Teaching Activity: I’m Drawn to You

Sample Standard: Understanding that a magnet attracts only iron and certain other metals.

Grade Level: 4

Purpose: To revisit after students have studied the basic principles of magnetism.

 

Time: 10-15 minutes

 

Group Size: Groups of 4-5 students

 

Materials: Chart paper, markers, magnets, small prizes

 

Process:

1.  Divide the class into small groups of 4-5 students. Give them 2 minutes to make a list of as many objects in the classroom that they can.

2.  At the end of the 2 minutes, the groups each make a large two-column chart labeled Magnetic and Non Magnetic.

3.  They must decide which column each object from their list goes into and draw a picture of it there.

4.  At the end of the time specified (10-12 minutes), the team with the most correctly placed pictures is the winner.

5.  Magnets may be used to test different objects.

6.  Small prizes may be awarded to the winners.

 

Adaptations for higher level students:

Have students determine the placement of the objects in the columns without being able to test the objects with a magnet.

 

This activity was submitted by Adrianne Roggenbuck, a former teacher who is currently a training consultant with The Bob Pike Group. 

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