Step 1: Inquiry Approaches to Teaching

5E Lesson Plan Template

Step 1 5E Lesson Plan Template

Magnets

Author: Matthew Kurth

Team Members: Ryan Solano
Date Lesson to be Taught: 10-9-09
Grade Level: 5
Lesson Source: STC: Magnets and Motors

Concepts:
Magnets have forces that attract and repel each other depending on their sides. The
forces of magnets can even work through other objects.

Objectives: Students should be able to:

1. Recognize that magnets can repeal and attract each other and can do so through
other objects.
2. Identify different objects and machines that they use that contain magnets.

Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills:

2(C) analyze and interpret information to construct reasonable explanations from direct
and indirect evidence
2(D) communicate valid conclusions

Materials List and Advanced Preparations:

-For Each Student:
-2 flexible magnets with a hole in the center (1’’ x ¾’’ x 3/16’’)
-1 wooden stick
-1’ long piece of string
-plastic cup and lid
-For Engagement:
- a sealed shoe box with 2 strong magnets taped inside the bottom of the box
-a stapler that is held by the magnets in the box

The University of Texas at Dallas


Safety:
Do not have magnets strong enough to pinch skin. Do not allow students to throw
supplies at each other
ENGAGEMENT
What the Teacher Will Do
Show the sealed box to the class
and place the stapler to the
bottom where it then is held by
the magnets.
Discuss that magnets can hold
some metal objects.
Explain that scientists often have
to solve problems without seeing
them, and that their class was
able to come to a reasonable
conclusion without ever looking
in the box just like scientists do.
Step 1: inquiry Approaches to Teaching
5E Lesson Plan Template
Time: 5 Minutes
Probing/Eliciting Student Responses and
Questions Misconceptions
Why doesn’t the stapler Possible responses[tape or
fall when I release it? glue is holding it… a
What could be holding the magnet is holding it]
stapler to the box?
Do you use magnets to Possible responses
hold things at your house? [Magnets hold objects to
Can magnets stick to the refrigerator or a filing
anything, if not, what cabinet.]
won’t they stick to? Misconception: Students
may think that magnets
will attach to any metal or
metallic object.
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 Step 1: inquiry Approaches to Teaching
5E Lesson Plan Template

EXPLORATION Time: 20 Minutes

What the Teacher Will Do Probing/Eliciting Student Responses and
Questions Misconceptions
Have the students in seat 1( out
of their group of 4) come to the
front to collect two sets of
supplies (having the magnets
and string in the closed cups) for
their group and then have the
student in seat 2 to come up to
collect the other 2 sets of
supplies.
Have the students observe the What different
materials without touching them experiments could you do
or opening the cups. Discuss with these materials?
possible experiments that could
be done with the supplies. As a
class create a statement of what
they expect the materials to be
able to do and not do. Then in a
fresh page in their spiral have
them write a hypothesis from the
statement and if they agree with
it or not.
Tell the students to discover the -Can the magnets repeal Possible Responses:
different things that magnets can each other? -Sometimes…yes
do, and allow them 10 minutes to -Can the magnets connect -Yes, No, depends what is
experiment with their materials. even with something in between them
Walk around the class to watch between them? -They move together, they
the different experiments they -What happens when both move apart
are using and what they are magnets are on the stick?
finding out. Ask the class
questions throughout the 10
minutes to prompt their
exploration. Afterwards have
them return the supplies the
same way they were given out.

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EXPLANATION
What the Teacher Will Do
Discuss with the class what they
discovered with the magnets.
Create a class list of discoveries
of what magnets can and can’t
do on the board, and have them
record it in their spirals.
Tell the students that magnets
have different poles or charges
on opposite side and that these
poles affect if 2 magnets are
attracted or repealed.
ELABORATION
What the Teacher Will Do
Discuss with the students how we
use magnets in our every day
lives.
Give a list of a few uses for
magnets that they might not
realize such as being used in
computers, motors, recording on
audio tapes and recording on old
video tapes.
Step 1: inquiry Approaches to Teaching
5E Lesson Plan Template
Time: Minutes
Probing/Eliciting Student Responses and
Questions Misconceptions
-What happened when you
flipped a magnet next to
another one?
-Was there anything you
could put between the 2
magnets that would not let
them stick together?
Time: Minutes
Probing/Eliciting Student Responses and
Questions Misconceptions
-What objects are magnets Misconceptions:
in that we use every day? Students may not realize
-Can they hold doors the wide variety of uses of
closed? magnets.
-Do compasses use
magnets?
-What are the magnets in
compasses attracted to?
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EVALUATION
What the Teacher Will Do
Have them draw in their spirals
a few things that magnets can
do. Walk around to see the
different characteristics they are
drawing. Have a few students
explain the different pictures
that they drew.
Also have the students draw a
few of the items that they often
use that contain magnets. Have a
few students say what they drew.
Step 1: inquiry Approaches to Teaching
5E Lesson Plan Template
Time: 10 Minutes
Probing/Eliciting Student Responses and
Questions Misconceptions
What did you draw and
what characteristic of
magnets is it describing?
What item or object do
you use that contains a
magnet?
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