Lesson Plan for Grade 3 - Science - Forces and Magnets

### Lesson Plan: Forces and Magnets **Grade Level:** 3 **Subject:** Science **Duration:** 60 minutes **Topic:** Forces and Magnets --- #### Objectives: 1. **Understand** the concept of force and explore different types of forces. 2. **Identify** and **classify** materials that are magnetic and non-magnetic. 3. **Describe** how magnets attract and repel. 4. **Conduct** simple experiments to demonstrate magnetic forces. --- #### Materials: - Magnets (bar magnets and horseshoe magnets) - Various objects (paper clips, plastic toys, coins, wooden pieces, etc.) - Chart paper and markers - Iron filings - Paper and pencils for note-taking - Interactive whiteboard or projector - Videos/animations explaining magnetic fields (optional) --- #### Lesson Outline: 1. **Introduction (10 minutes)** - Begin with a brief discussion on what students already know about forces. Ask questions like: - What is a force? - Can you give examples of forces you see or use every day? - Introduce magnets and explain that they create a force called magnetism. 2. **Explanation and Demonstration (15 minutes)** - Explain the types of forces: push and pull. - Introduce magnetic and non-magnetic materials. Show examples using different objects. - Demonstrate how magnets attract magnetic materials (like paper clips) and do not attract non-magnetic materials (like plastic toys). - Use a chart to classify objects as magnetic or non-magnetic based on the demonstrations. 3. **Interactive Experiment (20 minutes)** - Hand out magnets and a variety of objects to small groups of students. - Ask students to test each object to see if it is magnetic or not. - Have students record their observations in a table on a provided worksheet. - Discuss the results and ask: - Which objects were magnetic? - Which objects were non-magnetic? - Did any results surprise you? 4. **Activity: Create and Observe Magnetic Fields (10 minutes)** - Place a magnet under a sheet of paper and sprinkle iron filings on top. - Gently tap the paper to spread out the filings and reveal the magnetic field lines. - Discuss what they see and explain how magnetic fields work. 5. **Assessment (5 minutes)** - Quick quiz: Provide a list of objects and ask students to label them as magnetic or non-magnetic. - Ask students to draw a picture of two magnets showing either attraction or repulsion. 6. **Wrap-Up and Review (5 minutes)** - Recap the key points of the lesson. - Ask students to share one new thing they learned today. - Provide a take-home worksheet for further practice, if desired. --- #### Differentiation: - **For Students Needing Extra Support:** Pair them with a buddy during group activities and provide step-by-step instructions. - **For Advanced Students:** Challenge them to find creative ways to demonstrate magnetic force, such as creating simple magnetic toys or games. --- #### Homework: - Find three objects at home that are magnetic and three that are non-magnetic. Write them down and bring the list to the next class. - Optional: Draw a picture showing two everyday uses of magnets. --- #### Reflection: - Assess student engagement and understanding through participation and the quiz. - Note any concepts that need revisiting or further clarification. - Gather feedback from students on what they enjoyed and found challenging to inform future lesson planning.