Magnetic Pickups

Magnetic Pickups

Skills

communicating

decision making

learning how to learn

observing

comparing

organizing

inferring

Materials

bar or horseshoe magnet

objects to test (penny, paper clip, marble)

Doing the Activity

Each group of students will receive a bag of objects (penny, sponge, paper clip, bottle cap) to test to find out if they are magnetic.

Remove the objects from the bag and spread them out on your table.

Predict (guess) which ones will be magnetic and which ones will not be. Separate them into piles and record your prediction on the chart on the next page.

Observe what happens as you get the magnet close to each object.

Record your results on the chart on the next page.

Talking it over

Which things are attracted to the magnet and which things are not?

What characteristics does each object that was attracted have?

What characteristics do objects that weren't attracted have?

Which objects were magnetic and which ones were not?

Can you see magnetism?

Can you feel magnetism? Explain why or why not.

What's Happening

Magnets are used around us every day. Look at the cabinets in your home. Many are held shut by magnets. You probably have a magnet or two on your refrigerator at home. And, although you might not be able to see them, there are magnets in many of the electrical appliances in your home that use an electric motor.

More Challenges

Cut up a piece of steel wool into little bits. Carefully separate them into strands. Lay a piece of paper over your magnet, sprinkle the resulting iron filings over the paper. The pattern you see it a picture of the magnetic field. Try a magnet with a different shape.

Activity Source

"Funtivities: Hands-on Science and Math." Iowa State University Program for Women in Science and Engineering. Extension Distribution Center
(515) 294-5247, order # 4H-952 for grades 4-5, #4H-952LDR for grades 4-5 leader's guide, #4H-953 for grades 6-8, #4H-953LDR for grades 6-8 leader's guide.

Object

What will happen?
Prediction

What did happen?
Result
Magnetic?
Yes or No

IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY
University Extension

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	Magnetic Pickups
	Skills communicating decision making learning how to learn observing comparing organizing inferring
	Materials bar or horseshoe magnet objects to test (penny, paper clip, marble)
	Doing the Activity Each group of students will receive a bag of objects (penny, sponge, paper clip, bottle cap) to test to find out if they are magnetic. Remove the objects from the bag and spread them out on your table. Predict (guess) which ones will be magnetic and which ones will not be. Separate them into piles and record your prediction on the chart on the next page. Observe what happens as you get the magnet close to each object. Record your results on the chart on the next page.
	Talking it over Which things are attracted to the magnet and which things are not? What characteristics does each object that was attracted have? What characteristics do objects that weren't attracted have? Which objects were magnetic and which ones were not? Can you see magnetism? Can you feel magnetism? Explain why or why not.
	What's Happening Magnets are used around us every day. Look at the cabinets in your home. Many are held shut by magnets. You probably have a magnet or two on your refrigerator at home. And, although you might not be able to see them, there are magnets in many of the electrical appliances in your home that use an electric motor.
	More Challenges Cut up a piece of steel wool into little bits. Carefully separate them into strands. Lay a piece of paper over your magnet, sprinkle the resulting iron filings over the paper. The pattern you see it a picture of the magnetic field. Try a magnet with a different shape.
	Activity Source "Funtivities: Hands-on Science and Math." Iowa State University Program for Women in Science and Engineering. Extension Distribution Center (515) 294-5247, order # 4H-952 for grades 4-5, #4H-952LDR for grades 4-5 leader's guide, #4H-953 for grades 6-8, #4H-953LDR for grades 6-8 leader's guide.