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Science lesson plan · 3rd grade (Year 4 in England) · 45 minutes

Design with magnets: solve everyday problems

Electricity and magnetism

CCSS NGSS.3-PS2-4England: KS2 Y3 Forces and magnets

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Design with magnets: solve everyday problems.

  • 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 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 · 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 south pole of another. Do they attract or repel? (attract / repel) → repelPrompt: Like poles repel; unlike (opposite) poles attract.
  2. Is a steel food can attracted to a magnet? (magnetic / not magnetic) → magneticPrompt: Only a few metals are attracted to magnets.
  3. Which way does the north pole of a compass needle point? (towards the Earth's magnetic north / downwards / always towards the Sun / towards the nearest wall) → towards the Earth's magnetic northPrompt: The Earth behaves like a giant magnet.

Hook · 5 min

  • Show a circuit with a gap and ask why the bulb doesn't light.
  • Share the objective: Design with magnets: solve everyday problems. 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: A recycling centre needs to separate steel cans from aluminium (aluminum) cans. What should it use?
  • Step 1: Steel contains iron, so it is magnetic; aluminium is not.
  • Step 2: So the answer is: a big magnet that picks out the steel cans
  • Answer: a big magnet that picks out the steel cans
  • 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. A recycling centre needs to separate steel cans from aluminium (aluminum) cans. What should it use? (a big magnet that picks out the steel cans / water to dissolve the aluminium / a fan to blow them apart / a sieve) → a big magnet that picks out the steel cansPrompt: Which metal is magnetic?
  2. Would a magnet help with this job: sorting steel cans from aluminium cans? (a magnet would help / a magnet would not help) → a magnet would helpPrompt: Does the job involve iron or steel?

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. Why do many fridge and cupboard doors have a magnet in the seal or latch? (to make the door heavier / to hold the door closed without a lock / to keep the food warm / to make light) → to hold the door closed without a lockPrompt: What does a magnet do to steel nearby?
  2. True or false? Magnets are used to sort steel from other metals in recycling. (True / False) → TruePrompt: Which materials do magnets attract?

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

  • 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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Design with magnets: solve everyday problems

Name

Date

Score/ 8

  1. Question 1

    Would a magnet help with this job: holding a note on a steel fridge door?

    • A. a magnet would help
    • B. a magnet would not help

  2. Question 2

    You drop a box of steel pins into the grass. What is the quickest safe way to collect them?

    • A. Pour water on the grass.
    • B. Pick each one up with bare fingers in the dark.
    • C. Sweep a strong magnet over the grass.
    • D. Wait for the wind to blow them away.

  3. Question 3

    True or false? Magnets attract all metals.

    • A. True
    • B. False

  4. Question 4

    Would a magnet help with this job: picking up spilled steel paperclips?

    • A. a magnet would help
    • B. a magnet would not help

  5. Question 5

    A recycling centre needs to separate steel cans from aluminium (aluminum) cans. What should it use?

    • A. a sieve
    • B. a big magnet that picks out the steel cans
    • C. a fan to blow them apart
    • D. water to dissolve the aluminium

  6. Question 6

    True or false? A compass works because it has a battery.

    • A. True
    • B. False

  7. Question 7

    Would a magnet help with this job: collecting aluminium (aluminum) foil scraps?

    • A. a magnet would help
    • B. a magnet would not help

  8. Question 8

    A hiker uses a compass to find north. What is inside a compass?

    • A. a tiny magnetised needle that lines up with Earth's magnetism
    • B. a small battery and a light
    • C. a drop of water that points north
    • D. a map

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Answer key: Design with magnets: solve everyday problems

  1. 1. A. a magnet would help

  2. 2. C. Sweep a strong magnet over the grass.

  3. 3. B. False

  4. 4. A. a magnet would help

  5. 5. B. a big magnet that picks out the steel cans

  6. 6. B. False

  7. 7. B. a magnet would not help

  8. 8. A. a tiny magnetised needle that lines up with Earth's magnetism