A comprehensive 4th-grade physical science sequence covering magnetic forces, poles, attraction and repulsion, and hands-on investigation of magnetic and non-magnetic materials. Students move from concrete physical testing of invisible magnetic forces to analyzing real-world applications and material properties.
2. Evidence (What data from your tests supports your claim?):
3. Reasoning (Explain why magnets can push or pull without touching):
Completed Lab Sheet • Turn into Science Basket Page 2 of 2
[ ] A. Gets weaker
[ ] B. Gets stronger
[ ] C. Stays exactly the same
Lesson 1 Practice Worksheet • Magnet Mysteries Graded Independent Work
Common Misconception Scientific Reality & Correction Strategy
"North pole is stronger / more magnetic than South pole." Both poles have exactly equal magnetic strength; they only differ in directional polarity. Test by counting paperclips each pole can pick up!
"If you break a magnet in half, you get a pure North and pure South piece." Magnets cannot exist as monopoles! When broken, each fragment instantly forms its own new North and South pole.
"Magnetism and gravity are the same thing." Gravity only attracts and pulls downward toward mass. Magnetism can both pull (attract) AND push (repel) regardless of mass.
POLE POWER LAB SHEET — EXPECTED RESULTS LAB KEY
Station 1: Face-Off Results
N & S: Pulls together / ATTRACT
N & N: Pushes apart / REPEL
S & S: Pushes apart / REPEL
S & N: Pulls together / ATTRACT
Station 2: Distance Reach
Typical jump distance is 2.0 to 4.5 cm depending on bar magnet strength. Concludes that force acts through empty space.
Station 3: Floating Rings
Like poles must face each other (e.g., N facing N, S facing S). Gravity pulls down, while magnetic repulsion pushes up with equal/greater force.
Station 4 & CER Conclusion
Barriers: All tested materials (paper, cardboard, plastic, water) allow the magnetic field to pass through. Claim: Opposite poles attract; like poles repel. Reasoning: Magnets produce invisible magnetic fields that exert forces at a distance.
MAGNETIC FORCES WORKSHEET — COMPLETE ANSWER KEY WORKSHEET KEY
Part 1: Force Directions
1. N-S to N-S: S faces N ➔ Arrows Inward (➔ 🠔) • ATTRACT
2. S-N to N-S: N faces N ➔ Arrows Outward (🠔 ➔) • REPEL
3. N-S to S-N: S faces S ➔ Arrows Outward (🠔 ➔) • REPEL
4. S-N to S-N: N faces S ➔ Arrows Inward (➔ 🠔) • ATTRACT
Part 2: Vocabulary Matching
1-C, 2-A, 3-D, 4-B, 5-E
Part 3: Scenario Analysis
Question 1: The like poles were facing each other, so the magnetic force pushed Car B away (repelled).
Question 2: Flipping Car B placed opposite poles facing each other, causing magnetic attraction.
Part 4: Exit Ticket Check
1. B (Each new half gets its own N and S pole)
2. A (Gets weaker as distance increases)
Lesson 1 Teacher Reference & Solutions Page 2 of 2
Tricky Everyday Objects
Will these attract or not? What are they made of?
Aluminum Foil
Looks shiny & metallic!
It is 100% aluminum. Aluminum contains no iron, so magnets will never stick to it!
Non-Magnetic
Copper Penny
Made of zinc & copper!
Pennies have a copper plating over a zinc core. Neither copper nor zinc is magnetic!
Non-Magnetic
Steel Paperclip
Steel wire metal!
Steel is made from melted iron with carbon. The iron gives it super-strong attraction!
Magnetic!
Don't judge an object by its shine—test it with the magnetic pull!
Lab Investigation
Metal Detective Mission
Today's Investigation Protocol
Follow these 3 scientific steps with your lab partner:
1
Predict First
Look at each item on your tray. Check YES or NO in your prediction column before touching it with the magnet.
Record your hypothesis!
2
Touch & Test
Touch your magnet to each object. Do you feel a physical pull? Does the object lift or stick?
Gather actual evidence!
3
Sort & Conclude
Sort the objects into two distinct piles. What do all the magnetic objects have in common?
