Activity 01
Demo Setup: Iron Filings Patterns
Place a bar magnet under a sheet of paper. Students sprinkle iron filings evenly, tap the paper gently to align filings, then sketch the curved field lines. Discuss how lines show direction and strength. Rotate magnets to compare poles.
Explain how we can 'see' an invisible magnetic field.
Facilitation TipDuring the iron filings activity, remind students to tap the paper gently to encourage filings to align without creating clumps that distort the field lines.
What to look forProvide students with a diagram of a bar magnet. Ask them to draw at least four magnetic field lines showing the correct direction from North to South. Then, ask them to label one area where the magnetic field is strongest.
ApplyAnalyzeEvaluateSelf-AwarenessSelf-ManagementSocial Awareness
Generate Complete Lesson→· · ·
Activity 02
Pairs Plot: Compass Field Mapping
Pairs position a compass near the north pole of a bar magnet, mark the needle's south tip on paper. Slowly move the compass so the tip follows the field line to the south pole, marking repeatedly. Connect marks to reveal full lines.
Analyze how the strength of a magnetic field changes with distance.
Facilitation TipWhen students work in pairs with compasses, ask them to take turns tracing one line at a time to avoid overlapping marks that can confuse the pattern.
What to look forPresent students with two bar magnets, one with poles facing each other in an attracting configuration and one in a repelling configuration. Ask: 'How do the magnetic field lines, if we could see them, explain why these magnets attract or repel each other?'
ApplyAnalyzeEvaluateSelf-AwarenessSelf-ManagementSocial Awareness
Generate Complete Lesson→· · ·
Activity 03
Groups Test: Distance and Strength
Groups fix a strong magnet and test paperclip pickup or compass deflection at set distances like 2cm, 5cm, 10cm. Record trials in a table, graph results. Predict patterns for horseshoe magnets.
Design an experiment to map the magnetic field around a bar magnet.
Facilitation TipFor the distance and strength test, provide rulers with millimeter markings so students can measure spacing precisely and record data consistently.
What to look forObserve students as they use iron filings to map the field around a bar magnet. Ask: 'What does the pattern of the iron filings tell you about the magnetic field? Where is the field strongest, and how can you tell?'
ApplyAnalyzeEvaluateSelf-AwarenessSelf-ManagementSocial Awareness
Generate Complete Lesson→· · ·
Activity 04
Design Challenge: Magnet Comparisons
Small groups plan and run a fair test comparing field strength around bar versus ring magnets at fixed distances using compasses. Collect data, draw conclusions, present findings.
Explain how we can 'see' an invisible magnetic field.
Facilitation TipDuring the magnet comparisons challenge, encourage students to test both attracting and repelling setups to observe how field lines change in each scenario.
What to look forProvide students with a diagram of a bar magnet. Ask them to draw at least four magnetic field lines showing the correct direction from North to South. Then, ask them to label one area where the magnetic field is strongest.
ApplyAnalyzeEvaluateSelf-AwarenessSelf-ManagementSocial Awareness
Generate Complete Lesson→A few notes on teaching this unit
Teachers should let students explore first before explaining, as hands-on discovery builds stronger mental models. Use questioning to guide observations, such as asking, 'Why do the lines spread out here but bunch up there?' to encourage analysis. Avoid rushing to conclusions; allow time for students to revise their ideas based on evidence from their own work.
Successful learning looks like students confidently explaining how field lines curve from north to south poles and identifying where fields are strongest or weakest. They should use evidence from their activities to support claims about field strength and direction during discussions and tasks.
Watch Out for These Misconceptions
During Demo Setup: Iron Filings Patterns, watch for students who focus only on the poles and ignore the curved lines extending between them.
After the iron filings settle, ask students to trace the lines with their fingers, starting at the north pole and moving to the south pole. Have them describe the shape of the path to reinforce that fields surround the entire magnet.
During Groups Test: Distance and Strength, watch for students who assume the field remains equally strong at all distances.
Have students measure the distance between filings at 1 cm and 5 cm from the magnet. Ask them to compare the spacing and explain why it matters for field strength, using their data to correct the idea of uniform strength.
During Pairs Plot: Compass Field Mapping, watch for students who draw straight lines radiating from both poles.
After plotting, ask each pair to compare their sketches with another pair’s. Have them adjust their lines to match the curved paths they observed, using compass arrows to guide the correction.
Methods used in this brief