SCIENCE UNIT
Unit Planning Pack with Resources
Subject Area/Grade: Physical Science, Grade 4
Title: Magnets and Motion
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This 4 grade “Magnets and Motion” lesson plan is adapted from NC Science Essential Standards—K-5 Science Resources Wiki originally posted by Debra Hall.
Unit Theme: Energy Matters
Identify the Big Ideas:
Electricity, Magnetism and Electromagnetism
Technology as a Tool
GRAPHIC ORGANIZERS:
NC Science Essential Standards; Physical Science Domain; Forces and Motion Strand
Atlas of Science Literacy page 43 in Volume 1, page 27 in Volume 2
Qwiki graphic organizers:
Magnet http://www.theinfoexp.com/q/#/Magnet
Electromagnetism http://www.theinfoexp.com/q/#/Electromagnetism
Technology Focus: Alice Demo
Following hands-on magnet lab, students will complete the Magnet Study Interactive 3-D animation in Alice. The activity will (1) reinforce content area knowledge,
(2) demonstrate a possible work product made with Alice and (3) increase student engagement prior to assigning independent Alice assignment.
Enduring Understanding
(Generalizations)

A magnet pulls on all things made of iron.

A magnet pushes or pulls on other magnets.
Objects can be electrically charged.

An object that has been electrically charged
pulls on all other uncharged things and may
either push or pull other charged objects.
NC Science Essential Standards
4.P.1.1—Explain how magnets interact with all things
made of iron and with other magnets to produce motion
without touching them.
4.P.2.1—Compare the physical properties of samples of
matter (strength, hardness, flexibility, ability to conduct
heat, ability to conduct electricity, ability to be attracted
by magnets, reactions to water and fire).
Essential Questions
(Guiding Questions)

What is a charge? How do we know
something is carrying a charge?

What is a magnet? How can we describe the
properties of a magnet?

What is electromagnetism? How do
electromagnetic forces create a push or a
pull?

If we cannot see a force, how do we know it is
there?
NC Information & Technology Essential Standards
4.TT.1.3—Use technology tools to present data and
information (multimedia, audio and visual recording,
online collaboration tools, etc.).
Conceptual
Terminology:
force
force field
magnetism
magnet
charge
discharge
electric
electricity
attract
repulse
Identify Misconceptions:
*Construct formative assessment probes—Use formative probes: Volume 4, “Magnets in Water”, p. 67 in Uncovering Student ideas in Science, Volumes 1-4, by
Page Keeley. [See ‘how to’ on pages 85, 102, and 183 in Science Formative Assessment, also by Page Keeley]. Formative Assessment Probes (articles, how-to, freeonline) by Page Keeley, et al. http://pal.lternet.edu/docs/outreach/educators/education_pedagogy_research/assessment_probes_uncovering_student_ideas.pdf
http://www.ode.state.or.us/teachlearn/subjects/science/resources/msef2010-formative_assessment_probes.pdf
Unpacked Content
Science For All Americans (minimum ADULT content knowledge)
4.P.1.1—Students know that a magnet pulls
on all things made of iron without touching
them, and that this pulling can result in
motion. Students know that a magnet
attracts some metals, but not all of them.
Students know that a magnet has a force field
and poles that determine how a metal
affected by the magnet will behave within its
field.
FORCES OF NATURE
4.P.1.2—Students know that an object that
has been electrically charged pulls or pushes
on all other charged objects and that this can
result in motion. Students know that
electrical charges can result in attraction,
repulsion or electrical discharge.

The two kinds of forces we are commonly aware of are gravitational and electromagnetic.

The electromagnetic forces acting within and between atoms are immensely stronger than the gravitational
forces acting between them. On an atomic scale, electric forces between oppositely charged protons and
electrons hold atoms and molecules together and thus are involved in all chemical reactions. On a larger
scale, these forces hold solid and liquid materials together and act between objects when they are in
contact (for example, the friction between a towel and a person's back, the impact of a bat on a ball). We
usually do not notice the electrical nature of many familiar forces because the nearly equal densities of
positive and negative electric charges in materials approximately neutralize each other's effects outside the
material. But even a tiny imbalance in these opposite charges will produce phenomena that range from
electric sparks and clinging clothes to lightning.

Depending on how many of the electric charges in them are free to move, materials show great differences
in how much they respond to electric forces. At one extreme, an electrically insulating material such as glass
or rubber does not ordinarily allow any passage of charges through it. At the other extreme, an electrically
conducting material such as copper will offer very little resistance to the motion of charges, so electric
forces acting on it readily produce a current of charges. (Most electrical wires are a combination of
extremes: a very good conductor covered by a very good insulator.) In fact, at very low temperatures,
certain materials can become superconductors, which offer zero resistance. In between low- and highresistance materials are semiconducting materials in which the ease with which charges move may vary
greatly with subtle changes in composition or conditions; these materials are used in transistors and
computer chips to control electrical signals. Water usually contains charged molecular fragments of
dissolved impurities that are mobile, and so it is a fairly good conductor.

Magnetic forces are very closely related to electric forces—the two can be thought of as different aspects of
a single electromagnetic force. Both are thought of as acting by means of fields: an electric charge has an
electric field in the space around it that affects other charges, and a magnet has a magnetic field around it
that affects other magnets. What is more, moving electric charges produce magnetic fields and are affected
by magnetic fields. This influence is the basis of many natural phenomena. For example, electric currents
circulating in the earth's core give the earth an extensive magnetic field, which we detect from the
orientation of our compass needles.

The interplay of electric and magnetic forces is also the basis of much technological design, such as electric
motors (in which currents produce motion), generators (in which motion produces currents), and television
tubes (in which a beam of moving electric charges is bent back and forth by a periodically changing
magnetic field). More generally, a changing electric field induces a magnetic field, and vice versa.
Technology/Alice Resources:
1. Adventures in Alice Programming http://www.cs.duke.edu/csed/alice/aliceInSchools/workshop08/realschedule.php
2. Alice http://www.alice.org/
Curriculum Resources:
READING
1. Physics4Kids – magnetism and electricity http://www.physics4kids.com/files/elec_intro.html
2. Kidipede Magnets http://www.historyforkids.org/scienceforkids/physics/electricity/magnet.htm
3. Science Spot Kid Zone http://sciencespot.net/Pages/kdzphysics3.html
4. Kids Research Express http://kidsresearchexpress-2.blogspot.com/2008/09/electricity-and-magnetism.html
VIDEO
1. Bill Nye—Magnetism http://www.free-tv-video-online.me/internet/bill_nye_the_science_guy/season_2.html
2. neoK12 http://www.neok12.com/Electromagnetism.htm
Annotated TEACHER Resources
1. Mother Nature's Funnest Play Things: Magnets http://serc.carleton.edu/sp/mnstep/activities/27094.html
2. Magnets 1: Magnetic Pick-ups http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/lessons.php?BenchmarkID=4&DocID=175
3. Magnets 2: How Strong is Your Magnet? http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/lessons.php?BenchmarkID=4&DocID=159
4. Electricity and Magnetism http://edtech.kennesaw.edu/web/electric.html
5. Physics4Kids—Magnetism and electricity http://www.physics4kids.com/files/elec_intro.html
6. Cool Experiments with magnets http://my.execpc.com/~rhoadley/magindex.htm
7. Electricity and Magnetism Demonstrations http://www.physics.isu.edu/~shropshi/emact.htm
8. Electricity & Magnetism Websites for Kids & Students http://www.learningreviews.com/Electricity-Magnetism-Websites-for-Kids.html
Adapted for classroom use by D. M. Delk, Gaston County Schools, Gr. 4