Science · Year 7

Active learning ideas

Electromagnetism

Students learn electromagnetism best when they build and test their own devices, because the physical connection between current and magnetism only becomes real when they see a nail lift paperclips with the flip of a switch. Hands-on work turns abstract field lines into visible results, making the link between electricity and magnetism unforgettable.

• ACARA Content Descriptions
• AC9S7U04

• 15–40 min
• Pairs → Whole Class
• 4 activities

Activity 01

• Experiential Learning
• 20 min · Pairs

Pairs Build: Basic Electromagnet

Provide pairs with a nail, insulated wire, battery, and paperclips. Instruct them to wrap the wire 20 times around the nail, connect to the battery, and count lifted paperclips. Have them sketch their setup and note observations.

Explain how an electric current can create a magnetic field.

Facilitation Tip

During Pairs Build, circulate and ask each pair to trace the current path with their finger so they see the circuit, not just the parts.

What to look for

Provide students with a diagram of a simple electromagnet setup. Ask them to label the battery, wire, coil, and core. Then, ask: 'What will happen when the circuit is closed?'

• Apply
• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Self-Awareness
• Self-Management
• Social Awareness

Activity 02

• Experiential Learning
• 30 min · Small Groups

Small Groups Test: Coil Variations

Groups receive materials to build electromagnets with 10, 20, and 30 coils. They connect each to a battery, measure paperclips lifted, and graph results. Discuss which variation works best and why.

Design a simple electromagnet and identify factors that affect its strength.

Facilitation Tip

In Small Groups Test, give each group a different variable to isolate so the whole class can compare results later.

What to look for

Pose the question: 'Imagine you have a nail, some wire, and a battery. How could you make the nail pick up paperclips? What would you do to make it pick up more paperclips?' Facilitate a class discussion about their proposed designs and the factors influencing strength.

• Apply
• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Self-Awareness
• Self-Management
• Social Awareness

Activity 03

• Experiential Learning
• 15 min · Whole Class

Whole Class Demo: Direction and Polarity

Demonstrate connecting a battery to show attraction, then reverse leads for repulsion using two electromagnets. Students predict outcomes, observe, and explain using field lines on a whiteboard.

Analyze the applications of electromagnets in modern technology.

Facilitation Tip

For Whole Class Demo, use a compass to show the field direction around a straight wire before coiling, making the pattern visible.

What to look for

On an index card, have students draw a simple circuit that includes a coil of wire around a nail. Ask them to write one sentence explaining how this setup creates a magnet and one sentence describing a real-world application of electromagnets.

• Apply
• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Self-Awareness
• Self-Management
• Social Awareness

Activity 04

• Experiential Learning
• 40 min · Individual

Individual Challenge: Optimal Design

Students design an electromagnet to lift the most paperclips within material limits. They build, test, and record variables like coils and core. Share top designs in a class vote.

Explain how an electric current can create a magnetic field.

Facilitation Tip

During Individual Challenge, require students to record coil count, wire gauge, and core type on a lab sheet before testing.

What to look for

Provide students with a diagram of a simple electromagnet setup. Ask them to label the battery, wire, coil, and core. Then, ask: 'What will happen when the circuit is closed?'

• Apply
• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Self-Awareness
• Self-Management
• Social Awareness

A few notes on teaching this unit

Teachers should start with simple circuits so students see the connection between closed loops and magnetic fields before adding coils. Avoid rushing to formal diagrams; let students sketch their own observations first. Research shows that drawing field directions alongside physical tests deepens understanding more than abstract rules alone.

By the end of these activities, students will explain how coiled wire and current create a magnetic field, describe how core material and coil count change strength, and apply design choices to build a stronger electromagnet. They will use evidence from their tests to support each claim and connect their findings to real-world uses.

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Watch Out for These Misconceptions

• During Pairs Build, watch for students who assume the nail itself is the magnet even when the circuit is open.

  After they close the circuit and the nail lifts paperclips, ask them to open the circuit and try again; the loss of attraction shows the magnetism is temporary and linked to current flow.

• During Small Groups Test, watch for groups that increase voltage hoping for more strength without changing coil count.

  Ask them to test the same coil with two different voltages and record the results; the similar outcomes will show that coils and core matter more than extra batteries.

• During Whole Class Demo, watch for students who keep the idea that electricity and magnetism are separate.

  Have them draw arrows showing the magnetic field around the wire and the nail together, then label how current direction matches field direction, linking the two forces in one diagram.

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Methods used in this brief

• Experiential Learning