Magnetism - Lesson Plan

In this comprehensive lesson plan, students delve into the intriguing world of magnetism, a key component of the Year 3 Physics curriculum. The lesson is designed to enhance various scientific skills such as pattern seeking, identifying, classifying and grouping, as well as comparative and fair testing. Students will explore the fundamental principles of magnetism, including the non-contact force that magnets exert and the existence of magnetic poles. They will observe how magnets can attract or repel each other, and how they interact with different materials. The curriculum aligns with prior learning from Year 1, where students described and compared everyday materials, and with Year 5 topics on material properties, including their response to magnets.

Students will be engaged in hands-on activities, such as creating a Gauss gun and experimenting with polar opposites using bar magnets, to investigate the forces of attraction and repulsion. The lesson plan also corrects common misconceptions about magnetism, such as the idea that all metals are magnetic and that gravity is a magnetic force. Through these activities, students will learn to classify materials based on their magnetic properties and understand the relationship between magnet size, material, and magnetic force. Additionally, the plan includes important health and safety considerations for handling strong magnets and addresses cross-curricular links with geography and history, encouraging pupils to explore the natural world and historical navigation methods. The lesson concludes with a plenary session where students assess their understanding and progress in grasping key concepts of magnetism.