Objective:

Students will be able to construct an argument based on experimental evidence to communicate the differences in function and purpose of an electromagnet and a magnet.

Standards:

S5P3. Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information about magnetism and its relationship to electricity.
a. Construct an argument based on experimental evidence to communicate the differences in function and
purpose of an electromagnet and a magnet

Materials:

Crossword puzzle on electromagnets and magnets (download )
Whiteboard and markers
Magnet and wire
Battery
Iron nail
Procedure:

Introduction (10 minutes):

Introduce the topic of electromagnets and magnets to the students, and explain their differences in function and purpose. Use visual aids such as pictures or diagrams to help students understand the concept.

Crossword Puzzle (30 minutes):

Distribute the crossword puzzle and have the students work in pairs to complete it. The contains the necessary clues for students to be able to work together to complete.

Discussion (15 minutes):

After completing the puzzle, ask students to share their answers and explain how they arrived at their conclusions. Lead a class discussion on the topic and encourage students to support their arguments with experimental evidence.

Experiment (20 minutes):

To reinforce the concepts learned, conduct a simple experiment to demonstrate the differences between electromagnets and magnets. Connect a wire to a battery and wrap it around an iron nail to create an electromagnet. Show the students how the nail is magnetized when the battery is connected and how it loses its magnetism when the battery is disconnected. Then, use a magnet to show how it attracts or repels other magnets, but cannot turn on and off like an electromagnet.

Conclusion (5 minutes):

Wrap up the lesson by asking the students to reflect on what they have learned about electromagnets and magnets. Emphasize the importance of using experimental evidence to support arguments, and encourage students to continue exploring the topic on their own.

Assessment:

Assess students’ understanding of the topic by reviewing their completed crossword puzzles, their contributions to the class discussion, and their ability to explain the results of the experiment.

Extension:

As an extension activity, have students research and write a short report on the history of electromagnets and magnets, including their inventors and their contributions to science and technology. Alternatively, they can create a poster or presentation on the uses of electromagnets and magnets in different industries, such as transportation, medicine, or entertainment. Finally, they could even create their own electromagnet to share with the class.

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