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The following instructional plan is part of a GaDOE collection of Unit Frameworks, Performance Tasks, examples of Student Work, and Teacher Commentary. Many more GaDOE
approved instructional plans are available by using the Search Standards feature located on GeorgiaStandards.Org.
Georgia Performance Standards Framework for Science – Grade 3
Unit One Organizer:
(2-3 weeks)
OVERVIEW: This unit teaches how objects and other magnets are affected by magnets.
STANDARDS ADDRESSED IN THIS UNIT
Focus Standards: S3P2
Students will investigate magnets and how they affect other magnets and common objects.
a. Investigate to find common objects that are attracted to magnets.
b. Investigate how magnets attract and repel each other.
STANDARDS ADDRESSED IN THIS UNIT
Supporting Standards:
S3CS1. Students will be aware of the importance of curiosity, honesty, openness, and skepticism in science and will exhibit these traits
in their won efforts to understand how the world works.
a. Keep records of investigations and observations and do not alter the records later.
b. Offer reasons for findings and consider reasons suggested by others.
S3CS3. Students will use tools and instruments for observing, measuring, and manipulating objects in scientific activities utilizing safe
laboratory procedures.
a. Choose appropriate common materials for making simple mechanical constructions and repairing things.
c. Identify and practice accepted safety procedures in manipulating science materials and equipment.
S3CS5. Students will communicate scientific ideas and activities clearly.
a. Write instructions that others can follow in carrying out scientific procedure.
b. Make sketches to aid in explaining scientific procedures or ideas.
Georgia Department of Education
Kathy Cox, State Superintendent of Schools
Magnets Unit  Grade 3
April 16, 2007  Page 1 of 5
Copyright 2007 © All Rights Reserved
One Stop Shop For Educators
Georgia Performance Standards Framework for Science – Grade 3
S3CS8. Students will understand important features of the process of scientific inquiry.
Students will apply the following to inquiry learning practices:
a. Scientific investigations may take many different forms, including observing what things are like or what is happening somewhere,
collecting specimens for analysis, and doing experiments.
b. Clear and active communication is an essential part of doing science. It enables scientists to inform others about their work, expose their
ideas to criticism by other scientists, and stay informed about scientific discoveries around the world.
ELA3R3a reads a variety of texts..., ELA3R3h interprets information from illustrations, charts, graphs..., ELA3W1c writes text...to address
the topic, ELA3W1d uses organizational patterns for conveying information, ELA3LSV1b recall, interprets and summarizes information
presented orally
M3M2b measure to nearest 1/4 inch, 1/2 inch, and millimeter..., M3MD1 gather, organize, and display data...
ENDURING UNDERSTANDINGS
Some common objects are attracted to magnets because of having iron or steel in them.
Magnets have poles.
Opposite poles attract one another and like poles repel one another.
Magnets have different strengths.
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS
What common objects are attracted to magnets?
What are characteristics of objects that are attracted to magnets?
How do magnets interact with one another?
Why do magnets attract and repel one another?
MISCONCEPTIONS
Magnets "stick to" other objects.
Magnets repel non-magnetic objects.
Magnets attract all things that are made of metal.
PROPER CONCEPTIONS
Magnets pull certain objects toward them.
A pole of a magnet pushes away the like pole of another magnet.
Not all metals are attracted to a magnet.
Georgia Department of Education
Kathy Cox, State Superintendent of Schools
Magnets Unit  Grade 3
April 16, 2007  Page 2 of 5
Copyright 2007 © All Rights Reserved
One Stop Shop For Educators
Georgia Performance Standards Framework for Science – Grade 3
CONCEPTS
Magnets attract objects
that contain iron or steel.
KNOW AND DO
- Identify, through
experimentation, objects that are
attracted to magnets and their
common characteristics
LANGUAGE
magnet
characteristics
iron
bar magnet
horseshoe magnet
lodestone
EVIDENCE
Science journal with object
attraction chart
Magnets have two poles
(North and South.)
