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Magnetic attraction

Science Year 3
This unit is part of Year 3 Science Amazing Magnets

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Objectives

Begin to think about which items are attracted to magnets and why. Ask questions and test them out e.g. Is it just metal things? Are all metal things attracted? Why not?

Science Objectives
i) Compare and group together a variety of everyday materials on the basis of whether they are attracted to a magnet and identify some magnetic materials.

Working Scientifically

  1. Ask relevant questions and use different types of scientific enquiries to answer them.
  2. Gather, record, classify and present data in a variety of ways to help answer questions.
  3. Report on findings from enquiries, including oral and written explanations, displays or presentations of results and conclusions.
  4. Use results to draw simple conclusions, make predictions for new values, suggest improvements and raise further questions.

Extended Writing Opportunities
Non-chronological reports: Write an information leaflet for younger children about the Magic of Magnets.

You Will Need

Provided Resources

  • Printouts of 3 suggested questions for investigation
  • Printouts of any questions tackled last session from the Teaching PowerPoint (see Session 3 resource)
  • Copies of the Guessing Game Sheet (1 per child)
  • Task sheets

Additional Resources

  • Your A4 coloured cards of questions on magnetism (from last session)
  • A tray containing the 12 items shown on the teaching PowerPoint
  • Coloured sheets of A4 card or paper
  • Marker pen
  • Tray of items made from different materials including lots of metal
  • A good selection of different types of magnet
  • A strong magnet on a string
  • Several bags of coins
  • Camera/ cameras
  • Access to computers for research
  • Vinegar (if shininess is proposed as a reason to be magnetic)

Lesson Planning

Teaching

  • Develop scientific method and thinking, using curiosity to generate questions.
  • Answer questions by testing and sorting items using magnets.

Activities

  1. Play a guessing game to encourage theories and predictions on which items will be magnetic.
  2. Turn their theories into questions that can be answered through scientific enquiry.
  3. Methodically test, classify and sort different items/materials and thus raise more questions to consider.
  4. Record findings and report back on them to the class.

Investigation - exploring/predicting/classifying and identifying
Investigate how magnets attract some materials and not others. Compare and group materials.

Vocabulary
Magnetic, non-magnetic, attract, attraction, theory

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