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Magnetism & Electromagnetism

Eleventh graders discover the deep link between electricity and magnetism — how currents create magnetic fields (electromagnets), how motors turn electricity into motion, and how generators turn motion into electricity.

Grade 11Electromagnetism55 minutes1 class period5E ModelExplicit teaching4 StandardsNGSS
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Lesson at a Glance

Everything you need before the bell rings

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to…

  • ✓Explain magnetic poles and fields.
  • ✓Explain electromagnets.
  • ✓Explain electric motors.
  • ✓Explain generators.
Essential Question

Electricity and magnetism seem like different things — but they’re two faces of one force. How does a moving electric current create magnetism, and how does that power motors and generators?

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Lesson Phases
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Vocabulary Terms
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Standards Aligned
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Interactive Task
Explore · Interactive

The Magnetism Explorer

Project this and tap each idea. Have students see how electricity and magnetism connect — from electromagnets to motors and generators!

🧲 Explore magnetism & electromagnetism — tap eachTry it

The Lesson · 5E Instructional Model (Engage · Explore · Explain · Elaborate · Evaluate)

55 minutes, five moves

Tap any phase to open the teacher moves and student actions.

1

Engage — Two Faces of One Force

5 min

Electricity and magnetism seem different — but are they connected?

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Show a magnet and a wire.
  • Ask if they’re related.
  • Pose the question.

🎒 Student Actions

  • See both.
  • Wonder the link.
  • Predict the idea.
2

Explore — Explore the Connection

12 min

Students investigate.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Send students to the Magnetism Explorer.
  • Note electromagnets.
  • Note motors/generators.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Tap each.
  • Note electromagnets.
  • Note motors.
3

Explain — Electricity & Magnetism

13 min

Students explain.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Explain poles and fields.
  • Explain electromagnets.
  • Explain the current-field link.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Explain poles.
  • Explain electromagnets.
  • Explain the link.
4

Elaborate — Motors & Generators

15 min

Students elaborate.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Explain how a motor works.
  • Explain how a generator works.
  • Connect to everyday tech.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Explain motors.
  • Explain generators.
  • Connect it.
5

Evaluate — Evaluate

5 min

Students conclude.

👩‍🏫 Teacher Moves

  • Explain the electricity-magnetism link.
  • Explain a motor or generator.
  • Hand out the exit ticket.

🎒 Student Actions

  • Explain the link.
  • Explain one.
  • Complete the exit ticket.
Standards Alignment

Built to the standards you report on

Aligned to the Next Generation Science Standards (High School Physical Science / Physics).

NGSS
HS-PS2-5

Provide evidence that an electric current can produce a magnetic field.

NGSS
HS-PS3-5

Develop a model of energy transfer via fields.

NGSS
HS-PS2-4

Describe electric and magnetic forces.

NGSS
SEP-3

Planning and carrying out investigations.

Differentiation

One lesson, every learner

Multilingual Learners

ELL / EMERGING READERS
  • Field-line diagram.
  • Sentence frame: “A current creates a ___.”
  • Build a simple electromagnet.

Support & Access

IEP / 504
  • Start with poles (attract/repel).
  • Use a bar magnet demo.
  • Build a nail electromagnet.

Stretch & Extend

GIFTED / EARLY FINISHERS
  • Build a working electromagnet.
  • Explain electromagnetic induction.
  • Trace how a power plant works.
Materials

What to gather

  • 📽️Projector / board
  • 🧲Magnets and iron filings
  • 💻The Magnetism Explorer
  • 🔋Batteries, wire, nails
  • ✏️Pencils
  • 🎫Exit-ticket slips
Vocabulary

Key terms — hover for a quick definition

magnetan object with a magnetic fieldpolethe north or south end of a magnetmagnetic fieldthe region of magnetic forceelectromagneta magnet made by an electric currentelectric motorturns electricity into motiongeneratorturns motion into electricitycurrentthe flow of electric chargeinductiongenerating current with a moving magnet
Evaluate

Exit Ticket

Preview the three formative checks. Tap “Sample answer” to see what mastery looks like — hide them before you print for students.

QUESTION 1
What happens when a current flows through a coil of wire?
It creates a magnetic field — an electromagnet.
QUESTION 2
What does an electric motor do?
Turns electrical energy into motion using magnetic force.
QUESTION 3
How does a generator make electricity?
By moving a magnet near a coil of wire, which generates (induces) a current.

Elaborate: build an electromagnet.

Have students wrap wire around a nail and connect a battery to build a working electromagnet, then test how more coils change its strength. A printable magnetism sheet is in the Science library.

Study · Flashcards

Study the key terms

Tap a card to flip it, then rate whether you knew it. Built from this lesson’s vocabulary.

🃏 Magnetism & ElectromagnetismFlip
Card 1
Term
Tap to flip →
Meaning
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Nice work!

Practice · Quiz

Check your understanding

A quick self-check with instant feedback, drawn from this lesson’s key terms.

📝 Magnetism & ElectromagnetismQuiz
Score: 0
1 / 6
Question 1
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Nice work!

Practice · Worksheet

Printable worksheet

A print-and-go review sheet with a built-in answer key. Tap “Show answer key” to reveal answers, or print the clean version for students.

🖨️ Magnetism & ElectromagnetismPrint
Name: ________________________
Date: ____________

Part A · Write the word that matches each meaning

Word bank: current, electric motor, electromagnet, generator, induction, magnet, magnetic field, pole
  1. turns electricity into motion
  2. a magnet made by an electric current
  3. the region of magnetic force
  4. generating current with a moving magnet
  5. turns motion into electricity
  6. the north or south end of a magnet
  7. the flow of electric charge
  8. an object with a magnetic field

Part B · Show what you learned

  1. What happens when a current flows through a coil of wire?
  2. What does an electric motor do?
  3. How does a generator make electricity?
Answer key — Part A: 1) electric motor · 2) electromagnet · 3) magnetic field · 4) induction · 5) generator · 6) pole · 7) current · 8) magnet
Part B: 1) It creates a magnetic field — an electromagnet. 2) Turns electrical energy into motion using magnetic force. 3) By moving a magnet near a coil of wire, which generates (induces) a current.