BEAVER SCOUTS STEM Pilots – Fall 2013

Magnets Attract!

PLANScouters should prepare the material. The magnet game is best played outside or somewhere that kids can run around.

DOActivity # 1: What do magnets attract?Beaver Scouts work in groups of two to three to figure out what objects are attracted by magnets and which ones are not.• Scoutersgiveeachgroupaboxfilledwithdifferentobjects(pebbles,corks,paper

clips,keys,erasers,coins,ironneedlesorscrews,etc)andsomemagnets.• ScoutersaskBeaverstocategorizetheobjectsinanywaytheywhat.They

eventually will figure out that some objects are magnetic and some are not.• Whenallgroupsaredone,discusshowtheyorganizedtheiritems.Scouterswill

guide the discussion towards the objects’ interaction with magnets and how they attract objects made of iron.

• Discusshowmagnetsareusedindailylife.ScoutersguideBeaversthroughobvioususesofmagnets(toys,refrigeratormagnets,paperclipholders,somecabinetdoors)tomoreinvisibleusesofmagnets(creditanddebitcardswithmagneticstripes,computers,compass,motors,fans,cars).

Activity # 2: How a compass works?• BeaverScoutsaredividedintogroupsoftwotothree.EachBeaverhasamagnet

and must figure out how magnets interact with each other. They will soon find out that opposite colour poles attract each other and like colours repel each other.

• Eachgroupgetsacompassandisaskedtofindoutnorth.• Beaversputthecompassonthefloorandarrangetheirmagnetsarounditinany

shapetheywant.Whichdirectiondothecompassespointtonow?Eachcompasswillshow a different direction because of the magnetic fields created by the magnets.

• Beaversareaskedtotakeawaythemagnets.Nowwhatdoesthecompassshow?Thecompasswillpointtothenorthagain.Whathappened?

• Aftersomediscussion,Scoutersexplainthatthecompassisamagnetthatshowsthe magnetic field of the earth and therefore points to the north.

Activity #3: Magnet game• EachBeaverScoutisgivenablueandaredpieceoffabric(orrope).Theyshould

tie the fabrics on their wrists and each color will be a magnetic pole. • Beaversshouldhidetheirhandsandgatherinthemiddle.• Onthecountofthree,Beaverswillholdtheirarmsupandmovelikeaplane.They

should form a magnetic chain by holding each others’ hands. But they should remember that like poles repel and unlike poles attract.

• Thegamecanberepeatedseveraltimestoseeiftheyaregettingfasterasagroup. They can also decide what other shapes they want to create and try it out (square,circle,star,etc.).

MAGNETS ATTRACT!

REVIEWHerearesomequestionstoaskoncetheactivityiscomplete:• Whatdidyoulearnaboutmagnetstoday?Whatdoyouwanttoknowmore?• Howcanyouusewhatyoulearnedtodayinacamporonahike?

• WhatelementsofSTEMwereinthisactivity?Science?Technology? Engineering?Mathematics?

• Whatdidyoulikeabouttheseactivitiesandgames?Whatdidyounotlike?• Howwouldyoudothemdifferently?

DescriptioNWalkoneggs,createstructureswithhalfeggshellsanddesign and build a package that keeps the eggs safe!

Magnets Attract!

Material Needed:Activity #1: • Barmagnetswithcoloredpoles(oneforeachBeaverScout)• Avarietyofsmallmetal(madeofironandothermaterial) andnon-metalobjectsforeachgroupof2-3Beavers

• Shoeboxesforeachgrouptoputthematerials

Activity #2:• Barmagnetswithcoloredpoles(oneforeachBeaver)• Compass(oneforeachgroupof3-4)

Activity #3:• Redandbluefabricsorropes

FindmoreinformationabouttheEarth’s magnetic fieldFindmoreinformationabouthow magnets work

Activity Time

1.ExperimentingwithMagnets 10 min

2.Discussionaboutmagnetsindailylife 5 min

3.Experimentingwithcompass 10 min

4.Magnetgame 10 min

Review 5 min