| MAGNETISM
AND ELECTRICITY COURSE MATRIX |
 |
SYNOPSIS |
SCIENCE
CONTENT |
THINKING
PROCESSES |
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1. |
THE
FORCE
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Students
work with permanent magnets to discover that iron is the only
everyday material that sticks to magnets. They investigate variables
that influence the force of attraction between two magnets and
look for ways to detect the presence of a magnet. |
•
Magnets stick to metal objects made of iron.
• Magnetic interactions are caused by the magnetic force.
• Magnets display forces of attraction and repulsion that
decrease with distance.
• Magnetism can be induced in a piece of steel that is
close to or touching a magnet. |
•
Observe magnetic interactions and sort objects based on whether
they are affected by a magnet.
• Measure the force of attraction between magnets.
• Record and organize results of
investigations. |
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2. |
MAKING
CONNECTIONS |
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Students
investigate current electricity and circuits, the pathways through
which electricity flows. They find that some materials permit
the flow of electricity (conductors), and some don’t (insulators). |
•
Electricity flows through pathways called circuits.
• A switch is a device used to open and close circuits.
• An open circuit is an incomplete electric pathway; a
closed circuit is a complete pathway.
• Materials that allow electricity to flow are conductors;
those that do not are insulators. |
•
Build a test circuit and test objects for conductivity.
• Predict conductivity of materials.
• Sort materials based on whether they conduct electricity. |
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3. |
ADVANCED
CONNECTIONS |
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Students
explore series and parallel circuits and compare the functioning
of the components in each circuit. |
•
A circuit with only one pathway for current flow is a series
circuit. Components “share” the electric energy.
• A circuit with two or more pathways for current flow
is a parallel circuit. Components each have a direct pathway
to the energy source. |
•
Observe the functioning of different kinds of circuits.
• Compare the brightness of lamps in different kinds of
circuits.
• Determine the defining characteristics of series and
parallel circuits.
• Analyze and solve circuitry problems. |
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4. |
CURRENT
ATTRACTIONS |
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Students
learn how to use electricity to make an electromagnet. They
explore the variables that influence the strength of the magnetism
produced by their electromagnets. |
•
A core of iron or steel becomes an electromagnet when electricity
flows through a coil of insulated wire
surrounding it.
• There are a number of ways to change the strength of
an electromagnet, including changing the number of winds of
wire around the core. |
•
Observe the interaction between an electromagnet and objects.
• Systematically investigate ways to strengthen electromagnets.
• Compare the strength of electromagnets.
• Organize data.
• Conduct multiple trials, average results, and display
results in a graph. |
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5. |
CLICK
IT |
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Students
use all the concepts they have learned to build a telegraph
system that enables them to send and receive messages. The last
part of the investigation asks students to use their inquiry
skills to design, conduct, and report their own investigations. |
•
An electromagnet placed in a complete circuit can be used to
make a telegraph.
• A switch can serve as a key in a telegraph system.
• A code is a symbolic system used for communication
• Technology is the application of science. |
•
Explore the behavior of an electromagnet under different conditions.
• Solve circuitry problems.
• Encode and decode clicks produced by a telegraph. |
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