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Science Lesson Kit · Teacher Resource

Build an Electromagnet: Current, Coils & Magnetic Strength — 5E Lesson Plan

Physical Science · 50 minutes

Grade 4

5E lesson flow

  1. 01

    Engage

    6 min

    Teacher Does

    Show an iron nail and ask whether it can become a controllable magnet.

    Students Do

    Predict and explain.

    Ask

    • What might electricity change?

    Look For

    A testable prediction rather than a guess about appearance.

  2. 02

    Build

    12 min

    Teacher Does

    Model a safe coil around an iron nail and a low-voltage complete circuit.

    Students Do

    Build or observe the electromagnet setup.

    Ask

    • What must be connected for current to flow?

    Look For

    Complete circuit and coil around the core.

  3. 03

    Test

    12 min

    Teacher Does

    Set matched coil-turn comparisons.

    Students Do

    Count identical clips lifted in repeated trials.

    Ask

    • What changes? What stays the same?

    Look For

    Coil turns change; battery, nail, wire, and clips stay the same.

  4. 04

    Explain

    10 min

    Teacher Does

    Connect current, coil, core, and magnetic strength.

    Students Do

    Use results to make a bounded claim.

    Ask

    • What evidence supports your claim?

    Look For

    Measured clip counts tied to the tested setup.

  5. 05

    Improve

    6 min

    Teacher Does

    Ask for one reasoned design change.

    Students Do

    Plan a retest.

    Ask

    • How will you know the change helped?

    Look For

    Same measurement and matched conditions.

  6. 06

    Evaluate

    4 min

    Teacher Does

    Open the circuit and ask for an exit explanation.

    Students Do

    Explain why the magnetic effect changes.

    Ask

    • What changed when current stopped?

    Look For

    Current-dependent magnetic effect.

Student goal

I can build and fairly test an electromagnet, then use evidence to explain what changes its strength.

Learning objectives

  • Explain that electric current in a wire coil can create a magnetic effect.
  • Use a fair test to compare how changing coil turns affects an electromagnet.
  • Use measured evidence to improve an electromagnet design.

Materials

  • Low-voltage battery holders
  • Insulated copper wire
  • Iron nails
  • Small steel paper clips
  • Simple switch or connector
  • Recording sheet

Before class

  • Use only low-voltage classroom batteries.
  • Pre-cut wire and expose only short wire ends.
  • Check all battery-and-coil connections before students test; limit connection time so wire and batteries do not heat.
  • Check that all test objects are the same type and size.

Prior knowledge

  • Students know a circuit needs a complete path.
  • Students know magnets can attract some metals.

Vocabulary

electromagnet
A magnet made by electric current flowing through a coil of wire.
coil
Wire wrapped in repeated loops around a core.
current
The flow of electric charge through a complete circuit.
core
The material inside a coil, such as an iron nail.
magnetic strength
How strongly a magnet can attract certain magnetic materials.
fair test
A comparison in which one tested factor changes while important conditions stay the same.

Differentiation

  • Use a labeled physical model before written explanation.
  • Provide the frame: We changed ___; we kept ___ the same; we measured ___.
  • Let students record clip counts with tally marks.
  • For extension, compare two successful coil designs and discuss efficiency.

Assessment

  • Check complete-circuit reasoning.
  • Check fair-test controls.
  • Check that claims use measured evidence rather than appearance.

Exit ticket

Why does opening the circuit change an electromagnet?

Extension

Design a fair test for one additional electromagnet feature while keeping other conditions the same.