Stage 3

Date: 20/10/14
Time: 1 .5 hours
Rationale: This experience is the capstone for the unit, in which the children use all their accumulated
knowledge on magnetism to create darts to throw at the board they made in the previous lesson.
Objectives:
For the children to investigate the aerodynamic principles of various items and create magnetic darts to
throw at their dartboard.
Resources & Equipment:
Classroom organisation:
6mm metal dowel
Children will be gathered on the floor for
the prezi communication
6mm wood dowel
Organise the children into the same groups
6mm plastic rod
they were in for creating the dart board and
Small cylindrical neodymium magnets (6mm in
have them go outside in these groups for
size)
the throwing of the balls
6mm cylindrical cobalt magnet
Have each group work at a table so that
6mm ceramic magnet
there is sufficient room for each group and
Medicine ball
each child to participate.
Tennis ball
Ping pong ball
Cones
Super glue
Small arrow feathers
24x Lab coats and safety glasses
Introduction:
Children put on lab coats and safety glasses.
Children sit down on the floor and discuss what they have learnt from the previous lesson, adding
their voice to the prezi wall using the IWB.
Ask the children what they think happens when they throw an object in the air, and have them
discuss some observations.
Sort the children into groups, and take them outside. Have each group throw a medicine ball, a
tennis ball and a ping pong ball.
Have them discuss the differences between all three balls, noticing that the tennis ball will go
further then both other balls.
Applied task:
Provide each group with a box of materials.
Explain to the class that like how had to find out which ball is the best to throw, we are now going to
create a dart for our dart board, using the materials provided to find the best materials to use.
Allow the children to explore with different combinations of magnets and shafts, eventually making
enough darts of their chosen material choices to play a game of darts
Conclusion:
Allow the children the chance to have a game of darts with their built materials
Bring the children onto the ground, and bring up the created prezi.
Have one last discussion asking the children to write what they have learnt, and give them the
opportunity to add anything they feel is missing from the wall.
Explicit teaching:
If necessary, demonstrate to the children how the variety of materials act differently by throwing
the materials for the children, and have them describe what they see.

Facilitate investigation through open ended questioning and positive reinforcement e.g.: How can
we determine if the wood or the plastic went further?
Empower the children to make their own items, only co-constructing if you feel it is necessary,
otherwise you want the child in the centre of the lesson.
Evoke problem solving skills in a group by questioning their choices, e.g.: Did you try the metal and
the cobalt magnet, would that maybe go further than your plastic and ceramic?
Support:
Extend:
Focus on having the children identify that there are
Have the children consider materials outside of
forces that impact trajectory, such as weight, size and what was provided, and have them conceptualise a
shape. From here, build their understanding that this dart with whatever they think would be the best
is relevant to all trajectories, and hence it is
material to use.
important to consider what materials are being used
Additionally, have them make an argument for
in a projectile to maximise how far it can be thrown.
either having the darts as magnetic, or perhaps
making the board itself magnetic. Have them use
their knowledge of magnetism to justify their
decision.