Electromagnetism

Grade 7 Science 

Content

• Electromagnetism

Curricular competencies

Questioning and predicting

• Demonstrate a sustained intellectual curiosity about a scientific topic or problem of personal interest
• Identify a question to an answer or a problem to solve through scientific inquiry

Planning and conducting

• Collaboratively plan a range of investigation types, including field work and experiments, to answer their questions or to solve problems they have identified
• Observe, measure, and record data (qualitative and quantitative), using equipment, including digital technologies, with accuracy and precision
• Ensure that safety and ethical guidelines are followed in their investigations

Processing and analyzing data and information

• Use scientific understanding to identify relationships and draw conclusions

Evaluating

• Demonstrate an understanding and appreciation of evidence

Applying and innovating

• Co-operatively design projects
• Transfer and apply learning to new situations

Communicating

• Communicate ideas, findings, and solutions to problems, using scientific language, representations, and digital technologies as appropriate

Grade 7 Applied Design, Skills, and Technologies 

Content

• Power Technology
  • Forms of energy
  • Devices that transform energy

Curricular competencies

Applied Design - Prototyping

• Construct a first version of the product or a prototype, as appropriate, making changes to tools, materials, and procedures as needed
• Explore and test a variety of materials for effective use

Applied Design - Testing

• Test the first version of the product or the prototype
• Gather peer and/or user and/or expert feedback and inspiration
• Make changes, troubleshoot, and test again

Applied Design - Sharing

• Demonstrate their product and describe their process, using appropriate terminology and providing reasons for their selected solution and modifications

Worksheets guide the hands-on activities for students and allow you to assess their developing abilities to make and communicate their observations, analysis and conclusions.

A self-assessment tool is provided for students in three of the activities.

Answer keys are provided. 

By going through a series of hands-on activities, students will experience how electricity and magnetism are related. Students observe the magnetic field around a closed circuit, investigate how electromagnetism can make a working motor, and build a temporary electromagnet by converting electricity into magnetism.  This unit fits nicely into a classroom unit on electricity and magnetism. Ideally, students will already have experience building simple circuits. Since each activity in this unit builds on the previous one, we recommend delivering them in this order:

1. Find the magnetic field
2. Linking electricity and magnetism
3. Build an electric motor
4. Build an electromagnet