool used to find directions. It can help people figure out which way to go when they are traveling.

By rubbing the needle with the bar magnet, you made the needle a temporary magnet. By floating it in the water, you created a compass. A compass is a free-floating magnet.

Planet Earth acts like a huge weak bar magnet. It has a magnetic field around it and it has a North and South Pole. The needle of a compass always points toward magnetic north.

Suggested Resources

Books

Activities for Kids. Learning Triangle Press, McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. 1997.
Fowler, Allan. What Magnets Can Do. Children’s Press, Chicago, IL. 1995.
Rowe, Julian and Molly Perham. Amazing Magnets. Children’s Press, Chicago, IL. 1994.
Science Made Simple Grades 1–6. Frank Schaffer Productions, CA. 1997.
Tolman, Marvin N. Hands-On Physical Science Activities for Grades 2–8. Parker Publishing Company, Inc., NY. 1995.
Vecchione, Glen. Magnet Science. Sterling Publishing Co., Inc, NY. 1995.
Wood, Robert W. Electricity and Magnetism FUNdamentals: Funtastic Science Activities for Kids. Learning Triangle Press, McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. 1997.

Internet

The Exploratorium Teacher Institute — Magnetism
The Exploratorium Teacher Institute — Magnets
Canada Science and Technology Museum — Magnets
Canada Science and Technology Museum — Lesson Plan Ideas