Lesson Plan for Year 3 - Science - Forces and Magnets

### Lesson Plan: Forces and Magnets **Grade Level**: Year 3 **Subject**: Science **Duration**: 1 hour #### **Objective:** By the end of the lesson, students will be able to: 1. Understand the concept of forces and how they can affect the motion of objects. 2. Identify different types of forces (push, pull, magnetic forces). 3. Explore the properties of magnets and their effects on various materials. 4. Make predictions and observations in simple experiments involving magnets. #### **Materials:** - Magnets of various shapes and sizes - A collection of objects (metal and non-metal) - Paper clips - Balloons - String - Small toy cars - Chart paper and markers - Worksheet for observations #### **Lesson Outline:** **Introduction (10 minutes):** 1. **Hook:** Start with a demonstration. Show a toy car, and push it to make it move, then pull it back. Ask students what they saw and what made the car move. 2. **Discussion:** Introduce the concept of 'forces' as pushes and pulls that can change the motion of objects. Explain that we experience forces every day when we push a door open or pull it shut. **Activity 1: Push and Pull (15 minutes):** 1. **Group Work:** Divide students into small groups and give each group a toy car and a balloon. 2. **Experiment:** Ask students to push the car and observe what happens. Then, blow up the balloon and release it without tying. Let students observe how the air pushes the balloon. 3. **Discussion:** Have groups share their observations. Explain how air pressure creates a force that moves the balloon. 4. **Worksheet:** Students draw what happened to the toy car and the balloon and label the forces involved. **Activity 2: Exploring Magnets (20 minutes):** 1. **Introduction to Magnets:** Show different types of magnets and explain that magnets create a force that can attract or repel certain materials. 2. **Experiment 1:** Give each group a magnet and a collection of objects (nails, paper clips, plastic spoon, coin, etc.). Ask students to predict which objects will be attracted to the magnet and then test their predictions. 3. **Experiment 2:** Have students explore what happens when they bring two magnets close to each other (attraction and repulsion). 4. **Observation Chart:** Students record their findings on a provided worksheet. **Activity 3: Real-World Application (10 minutes):** 1. **Discussion:** Talk about how magnets are used in everyday life, such as in refrigerator magnets, toys, and machines. 2. **Interactive Quiz:** A quick quiz to reinforce key concepts. Ask questions about which materials are magnetic and the difference between push and pull forces. **Closure (5 minutes):** 1. **Review:** Summarize the key points of the lesson. Emphasize the difference between magnetic forces and other types of forces. 2. **Reflect:** Ask students what their favorite part of the lesson was and why. 3. **Homework:** Assign students to find and bring an item from home that uses magnets for the next class. #### **Assessment:** - **Formative Assessment:** Monitor group activities and discussion to ensure understanding. - **Worksheet Review:** Collect and review students' worksheets to evaluate their ability to identify and predict the effects of forces and magnets. - **Quiz Responses:** Check students' answers to the interactive quiz for comprehension. #### **Extensions:** - **Advanced Experiment:** Challenge students to create a simple magnetic levitation device using magnets. - **Creative Task:** Have students write a short story or draw a comic strip that includes characters using the concept of forces and magnets. This lesson plan provides a structured yet engaging approach to teaching Year 3 students about forces and magnets, fostering both their curiosity and scientific thinking skills.