Magnet Maze Lab Guide Engineering Design Challenge
MAGNET MAZE LAB
NAME:
DATE:
Mission Briefing
Your mission is to design and build a tabletop maze that uses magnetic forces to guide a steel capsule (paperclip) from start to finish. You must test and choose the perfect base material to allow the magnetic force to pass through without losing strength!
Phase 1 Material Field Testing
Test different backing materials. Place a paperclip on top of the material, and hold your magnet underneath. Slide the magnet to see if the paperclip moves!
Backing Material Prediction Does force pass through? Strength (Weak / Strong) Thin Cardboard Allows / Blocks Yes / No Clear Plastic Sheet Allows / Blocks Yes / No Aluminum Foil Allows / Blocks Yes / No Steel/Iron Sheet Allows / Blocks Yes / No
Phase 2 Maze Blueprint Design
Sketch your maze layout below. Designate a Start and Finish . Draw your walls, obstacles, and any "Trap Zones" where the magnetic path might narrow or get blocked!
Start
Finish
Unit: Forces and Motion (NGSS MS-PS2-3) Page 1 of 2
Engineering Design Challenge
TEST & REFLECT
MISSION STATUS: ACTIVE
Phase 3 Trial & Iteration Log
Prototype Trial 1 Run #1
Backing Material Used:
What structural issues did you find?
Maze Completion Time:
Prototype Trial 2 Run #2
Changes Made (Redesign):
Did performance improve? Why or why not?
Maze Completion Time:
Phase 4 Force Field Analysis
1. Based on your tests, which backing materials let the magnetic field pass through best? Explain using evidence.
2. Describe what happened when you tried to use magnet-blocking materials like steel/iron sheets. Why does this occur?
3. How does distance affect magnetic force? How did you account for this when building your maze walls?
Peer Engineering Sign-Off
Evaluator Name:
One awesome feature of this design:
PASSES FIELD TEST: YES / NO
One change suggested to improve force transfer:
Unit: Forces and Motion (NGSS MS-PS2-3) Page 2 of 2
Magnetic Maze Base Printable Document No. FM-092-B
GRID MASTER MAZE BOARD
SCALE: 1 GRID = 1.5 INCH
FOR USE WITH: STRAW/PIPE CLEANER WALLS
Assembly Instructions: 1. Tape this page to cardboard, wood, or plastic. 2. Glue straws, cardboard strips, or walls onto grid. 3. Slide magnet underneath to navigate paperclip!
START
PORTAL A
Danger Zone
PORTAL B
FINISH
GRID PATTERN REPRODUCED UNDER DESIGN PATENT 402-A PART NO: GMB-720
Lab Accessories Kit
CUTOUTS & OBSTACLES
Scissors & Glue Required
Cut along the dotted lines to create accessories and custom structures for your Magnet Maze. Glue these directly to your grid base or use tape to mount them securely!
Section A: Mission Checkpoints
Fold along solid lines, glue flaps onto the maze base board.
START FLAG
ENTER HERE
GLUE FLAP
FINISH FLAG
ESC-ZONE
GLUE FLAP
Section B: Magnetic Decals
Place over paperclips as custom spacecraft/vehicle skins.
POD CAR ALPHA
TAPE OVER CLIP
DEEP SUB BETA
TAPE OVER CLIP
Section C: Shield Gates
Glue magnetic-blocking shields (like washers/foils) inside.
SHIELD UNIT-1
FOIL SLOT
SHIELD UNIT-2
IRON SLOT
Section D: Foldable Pillars
Fold into 3D triangular obstacles. Glue onto grid intersections.
FOLD LINE
OBSTACLE DOME
GLUE BASE
Unit: Forces and Motion (NGSS MS-PS2-3) Page 2 of 2
Force Field Engineers Teacher Guide FACILITATION GUIDE & LESSON PLAN
FORCE FIELD ENGINEERS
GRADE SPAN: 4th - 8th
EST. TIME: 60-90 MIN
Instructional Overview
In this hands-on engineering lab, students explore magnetic field interactions and material properties. By prototyping mazes on various backings, students discover which barriers block or allow non-contact force transmission, applying the NGSS engineering loop.
Standards
NGSS MS-PS2-3 & MS-ETS1-2
Evaluate non-contact magnetic fields and plan engineering solutions.
Materials Checklist (Per Team)
Strong Neodymium Magnets
Steel Paperclips / Washers
Thin Cardboard Sheets
Aluminum Foil & Plastic Wraps
Craft Straws or Pipe Cleaners
Scissors, Tape, and Glue
Lesson Pacing & Delivery Instructions
1
The Hook & Non-Contact Discovery (10 Mins)
Place a paperclip on a glass window or desktop and manipulate it with a magnet from underneath. Ask students: "How does the force move the clip without direct contact? Does it work through solid wood? Metal? Plastic?" Introduce the challenge.
2
Phase 1 Investigation & Testing (20 Mins)
Distribute Magnet Maze Lab Guide . Have students work in pairs to fill out the Material Field Testing chart. Emphasize tracking magnetic field transparency (non-magnetic backings allow force, magnetic-sensitive iron sheets capture/block it).
3
Phase 2 Blueprinting & Prototyping (30 Mins)
Students map their paths on the blueprint. Once finalized, they tape the Grid Master Board to cardboard or acrylic sheets and use glue and pipe cleaners or straws to assemble walls. Remind them to keep pathways wide enough for the paperclip capsule.
4
Phase 3 Testing, Redesign & Peer Sign-Off (20 Mins)
Teams run speed trials and iterate. If a magnetic backing is too thick (such as heavy wood), they will notice distance dampening. Have students seek peer reviews from other engineering teams using the rubric in their guide.
Force Field Engineers Curriculum Pack Page 1 of 2
INQUIRY, ASSESSMENT & TROUBLESHOOTING
CLASSROOM RUNBOOK
CURRICULUM KEY
Key Discussion Starters
Why does magnetic force pass through cardboard but not iron?
Ferromagnetic materials like iron absorb the magnetic field lines, redirecting/blocking the force. Non-magnetic materials let the field pass through unaffected.