- Illustrate how a magnetic field
is formed
magnetism
poles
Illustration in Science journal
Opposite poles attract
and like poles repel.
- Describe the ways magnetic
poles attract and repel one
another
- Create an object that moves
through the use of magnetism
attract
repel
Description in Science journal
Magnets have different
strengths
- Use graph paper to measure
how many paper clips can be
pushed/pulled by different
magnets.
strength
Magnets are used in
everyday life.
- Explain ways that we use
magnets in everyday life
Object that moves (see GRASPS
task)
Georgia Department of Education
Kathy Cox, State Superintendent of Schools
Magnets Unit  Grade 3
April 16, 2007  Page 3 of 5
Copyright 2007 © All Rights Reserved
Graph paper notes
Informative essay on how
magnets are used in everyday
life.
One Stop Shop For Educators
Georgia Performance Standards Framework for Science – Grade 3
EVIDENCE OF LEARNING
Culminating Activity:
GRASPS
Goal: To use magnetism to create the appearance of defying the laws of science.
Role: You and your group members are scientists studying the effects of magnets on each other and other objects.
Audience: Your classmates
Scenario: Our class will put on a Magnetic Science Show and each group will create a magnet experience which seems to defy the laws of
science. Use various magnets to show differences in strength, demonstrate attraction of various objects, show how magnets attract and repel
other magnets, cause magnets to move without them touching each other.
Product: Your group's magnetic experience.
TEACHER RESOURCES
VanCleave's, Janice. Magnets: Mind-boggling Experiments You Can Turn Into Science Fair Projects, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. New York,
1993.
Branley, Franklyn and Eleanor K. Vaughan. Mickey’s Magnets
Cole, Joanna and Bruce Degan. Magic School Bus: Amazing Magnetism, Scholastic Books
Mostly Magnets, AIMS Foundation
Internet Sites
Background Information on Magnets · Indigo Instruments: Permanent Magnets · IPEX Online · Magnet Man: Cool Experiments With Magnets
www.kidskonnect.com/Magnets/MagnetsHome.html
Georgia Department of Education
Kathy Cox, State Superintendent of Schools
Magnets Unit  Grade 3
April 16, 2007  Page 4 of 5
Copyright 2007 © All Rights Reserved
One Stop Shop For Educators
Georgia Performance Standards Framework for Science – Grade 3
http://www.coreknowledge.org/CKproto2/resrcs/lessons/298AmazingMags.htm
This site is an entire unit on magnets. It contains 11 lesson plans that are great for elementary teachers. All of these lessons use simple materials
that are easily found in any classroom.
http://www.coreknowledge.org/CKproto2/resrcs/lessons/298Magnetism.htm
This is a three-week unit designed to give students experiences with magnets and magnetism. Students will examine the interaction of matter
with the energy stored in magnetic fields. The students begin by investigating the effects of magnets on familiar magnetic and nonmagnetic
materials.
The exploration continues to consider the effects of the earth's magnetic field on freely suspended materials. Students will learn about the
Earth's magnetic field and how this relates to a compass.
http://www.sasked.gov.sk.ca/docs/elemsci/gr2ubesc.html
In this unit students perform a variety of activities to learn about magnets. They determine the kinds
of objects which are attracted to a magnet. Other related experiences allow students to discover that there are two poles on a magnet, and that
those poles have either attractive or repulsive effects on the
pole of a second magnet.
http://www.uen.org/utahlink/lp_res/TRB031.html
This site from the Utah State Office of Education provides background information on magnets and lesson plans for seven student activities.
Throughout the unit students will determine the effects of magnets on objects in the environment.
http://nyelabs.kcts.org/teach/episodeguides/eg21.html
This site is an online guide to the Bill Nye The Science Guy episode on magnetism. Included are descriptions of magnetism, some fast facts,
and book ideas for teachers.
Georgia Department of Education
Kathy Cox, State Superintendent of Schools
Magnets Unit  Grade 3
April 16, 2007  Page 5 of 5
Copyright 2007 © All Rights Reserved