Abdul Hussein

Electrical Magnet
Grade(s):
3rd to 5th

Subject(s): A lesson plan to introduce the concepts of Electricity and Magnetism

Length of Lesson:
45 minutes to one hour.

Lesson Overview/Rationale:
Magnetism and electricity are fundamental natural phenomena and a vital subject in any further science
learning. It is an interesting subject for the kids who get a chance to discover these phenomena first hand,
and have fun watching the magnet in action, and the lights going on with a circuit they build. It is a learn
as you play application.

Curriculum Framework/Standard:
Standard
https://online.hfcc.edu/pluginfile.php/954745/mod_resource/content/2/SCIENCE-K-
12_Science_Performance_Expectations_v5_496901_7.pdf
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.
Page 14

Learning Objectives:
After completing this chapter, students should be able to build a basic electrical circuit, using a
1.5 or a D battery as a generator.

Students will create an electromagnet, and apply the magnetic force to nails or similar metal
object.

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Students will answer questions and explain basic and familiar characteristics or functions of
magnetism and electricity, and express vocabulary that pertains to the subject matter.

Students should be able to construct an electrical magnet by wrapping a wire around an iron nail
and attaching the end of the coil they built respectively to the negative and positive poles of
battery.

Technology Uses:
A computer, a projector, and a screen to display a PowerPoint presentation for the lines of iron fillings
influx when subjected to the force of magnetism, as well as illustration for installation of wires and to
enrich the students imagination with other shapes and forms of magnets and power sources.

Materials:

Ten paper clips and 10 inches nail for each student. A 1.5 V or a D battery. A 45 inches copper wires. A
transparent tape with its case, Christmas light bulbs, Iron fillings and some white papers
Procedure:
1. Students will be grouped in two or three team members with a separate individual kit for every
student.
2. An example of wire installation will be demonstrated on a PowerPoint presentation. Clear
distinction of positive and negative poles should be established.
3. The Power Point presentation also is very useful in introducing the magnetic lines or the influx of
iron fillings.
4. Students are to experiment each on his own turning the light bulbs on in a moment of thrill and
discovery. At the end of this stage, students should be able to communicate the concept of the
electrical circuit as the path of electricity.
5. At stage II, after instructing the students to wrap their wires around the metallic nail, and
connecting the wires to batteries, ask them to pass the nail in their hands over the paper clips, let
them state their observations and explain why did the nail picked up the paper clips, and that will
be the ripe moment to introduce the concept of magnetism.
6. In order to enhance the new concept, students would be asked what would happen if we take
one of the wires off its pole? The class will be regrouped into two major groups to ask each group
how we can strengthen the magnet power, so it would pick up more nails and hold it for longer
time.
7. Suggestions made to the two groups is to experiment on more batteries, more wires or more
batteries and wires. Each group is assigned an experiment in respective.
8. Finally, we reach the last stage where the teacher will sprinkle iron fillings over a paper and have
the students watch and observe as the magnetic lines takes shape, in the same manner it was
presented with PowerPoint. Thus, outlining the concept that Electromagnets do have lines of
force, or what we call influx.

Assessment:
Final assessment and evaluation for students comprehension of the lesson contents will be based upon
their ability to answer questions related to major points in the lesson, which can be outlined by certain
questions:
How did we make electricity?
How did we make an electromagnet?
Talk about two ways to strengthen electromagnets. (wires, batteries)

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What does electromagnets attract? (metals) and what it does not attract (Nonconductors, like
plastic and wood)