Georgia S5P3.b

Science5th GradePhysical Science

The Standard

Plan and carry out an investigation to observe the interaction between a magnetic field and a magnetic object.

Georgia Standards of Excellence for Science · Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information about magnetism and its relationship to electricity.

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students plan a fair test showing how a magnet affects another magnet or an iron object without direct contact. They change one factor, control others, record observations, and describe the field’s effect.
What Mastery Looks Like: Students can name the test question, materials, changed factor, measured result, and controls. They repeat trials and use recorded evidence to explain attraction or repulsion.
Common Misconceptions: Students may think every metal is attracted to magnets or that magnets must touch objects to affect them. They may think magnets always attract, regardless of pole direction. Some think magnetic fields exist only at the poles.
How to Assess It: Give pairs a bar magnet, paper clip, and ruler. Have them find the greatest distance at which the clip moves, repeat three times, and write one evidence-based claim.

Lesson moves

Move a paper clip toward a bar magnet in 1-centimeter steps, repeat three trials, and graph the distance where movement begins.
Write: What evidence shows the magnet affected the paper clip before contact, and how could you make the test fairer?
Play Magnetic or Not: predict whether steel, aluminum, plastic, and wood objects will respond, then test and score accurate revisions.
Test a magnetic cabinet latch at increasing gaps, then explain how the field helps the door close without initial contact.

Free download

A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to S5P3.b, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.

PDF, US Letter, prints cleanly in black and white.

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