GR. 2 SCIENCE UNIT

Lessons

1: Clinger
2: Picky Eater
3: Stuck on You
4: Let's Make a Magnet
5: Strong or Weak
6: North Pole! South Pole!
7: Attracts or Repels?
8: Who Am I?
9: Are We Attracted to Each Other?
10: Passing Through
11: Making a Compass

Magic Magnets Student Booklet WORD or PDF Format

LESSON 9 - ARE WE ATTRACTED TO EACH OTHER?

Background: Like poles repel each other while unlike poles attract each other.

Objective: 1.5 Observe the attraction and repulsion of magnetic poles.

Vocabulary: attraction, repulsion

Quick Peek :

Students will create bridges of iron filings between two magnets, using the concept of attraction and repulsion. The reason for the canyon when the poles are the same is that the force of repulsion "sends" the filings to stick on each pole. When the poles are different there is a force of attraction so the filings tend to be pulled towards the poles with opposing force thus keeping the filings in between the poles.

Materials:

• Overhead projectors
• Iron filings
• Two horseshoe magnets
• Two bar magnets for each pair of students
• About 1 mL iron filings per pair of students. Use a small plastic Ziplock bags
  or better yet film canisters. These are available at photographic stores. (The bags could tear and make a mess.

Method:

1. Review the concept of North pole and South pole developed in the two previous lessons.

2. Place a blank transparency on a lighted overhead projector.

3. Place two magnets about 2 cm apart, North Pole to South Pole.

4. Sprinkle iron filings over the poles. Draw students’ attention to the pattern formed. (Iron filings will flair away from each other, forming a «canyon» between the two poles.

5. Now replace this with a clear transparency.

6. This time place the magnets 2 cm apart South Pole to South Pole.

7. Sprinkle iron filings over the poles. Ask the students to look at the pattern which should be the same as in # 4.

8. Follow the same steps using a horseshoe magnet to show the pattern formed when like and unlike poles are placed together. (Should form a bridge.)

9. Provide each pair of students two bar magnets and some iron filings. Students can use the filings directly as you did; however, they should work on a clean piece of paper for easy clean-up. Another option is to leave the filings in the bag and laying it on the desk. The magnets can be placed under the bag without actually removing the filings from the bag. Purchase the better bags to avoid tears.

10. In a whole group discussion have some children share how they made bridges and how the made canyons. Such discussions develop listening and speaking skills as well as helping students use new vocabulary.

11. This time students record their observation by drawing in their Magic Magnet booklets. Write the following on the board so that students can label their drawings:

• North Pole or N
• South Pole or S
• Canyon
• Bridge
• Like Poles Attract
• Unlike Poles Repel

Lesson Nine Bridges and Canyons! ! !

Draw two pictures to show what you saw.
Do not forget to label each pole.

Assessment: Informal observation and drawing