Objective
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to glue magnets onto plastic spiders and understand the basic principles of magnetism and its application.
Materials and Prep
- Plastic spiders
- Magnets
- Glue
- Table or workspace
- Optional: Decorative materials for the spiders (e.g., googly eyes, pipe cleaners)
No prior knowledge or preparation is required for this lesson.
Activities
- Start by explaining the concept of magnetism and how magnets attract certain materials.
- Show the plastic spiders to the student and discuss how they can be made more interactive and fun by adding magnets.
- Have the student choose a plastic spider and a magnet.
- Apply glue to the back of the magnet and press it onto the spider's body.
- Hold the magnet in place for a few seconds to ensure it adheres properly.
- Allow the glue to dry completely before testing the magnet's strength.
- Encourage the student to experiment with different magnets and spiders to observe how the strength of attraction may vary.
- Optional: Once the glue is dry, let the student decorate the spiders with googly eyes, pipe cleaners, or any other materials they desire.
Seventh Grade Talking Points
- "Magnetism is a natural force that attracts certain materials."
- "Magnets have two poles, called north and south, and opposite poles attract each other while like poles repel each other."
- "By gluing magnets onto plastic spiders, we can make them magnetic and explore the principles of magnetism in a fun way."
- "Different magnets may have different strengths, which can affect the level of attraction between the magnet and the plastic spider."
- "Observing and experimenting with magnets and plastic spiders can help us understand how magnetism works and its practical applications."