Blackhawk Science Sacks

First Grade

Blackhawk Science Sacks Title: Magnet Mania Theme: Force, Motion, and Energy Skill: Predicting and Investigating TEKS: 1.6B Predict and describe how a magnet can be used to push or pull an object

Safety Rules of Science 1. NEVER put anything in your mouth. 2. Listen carefully to the instructions. 3. Make sure all supplies are returned to the Science Sack and clean up your work area!

Key Question: What objects are attracted to a magnet? How can you move an object with a magnet?

For Parents’ Eyes Only: Magnets are powerful objects with forces that can’t always be seen. You can see the force of a magnet by pairing it with another magnet or metal object. Magnets have two poles, a North and South. The north side of one magnet will repel or push the north side of another magnet. Discuss and demonstrate the push and pull effect that a magnet has on another magnet or a magnet has on a magnetic object. A misconception that students may have is that all metals are magnetic. However, only the metals iron, nickel, and cobalt are magnetic. Other metals, such as steel, are a mixture of metals that contain iron and nickel, which makes them magnetic as well. There are metals, such as aluminum and copper, which are not magnetic at all.

Big Idea: By the end of this activity, your child should understand the difference between a push and a pull. Your child should also be able to predict which objects are attracted to a magnet, and which objects are not attracted to a magnet.

Materials in the Science Sack:  Student notebook (Use page 4-5 ONLY for this activity)  Pencil  Magnets  Toy car  Piece of cardboard (this is for your child to keep, so it does not need to be returned)  Markers

Procedure (What to do!): Part 1 1. Gather a variety of small materials from around the house. 2. Group your objects into two groups: ones that you think will be attracted to a magnet, and ones that you think will not be attracted to a magnet. Do not use your magnet yet! 3. Record your predictions in the data table on your student page. 4. Test your objects to see if each object will be attracted to a magnet. 5. Record your results in your data table on your student page.

Part 2 First Grade

Blackhawk Science Sacks 1. Using markers, design a road on the piece of cardboard. 2. Place the toy car on the cardboard. 3. Make the car move on the cardboard without touching the car with your hands! (Hint: use the magnet)

Discussion Questions: Part 1 What objects were attracted to the magnet? Why? What objects were not attracted to the magnet? Why not?

Part 2 How does the car move if you push the magnet away from you? How does the care move if you pull the magnet towards you?

If you want to take the experiment further: Choose an object around the house (ie: piece of paper, glass, wood). Place the object in between a paper clip and the magnet. Test to see if the magnetic force is strong enough to hold a paper clip to the magnet with the object in between.

Please check materials list to be sure all materials stay with the Science Sack! First Grade

Blackhawk Science Sacks Magnet Mania Student Page

Part 1 Data Table

Predictions: Will Be Attracted to a Magnet Will Not Be Attracted to a Magnet

Results: Attracted to a Magnet Not Attracted to a Magnet First Grade

Blackhawk Science Sacks

Part 2 Draw a picture to show how you were able to move your car without using your hands. First Grade

Blackhawk Science Sacks