Students test which objects a magnet grabs and discover that magnetism is a force that can push and pull across a gap — no touching required.
Students will be able to…
A magnet can pull a paperclip across the table without ever touching it. What invisible force is doing the pulling — and why doesn’t it grab everything?
Project this and let students test each object. Have them predict first, then record whether the magnet attracts it — and look for the pattern.
Tap any phase to open the teacher moves and student actions.
Slide a paperclip toward a magnet — it jumps! How?
Students predict, then test each object.
Name the force and the rule.
Where do magnets help us every day?
Three quick checks on magnets.
Aligned to Next Generation Science Standards and Common Core literacy. State-standard crosswalks available on request.
Ask questions to determine cause-and-effect relationships of electric or magnetic interactions between objects not in contact.
Define a simple design problem that can be solved by applying scientific ideas about magnets.
Provide evidence of the effects of balanced and unbalanced forces on the motion of an object.
Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information.
Preview the three formative checks. Tap “Sample answer” to see what mastery looks like — hide them before you print for students.
Magnetize a needle by stroking it with a magnet, float it on water, and watch it point north — students build a working compass. A printable build-and-test guide is in the Science library.
Tap a card to flip it, then rate whether you knew it. Built from this lesson’s vocabulary.
A quick self-check with instant feedback, drawn from this lesson’s key terms.
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.