Summary

In this activity, students will investigate magnets and see that they attract some metals but not others. Students will also get a chance to make a magnet “wand” to move a “skater” on a pretend frozen lake.

Grade Level

Elementary School

NGSS Alignment

This activity will help prepare your students to meet the performance expectations in the following standards:

• 2-PS1-1: Plan and conduct an investigation to describe and classify different kinds of materials by their observable properties.
• 5-PS1-3: Make observations and measurements to identify materials based on their properties.
• Scientific and Engineering Practices:
  • Planning and Carrying Out Investigations
  • Engaging in Argument from Evidence

Objectives

By the end of this activity, students should be able to:

• Explain that magnets attract some metals but not others.
• Explain that magnetism can attract certain metals even if there is material in between.

Chemistry Topics

This activity supports students’ understanding of:

• Physical Properties
• Magnetism
• Observations

Time

Teacher Preparation: About 15 minutes
Lesson:

• Part I: ~15 minutes
• Part II ~30 minutes

Materials

(Part 1, per group)

• Magnet (not flat sheet type)
• Wooden or stiff plastic ruler
• Tape
• Metal paper clip
• Construction paper
• Metal spoon
• Aluminum foil ball
• Penny
• Nickel
• Metal jar lid
• Nail

(Part 2, per group)

• Magnet (attached to a ruler)
• Tape
• 2 metal paper clips
• Construction paper
• Scissors
• Paper person cut-out (on student handout)

Safety

• Caution students not to put any of the materials in their mouth and to handle sharp objects such as the nail with care.

Teacher Notes

• You can start the activity with a short discussion about magnets. Almost all students have used a magnet in some way. Ask students how they have used magnets and what they have noticed about them.
• Explain to students that metals are the only substances that are magnetic. However, some metals are magnetic, and some are not. The most common magnetic metal is iron. You don't see too many objects made of pure iron, but you do see lots of different things made of steel, which has iron in it.
• The metals that are magnetic (attracted to magnets) are also the metals that can be made into a magnet. Iron is also in a mineral called loadstone which is the most magnetic naturally occurring mineral.
• Tell students that they will complete an activity to investigate which metal objects are magnetic and which ones are not (Part 1).
• Finally, they will try another fun activity with metals and magnets to make a little paper person skate across a “frozen pond”! (Part 2)