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Science lesson plan · 3rd grade (Year 4 in England) · 30 minutes

Magnet strength and distance: read the data

Electricity and magnetism

CCSS NGSS.3-PS2-3CCSS NGSS.SEP 4England: KS2 Y3 Forces and magnetsEngland: KS2 Y3–Y4 Working scientifically

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Magnet strength and distance: read the data.

  • I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
  • I can explain each step and say why it works.
  • I can check my answer and spot a mistake.

Before and after

Needs first: Magnet poles: attract or repel?

Leads to: the next skill in this area.

Materials: Circuit kits (cells, wires, bulbs), Circuit symbol cards, Mini whiteboards, A diagram or short video clip of the idea, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 4 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Magnet poles: attract or repel?). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. You hold two horseshoe magnets so that the south pole of one faces the south pole of the other. What happens? (attract (pull together) / repel (push apart)) → repel (push apart)Prompt: Are the two poles the same or different?
  2. How can you find out which end of an unlabelled magnet is north? (Bring it near the north pole of a labelled magnet: the end that is pushed away is north. / Look at its colour. / Weigh it. / Smell it.) → Bring it near the north pole of a labelled magnet: the end that is pushed away is north.Prompt: Use the rule about like poles.
  3. True or false? Magnets can only attract, never repel. (True / False) → FalsePrompt: Same poles: what happens? Different poles: what happens?

Hook · 3 min

  • Show a circuit with a gap and ask why the bulb doesn't light.
  • Share the objective: Magnet strength and distance: read the data. Read the success criteria together.

I do: model it · 7 min

  • Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
  • Example: A magnet still pulls a paperclip through a sheet of paper. What does this show?
  • Step 1: Magnetism is a non-contact force that can pass through paper, plastic and water.
  • Step 2: So the answer is: Magnetic force can act through some materials and across a gap.
  • Answer: Magnetic force can act through some materials and across a gap.
  • Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice · 6 min

  • Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
  • Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
  1. Two magnets are tested. Magnet A holds 22 paperclips and magnet B holds 9. Which statement is right? (Bigger magnets are always stronger. / Magnet A is stronger. / They are the same strength. / Magnet B is stronger.) → Magnet A is stronger.Prompt: More paperclips held means a stronger pull.
  2. Why does the class repeat each distance three times and use the average? (Repeating makes the results more reliable. / Because the magnet gets stronger each time. / To use up more paperclips. / Three is the only allowed number.) → Repeating makes the results more reliable.Prompt: What if one count was a mistake?

You do: independent practice · 7 min

  • Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
  • Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.

The 6 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 3 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. Why does the class repeat each distance three times and use the average? (To use up more paperclips. / Three is the only allowed number. / Repeating makes the results more reliable. / Because the magnet gets stronger each time.) → Repeating makes the results more reliable.Prompt: What if one count was a mistake?
  2. Two magnets are tested. Magnet A holds 22 paperclips and magnet B holds 9. Which statement is right? (Magnet A is stronger. / Bigger magnets are always stronger. / Magnet B is stronger. / They are the same strength.) → Magnet A is stronger.Prompt: More paperclips held means a stronger pull.

Watch out for

  • Everyday meanings of words getting in the way of the science meaning: define key words explicitly.
  • Remembering facts without the reason: ask "why?" and "what is the evidence?"

Support and stretch

Support

  • Review first: Magnet poles: attract or repel?.
  • Use concrete materials: circuit kits (cells, wires, bulbs).
  • Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
  • Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.

Stretch

  • Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
  • Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.

Homework and more practice

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/science/grade-3.

Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder

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Magnet strength and distance: read the data

Name

Date

Score/ 6

  1. Question 1

    Two magnets are tested. Magnet A holds 22 paperclips and magnet B holds 9. Which statement is right?

    • A. Magnet A is stronger.
    • B. They are the same strength.
    • C. Magnet B is stronger.
    • D. Bigger magnets are always stronger.

  2. Question 2

    A class held a magnet at different distances above a pile of paperclips and counted how many it picked up. How many paperclips did it pick up at 1 cm?

    Paperclips picked up0246810121416160 cm101 cm72 cm33 cm

    Answer

  3. Question 3

    How many fewer paperclips did the magnet pick up at 2 cm than when touching (0 cm)?

    Paperclips picked up02468101214161820190 cm131 cm102 cm63 cm

    Answer

  4. Question 4

    To test how distance affects a magnet fairly, what must stay the same?

    • A. nothing; change everything
    • B. only the colour of the table
    • C. the same magnet and the same kind of paperclips
    • D. the distance

  5. Question 5

    A class held a magnet at different distances above a pile of paperclips and counted how many it picked up. How many paperclips did it pick up at 3 cm?

    Paperclips picked up024681012141618170 cm121 cm92 cm73 cm

    Answer

  6. Question 6

    What pattern does this data show?

    Paperclips picked up024681012141618180 cm121 cm72 cm53 cm
    • A. The further away the magnet, the stronger its pull.
    • B. Distance makes no difference to a magnet.
    • C. The further away the magnet, the weaker its pull.
    • D. Magnets only work when they are 3 cm away.

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Answer key: Magnet strength and distance: read the data

  1. 1. A. Magnet A is stronger.

  2. 2. 10

  3. 3. 9

  4. 4. C. the same magnet and the same kind of paperclips

  5. 5. 7

  6. 6. C. The further away the magnet, the weaker its pull.