📖

Building an Electromagnet

The Power of Magnetism

Day 45of 180
Week 9of 36
35Minutes
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🖨️ Download Worksheet (PDF)
🎯 What You'll Learn

Learning Objectives

1

Understand how electricity can create a magnetic field

2

Construct a simple electromagnet using household materials

3

Recognize God's creative design in scientific principles

📖 Scripture Connection

Colossians 1:17

“He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.”

— Colossians 1:17 (WEB)

Just as electricity can create an invisible magnetic force, God holds all creation together with His invisible power

📦 Materials Needed

  • D-cell battery
  • Insulated copper wire (about 3 feet)
  • Large iron nail (3-4 inches)
  • Electrical tape
  • Small metal paper clips
  • BibleMouse Science Journal
📚 Step-by-Step

Lesson Plan

1Opening (5 min)

Welcome to today's BibleMouse science adventure! Yesterday, we explored how magnetic fields work invisibly. Today, we'll create our own magnetic field using electricity!

💭 Review Question: Can you remember how magnets attract and repel each other?
2Teaching (10 min)

Electromagnets show us how electricity and magnetism are connected. When electric current flows through a wire wrapped around a nail, it creates a magnetic field!

📌 Key Talking Points:
  • Electricity can create temporary magnets
  • More wire coils make a stronger magnetic field
  • Removing the battery stops the magnetic effect
💬 Discussion Questions:
  • Where might we use electromagnets in real life?
  • How is this similar to God's ability to create and control invisible forces?
3Activity: BibleMouse Electromagnet Challenge (15 min)
hands-on building

Students will build a simple electromagnet and test its magnetic strength

📝 Instructions:
  1. Wrap copper wire tightly around the nail, leaving 6 inches of wire at each end
  2. Leave about 1/2 inch unwrapped at nail's tip
  3. Connect wire ends to battery terminals using electrical tape
  4. Test picking up paper clips with the nail
🔄 Variations:

Simpler: Help child wrap wire, supervise battery connection

Challenge: Experiment with number of wire coils, battery voltage

4Closing (5 min)

Discuss how our experiment shows God's amazing design in science

📝 Review Questions:
  • What made the nail magnetic?
  • What happened when we disconnected the battery?

Coming up: Tomorrow we'll explore simple machines and how they make work easier!

👨‍👩‍👧 For Parents

Teaching Notes

📚 Background:

Electromagnets demonstrate how electric current creates magnetic fields

💡 Teaching Tips:
  • Supervise battery and wire connections
  • Encourage careful, gentle handling of materials
  • Use this as opportunity to discuss God's intricate design
🤔 Common Struggles:

Children might find wire wrapping challenging

👀 Signs of Understanding:

Child's ability to create consistent wire coils

🚀 Want More?

Extension Activities

  • Research electromagnets in everyday devices
  • Draw and label electromagnet diagram in BibleMouse Science Journal

Ready for Tomorrow?

Great job completing today's lesson!

Continue to Day 46 →Back to Science