4th Grade Science:  The Compass
James Hood
Introduction
Standards
Objectives
Activities
Assessment
Results
Resources
Yahoo!    Would somebody get me a beaker, 
                                             I think I feel an experiment coming on.
 
 		 Introduction
         Make a compass and see how sensitive it is to magnetic fields.
 
Subject
Topic: Physical Science
Grade Level: 4th Grade
Student Lesson name and URL:  http://ctap295.ctaponline.org/~jhood/student/
Standards
               Physical Sciences
(Text in red are the standards addressed in this lessons)
1. Electricity and magnetism are related effects that have many useful applications in everyday life. As a basis for understanding this concept:
a. Students know how to design and build simple series and parallel circuits by using components such as wires, batteries, and bulbs.
b. Students know how to build a simple compass and use it to detect magnetic effects, including Earth's magnetic field.
c. Students know electric currents produce magnetic fields and know how to build a
simple electromagnet.
d. Students know the role of electromagnets in the construction of electric motors,
electric generators, and simple devices, such as doorbells and earphones.
e. Students know electrically charged objects attract or repel each other.
f. Students know that magnets have two poles (north and south) and that like poles
repel each other while unlike poles attract each other.
g. Students know electrical energy can be converted to heat, light, and motion.
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  • Instructional Objectives
  •  1: Given supplies, (magnet, sewing needle, slice of cork 1/4 inch 
  •               thick, glass dish with water in it) students will construct a working
  •               compass.
  •  2: Using a magnet, students will demonstrate a compass' sensitivity to 
  •               the existence of magnetic fields.
  •  3: Using the student made compass, students will identify the Earth's North
  •              and South direction. (Compass needle will point North and South)
  • Student Activities
  • To get started, click on " a compass" and learn about how a compass and the

    •    Earth are so very closely related. Then gather up the list of materials. Click on
      "build a real compass" and you will be on your way to building this great scientific
       tool.
    I
    Introductory Activity
    You will be building an instrument (a compass) that is extremely sensitive to an invisible force. (The magnetic forces of Earth)

    Enabling Activities
    Not only will you build a real compass, you will test them and find out how sensitive the invisible force is, then be able to locate our Earth's magnetic force. You will be able to point North too! How about that! 
     

    Culminating Activity
    Once you have completed everything, it will be great fun to place your compass on your desk, and try to label (labels) your desk with North, South, East and West labels.
     

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    Assessment
    Pretest (web page)
    Pretest (word Document
     
    Test Results:Compass 
    Pre-Test                       Post-Test
    Student 1 
    70
    90
    Student 2 
    80
    90
    Student 3 
    70
    100
    Student 4
    90
    100
    Student 5
    70
    90
    Student 6
    50
    70
    Student 7
    80
    100
    Student 8
    90
    100
    Student 9
    100
    100
    Student 10
    80
    90
    Student 11
    90
    100
    Student 12
    80
    90
    Student 13
    70
    100
    Student 14
    80
    100
    Student 15
    70
    90

     
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    Web Resources & Supplementary Materials

              Web links: 
    a compass 
    build a real compass,
    Unit Tests
    :Pretest web page
    Pretest word Document

    Desk Labels:
    labels


     
     
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     School Name:Gold Oak School
    School Location: 3171 Pleasant Valley Rd.  Placerville,CA
    Your Name and e-mail address jimapril@jps.net
    Last Revised: 05/15/2001