This December, students in 4th-7th grade participated in a three-day science class focused on electromagnets. The students were given a reading prior to the lesson that asked them to consider what an electromagnet might be. Next, students were given the materials to create their own electromagnet and were asked to explore how they could use those materials to pick up paper clips. After a few minutes of exploration, many of the students got the idea of what an electromagnet might look like. Once students understood how an electromagnet looks and how it functions, they experimented with factors that might increase and decrease the strength of an electromagnet.

First, students used three different core materials and tested which one could pick up the most paper clips. They then experimented with the number of coils wrapped around the nail to see if more or less coils made the magnet stronger.

Students then took their knowledge of electromagnets and applied it to real world applications. The students brainstormed problems that electromagnets may be able to help with. These included picking things up, trash removal, transportation, and climate change. Students were put into pairs and created an electromagnetic invention that would solve one or more of these problems.