Form your conclusion!
Ready, Detectives!
Open your Metal Detective Lab Sheet and begin!
Lesson 2 • Page 2
3 Part 3: The Twin Spoons Mystery Challenge
Your teacher has provided two spoons that look identical: both are shiny, silver-colored metal. Spoon A is aluminum; Spoon B is stainless steel.
Spoon A Test:
Did the magnet stick?
Spoon A is made of:
Spoon B Test:
Did the magnet stick?
Spoon B is made of:
Key Takeaway: Why is visual appearance (shininess) NOT enough to tell if an object is magnetic?
4 Part 4: Shielding the Field (Can Metals Block Magnetism?)
Wrap your magnet in different materials. Will it still pick up a steel paperclip through the shield?
Shielding Wrap
Prediction (Will it Block?)
Did Paperclip Stick?
Did it Block the Field?
1 Layer Aluminum Foil
Yes / No
Yes / No
Yes / No
5 Layers Aluminum Foil
Yes / No
Yes / No
Yes / No
Steel Lid / Steel Can Sheet
Yes / No
Yes / No
Yes / No
Part 5: Detective Report (Claim • Evidence • Reasoning)
1. Claim (Which types of materials do magnets attract?):
2. Evidence (Name 2 metals that attracted and 2 metals that did NOT attract):
3. Reasoning (Explain why aluminum and copper do not attract, even though they are metals):
Completed Lab Sheet • Turn in for Grading Page 2 of 2
Lesson 2 • Key Reference
Critical Misconceptions to Address
Common Misconception Scientific Reality & Correction Strategy
"All shiny metals are magnetic." Most metals on Earth (gold, silver, copper, aluminum, brass, lead, zinc) are completely non-magnetic! Only iron, nickel, and cobalt attract.
"U.S. pennies and nickels stick to magnets." Modern US pennies are 97.5% zinc coated in copper; US nickels are 75% copper and 25% nickel (alloy structure cancels ferromagnetic domain alignment). Neither attracts!
"Aluminum foil blocks magnetic fields." Aluminum does NOT shield magnetic fields; the magnetic force passes right through multiple layers of foil uninhibited.
METAL DETECTIVE LAB SHEET — EXPECTED RESULTS LAB KEY
Part 1 & 2: Test Results & Groups
Magnetic Metals: Steel paperclip, Iron nail, Steel washer.
Spoon A (Aluminum) does NOT attract. Spoon B (Stainless Steel) attracts firmly. Visual shininess is identical; magnetic testing reveals iron content.
Part 4: Shielding the Field
1 & 5 layers of aluminum foil do NOT block magnetic force (clip sticks through). A thick steel sheet redirects the field lines along itself, reducing pull on the clip.
Part 5: CER Detective Report
Claim: Magnets only attract objects made of iron, nickel, or cobalt. Evidence: Iron nails and steel washers stuck; copper pennies and aluminum foil did not. Reasoning: Non-magnetic metals lack the magnetic atomic domains found in ferromagnetic elements.
MAGNETIC MATERIALS WORKSHEET — COMPLETE ANSWER KEY WORKSHEET KEY
Part 1: Material Check
1. Aluminum Can ➔ NON-MAGNETIC
2. Steel Bolt ➔ MAGNETIC
3. Gold Ring ➔ NON-MAGNETIC
4. Copper Wire ➔ NON-MAGNETIC
5. Iron Shavings ➔ MAGNETIC
6. Wooden Ruler ➔ NON-MAGNETIC
Part 2: Recycling Separator
1: The magnetic drum attracts steel soup cans to one chute, while non-magnetic aluminum cans fall into another.
2: Neither aluminum nor plastic is magnetic, so a magnet cannot separate them from each other.
Part 3: True or False Justification
1. FALSE: Aluminum, copper, gold, and silver are shiny metals that never attract magnets.
2. TRUE: Steel is made mostly of iron, which gives it its strong ferromagnetic properties.
Part 4: Exit Ticket Check
1. B (Iron, Nickel, Cobalt)
2. A (Wave a strong magnet over the fibers; steel pins will jump and stick)
Lesson 2 Teacher Reference & Solutions Page 2 of 2
