Mathematics/Physics
Fish
and Clip
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Winnie Koo |
Ravenswood |
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4332 N
Paulina Street |
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|
CHICAGO IL 60609 |
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773-534-5525 |
Objective:
Have
first grade students understand some of the characteristic of magnets.
Materials:
For
each group:
2
trays
30
big paper clips- big fish
50
little paper clips-small fish
15”
string, tied to any type of magnet, attached to dowel or non-sharp
pencil
fishing pole.
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|
Number
of large fish |
Number
of small fish |
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Trial #1 |
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Trial #2 |
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|
|
Trial #3 |
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|
|
Trial #4 |
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|
|
Trial #5 |
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Total |
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|
Average |
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Strategy:
Step 1: Through story telling technique some volunteers will come out to do an activity that will show the class the main characteristic of magnets. The characteristic is that metal contains iron will be attracted by magnets.
Step
2: For the following activity students should work in groups of 2-4 and
take
turns fishing within their groups. When calculating averages, express
answers
in whole fish with remainders dropped. Use the table provided for the
activity.
Procedure:
(1)
Put
30 big paper clips on one tray and put 50 small paper clips on the
other tray.
(2)
With
the fishing pole, students fish for big paper clips and record the
catch.
(3)
Fish
for small clips and record the catch.
(4)
Perform
5 trials for (2) and (3).
(5)
Find
the average number per catch for both small and large clips. Briefly
review the
concept of average if necessary.
Performance
Assessment:
Students
will be assessed for their understanding about magnet through the
following
discussion.
(1)
Did
the magnet attract more small clips or more large clips? Why?
(2)
Did
any group catch the same number of small or large clips in each of
their
trials? Why or why not?
(3)
Since
each group is using a magnet of the same size, did any two or more
groups catch
the same number of either small or large clips in any trials? Why or
why not?
(4)
If
the activity is being done differently, such as by wrapping two magnets
of the
same size together, what kind of result will be expected?
Conclusions:
Even if magnet of
the same size and shape, they may
vary in magnetic strength.
References:
None.