Higher:
Is able to explain how a compass works and use one to navigate
Middle:
Understands what the four main compass points are and where to find them
Lower:
Knows what a compass is and how it works
Lesson Recap Starter: Think back to your last lesson. What is a Maglev train and how does it work?
Lesson Starter: Show children the starter slide - ask them to discuss toys and other items they know that have magnets.
Ask: How can a magnet help a toy move?
Presentation - Starter Slide.
Explore the story and learn about magnetic needles, why they face north and how they are useful.
Talk Partners - Watch the film of the rollercoaster. Can children think of other forms of transport which use magnetism for propulsion (answer: trains, trams etc)
Handout - Can children correctly identify the points of the compass?
Key Concept:
During this unit, each lesson contains a key concept question housed in the '30 Second Challenge' slide. To help children master this content so the knowledge moves from their short term memory to their long term memory, at the beginning of the follow on lesson the question from the previous lesson is revisited.
The questions covered during this unit include:
1. What metal is found in a magnet?
2. List the different types of magnets?
3. Explain how a magnet works.
4. Why does a magnet always point north?
5. How does a push and pull force work?
6. What is a force?
Presentation
Handout
Careers Film: This is Mullai Sathiyanarayanan. Mullai works as a Trackwork Engineer for Network Rail.
Expert Film: Paul Usher and Heather Bingham discuss how magnetic needles always point north and how this can help us to navigate around.
How we deliver the Gatsby Benchmarks:
2 - Learning from career and labour market information: Pop along to Developing Experts career’s zone to find out about jobs in your area.
4 - Linking curriculum learning to careers: This unit showcases careers in the rail industry. Access our 360° virtual work tours.
7 - Encounters with Further and Higher Education: Pop along to Developing Experts career’s zone to find out about training providers in your area.
Presentation - Expert Film.
Making a Compass
Watch the lesson assignment film for more help with this activity.
Alternative Task: Orienteering Extension
To become familiar with using a compass challenge pupils to create a simple set of navigation instructions that provide directions using a compass to work out a planned route following their map.
If possible, take the class on an orienteering exercise either as a school trip or in the playground. Get the children to design their own route and challenge others in the class to follow it.
Making a Compass
Needle (magnetic) - can use a paperclip instead
Magnet
Small leaf
Dish of water
Handout
Complete the activities on the handout, to summarise what has been learnt about magnetism.
Quiz
With their talk partners, the children are to go through the quiz at the end of the presentation and answer the questions.
Quiz in presentation
Handout
How does a compass work?
Can you follow a set of directions using a compass?
What are the points on a compass called?
How is a compass useful for people when they travel?
Quizzes in pupil zone.
Unit knowledge organiser and test available in documents (coming soon...)
The points on a compass are called...
A compass works by... (magnetism to the earth)
A compass points magnetic north because...
A compass is useful in navigation and travel because...
The Science Behind the Science
A compass is a very simple device. It is a tool used for navigation and orientation, relative to a certain geographic point. People use it for direction. It is the magnet within the compass which makes it point north. There is a small magnetic pin (also known as a magnetic needle) within the compass that spins freely inside the casing - in full response to the planet’s magnetism. The key to making the compass work is by rubbing the poles of the magnet onto the opposite ends of the needle. This newly magnetised needle is then placed on a low friction surface so that it pivots and aligns itself with the magnetic field. The compass is then labelled so that you can distinguish between the poles. So long as the north pole is labelled, the compass is usable.
Mission Assignment: The compass will point north because all magnets have two poles. The north pole of one magnet is attracted to the south pole of another magnet. The Earth acts like a magnet itself and so behaves in a similar way. The north end of the compass magnet aligns with the Earth’s magnetic field. For example, the Earth’s magnetic north pole will attract the north end of the other magnet because it is really the south pole of Earth’s magnetic field. It can get pretty confusing.
Observe how magnets attract or repel each other and attract some materials and not others; describe magnets as having two poles, predict whether two magnets will attract or repel each other; depending on which pole are facing.
Forces, electricity and waves - Forces - I have collaborated in investigations to compare magnetic, electrostatic and gravitational forces and have explored their practical applications. SCN 2-08a
Forces and Energy: the study of energy, its origin, storage and transfer and the work it can do; the study of forces; the application of scientific understanding through inventions and machines.
Exploration.
Asking relevant questions and using different types of scientific enquiries to answer them.
Grade 3 - Force Work and Energy - Learn about magnetism and how a compass is used.
Grade 3 - Physical Science - Forces and Energy - Forces and Motion - Position and Motion - How can you describe position?