Magnetism

Magnetism...what I remember:

1) What are some "real life" applications of magnetism?

I think magnets come in handy for multip[e purposes, one being the basic holder to papers you need to display on a refrigerator, a door, or a board. Magnets also play a role in holding objects together through doors with tools on them.

2) What experiences have you had with magnets in your life?

I remember working with them in grade school. Other than that, just magnets on the fridge.

3) What ideas do you have about the science of magnets?

I know that they serve a grand purpose and hold objects together but I don't remember right now what those tools are.

4) What personal understanding about magnetism helped you make these predictions?

I know that they have attraction towards each other and help hold things together.

Magnetism...what I've learned:

National Science Education Standards

Standard/Benchmark: Content Standard B: Light, heat, electricity, and magnetism

Learning Goal: Students will understand that magnets attract and repel each other and certain kinds of other materials.

Activity for Students:

Lesson idea from ehow.com - How to Make a Magnet
I would like for students to construct their own magnets. I think that this would be a good activity for them to do, not only so they can have their own magnets they made, but also for them to see how magnets work better based on how they're put together.

Materials needed:
4-inch iron or steel nail
24-inch piece of thin-guage wire with 1-inch of insulation removed from each end
D-cell battery
Steel paper clips

Procedure:
1) I will place all of the needed materials in an open, clear area.
2) Wrap the center portion of the wire tightly around the nail 20 to 30 times in one direction, leaving slack on each end. The more wire you wrap around the nail and the tighter it's wrapped, the more powerful your magnet will be. Be sure to leave enough loose wire on the ends to attach to the battery.
3) Then we will attach one loose wire to the positive side of the battery, and one loose wire to the negative side of the battery. Once both of these ends are connected, the battery becomes a magnet.
4) Students can then use the nail to pick up the paperclips. The electricity from the battery has created an electromagnetic field on the nail.

Source: http://www.ehow.com/how_2044934_make-magnet.html