7th Grade Magnetism Lesson Plan (Technology)

Topic: Magnetic fields and magnets

Objectives & Outcomes

• Students will be able to define magnetism and describe its characteristics.
• Students will be able to identify and name the different types of magnets and classify them based on their polarity.

Materials

• A bar magnet
• A bunch of assorted magnets (e.g. magnetically charged spoons, magnetic bracelets, fridge magnets)
• A piece of paper and a pen for each student
• A large, open space with minimal obstacles (e.g. a classroom, a gym)

Warm-up

• Have the students sit in a circle.
• Give each student a piece of paper and a pen.
• Tell the students that they are going to play a game called "Pass the Message".
• Explain that one student will be the sender and will stand in the middle of the circle.
• The sender will think of a message and whisper it to the student next to them.
• The message will be passed around the circle until the last student speaks out the message out loud.
• Have the students play the game a few times, encouraging them to be creative with their messages.
• After the game is over, ask the students if they noticed anything strange about the way the message was passed along.
• Explain that the message is usually distorted and doesn't make any sense by the time it reaches the last student.
• Ask the students if they have any idea why this happens.

Direct Instruction

• Introduce the topic of magnetism and explain that magnets have the ability to attract metal objects.
• Show the students different types of magnets and explain how they work.
• Explain the difference between poles, north and south, and how they determine the direction of magnetism.
• Explain that non-metal objects cannot be attracted by magnets because they do not contain iron.

Guided Practice

• Have the students work in pairs and give each pair a paperclip and a magnet.
• Ask the students to experiment with the magnet and paperclip and see if they can find the north and south poles.
• Have the students use the magnet to attract the paperclip to one side and then the other.
• Have the students record their observations and results in their science journals.

Independent Practice

• Have the students work in small groups and create a "magnet zoo".
• Each group should choose a set of different objects such as iron nails, copper wire, lead coins, a compass, and a magnet -bottle.
• Have the students test the properties of their objects and record their observations.
• Have the students present their magnet zoos to the class and discuss their findings.Independent Practice
• Have the students work in small groups to create a simple magnetic launcher.
• Each group should choose a non-magnetic metal projectile (such as a steel bolt) and -a magnetic launcher (such as a magnet or a coil of -copper wire).
• Have the students experiment with their launchers and record their -observations.
• Have the students present their results to the class and discuss the -principles behind magnetic launchers.

Closure

• Review the main concepts learned during the lesson, including the -properties of magnets, the different types of magnets, and the -magnets' effects on non-magnetic metals.
• Ask the students to share their favorite part of the lesson and why.
• Encourage the students to continue to explore the world of magnetism on their own.

Assessment

• Observe the students during the independent practice activity to assess their understanding of the concepts covered in the lesson.
• Collect the students' final projects and review them to assess their understanding of magnetism and their ability to apply their knowledge in a real-world context.
• Administer a quiz at the end of the lesson to assess the students' retention of the material.