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Science lesson plan · 6th grade (Year 7 in England) · 45 minutes

Magnetic poles, fields and compasses

Electricity and magnetism

CCSS NGSS.MS-PS2-3CCSS NGSS.MS-PS2-5England: KS3 Physics: Electricity and electromagnetism (magnetism)

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Magnetic poles, fields and compasses.

  • 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: Magnets and magnetic materials

Leads to: The motor effect (F = B I l) and Fleming's left-hand rule

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 · 5 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Magnets and magnetic materials). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. The south pole of one magnet is brought near the north pole of another. Do they attract or repel? (attract / repel) → attractPrompt: Like poles repel; unlike (opposite) poles attract.
  2. Is an iron nail attracted to a magnet? (magnetic / not magnetic) → magneticPrompt: Only a few metals are attracted to magnets.
  3. How could you test which of two magnets is stronger? (see which is shinier / count how many paper clips each can hold in a chain / see which is heavier / see which is longer) → count how many paper clips each can hold in a chainPrompt: A stronger magnet can hold more.

Hook · 5 min

  • Show a circuit with a gap and ask why the bulb doesn't light.
  • Share the objective: Magnetic poles, fields and compasses. Read the success criteria together.

I do: model it · 10 min

  • Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
  • Example: The north pole of one magnet is brought near the south pole of another. What happens?
  • Step 1: Unlike poles attract.
  • Step 2: So the answer is: they attract
  • Answer: they attract
  • Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice · 10 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. The north pole of one magnet is brought near the north pole of another. What happens? (they attract / they repel) → they repelPrompt: Like poles behave differently from unlike poles.
  2. Where is the magnetic field of a bar magnet strongest? (in the middle of the magnet / far away from the magnet / it is the same everywhere / at the poles, where the field lines are closest together) → at the poles, where the field lines are closest togetherPrompt: Think about where iron filings cluster.

You do: independent practice · 10 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 8 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 5 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. Which test shows that an object is a magnet, not just a magnetic material? (it is made of metal / it is attracted to a magnet / it repels one end of a known magnet / it is shiny) → it repels one end of a known magnetPrompt: Attraction happens with any magnetic material.
  2. Magnets: which statement is NOT true? (A magnet always has both a north and a south pole. / Magnetic field lines cross each other. / Magnetic fields can pass through paper and plastic. / Like poles repel and unlike poles attract.) → Magnetic field lines cross each other.Prompt: What happens if you cut a magnet in half?

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: Magnets and magnetic materials.
  • 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

  • Move on to: The motor effect (F = B I l) and Fleming's left-hand rule.
  • 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-6.

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

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Magnetic poles, fields and compasses

Name

Date

Score/ 8

  1. Question 1

    Which way do magnetic field lines point outside a bar magnet?

    • A. from the south pole to the north pole
    • B. from the north pole to the south pole
    • C. in circles around the middle
    • D. straight up

  2. Question 2

    Magnets: which statement is NOT true?

    • A. Cutting a bar magnet in half gives a separate north magnet and south magnet.
    • B. A magnet always has both a north and a south pole.
    • C. Like poles repel and unlike poles attract.
    • D. Magnetic fields can pass through paper and plastic.

  3. Question 3

    The south pole of one magnet is brought near the south pole of another. What happens?

    • A. they attract
    • B. they repel

  4. Question 4

    Where is the magnetic field of a bar magnet strongest?

    • A. far away from the magnet
    • B. in the middle of the magnet
    • C. it is the same everywhere
    • D. at the poles, where the field lines are closest together

  5. Question 5

    The south pole of one magnet is brought near the north pole of another. What happens?

    • A. they attract
    • B. they repel

  6. Question 6

    Which test shows that an object is a magnet, not just a magnetic material?

    • A. it is made of metal
    • B. it is shiny
    • C. it is attracted to a magnet
    • D. it repels one end of a known magnet

  7. Question 7

    The north pole of one magnet is brought near the north pole of another. What happens?

    • A. they attract
    • B. they repel

  8. Question 8

    A compass needle points north on Earth. What does this tell us?

    • A. Compasses are not magnetic
    • B. Earth has a magnetic field produced by its core
    • C. The Sun attracts compasses
    • D. North is always uphill

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Answer key: Magnetic poles, fields and compasses

  1. 1. B. from the north pole to the south pole

  2. 2. A. Cutting a bar magnet in half gives a separate north magnet and south magnet.

  3. 3. B. they repel

  4. 4. D. at the poles, where the field lines are closest together

  5. 5. A. they attract

  6. 6. D. it repels one end of a known magnet

  7. 7. B. they repel

  8. 8. B. Earth has a magnetic field produced by its core