Chapter Graphic
 : Travelling Trucks
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  Level: Year 4
Approach: One to one
Focus: Sort magnetic and non-magnetic objects based on prior experience and practical investigation and try to generalise.
472k
Resources: Toy truck, magnet, bag of objects.

Questions / instructions:

Some of the things in this bag are attracted to the magnet. When they are put in the truck, the truck can be pulled along with the magnet.

     
% responses
y4
1. First I want you to look at all the things in the bag and put them into two groups. In one group put the things you think will be attracted to the magnet. In the other group put the things you think will not be attracted to the magnet.
Give student the bag of objects. Allow time.
 
Prediction
Observation
wood
no
  
iron bolt
yes
  
plastic
no
  
steel key
yes
  
aluminium key
no
  
rubber
no
  
steel wool
yes
  
aluminium foil
no
  
stone
no
  
98
97
91
97
9
92
47
54
89
Now you can try the things and see what happens.  
2. Put each of the things in the back of the truck and see if the magnet can tow the truck along.
Give student the magnet. Allow time.
 
Prediction
Observation
wood  
no
iron bolt  
yes
plastic  
no
steel key  
yes
aluminium key  
no
rubber  
no
steel wool  
yes
aluminium foil  
no
stone  
no
99
98
98
97
95
99
94
98
98
3. Now I want you to think of one more thing that would be attracted to the magnet.
Tell me what it is and what it is made of.
Prompt: What kind of metal?
new magnetic object identified
76
4. Now I want you to think of one more thing that would not be attracted to the magnet. Tell me what it is and what it is made of.
new non-magnetic object identified
89
5. Some things attract to magnets and some things don't. I want you to try to tell me a rule which explains what kind of things are attracted to magnets.
not marked
a
Commentary:
Year 4 students were very successful in testing the objects. In their earlier predictions, the steel wool and the aluminium objects produced the least successful predictions.
 
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