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3rd grade · Science · Unit 8 of 10

Magnet Inventions

Use magnets to solve problems, then test your design.

What your child practices

Practices using what magnets do to solve simple design problems, such as a latch or a sorter, by setting criteria and constraints and running fair tests that change one thing at a time.

New York State Learning Standards learning standard: 3-PS2-4; 3-5-ETS1-1; 3-5-ETS1-3 · solving design problems with magnets, setting criteria and constraints, and running fair tests

How we explain it

Children can open this short lesson before they practice.

  1. Magnets stick to iron and steel, and push or pull without touching.
  2. Design rules: criteria say what it must do, constraints say what limits you.
  3. A fair test changes only one thing at a time.

Example: Which could pick up spilled paper clips fast? Paper clips are steel. A magnet pulls steel. Answer: a magnet on a stick

Magnet Inventions in New York

In the New York State Learning Standards, this is unit 8 of 10 in 3rd grade Science, after Weather Hazards & Solutions and before Fossil Clues.

Gradelings describes a child's practice on this unit as Beginning, Approaching, Meeting or Exceeding (Four practice steps). That reflects practice, not a report-card mark: the teacher decides the mark.

Source: New York State Education Department (NYSED)

Sample questions

A taste of this unit. In the app, questions change every time and get easier or harder to match your child.

  1. Question 1

    Two north poles brought together will…

    • pull together
    • turn into one magnet
    • melt
    • push apart

  2. Question 2

    Which could pick up spilled paper clips fast?

    • A cup of water
    • A paper towel
    • A magnet on a stick
    • A feather

  3. Question 3

    A north pole and a south pole will…

    • do nothing
    • light up
    • pull together
    • push apart

  4. Question 4

    A magnet can sort steel cans from…

    • steel cans
    • steel spoons
    • aluminum cans
    • iron nails

  5. Question 5

    Which design uses magnets to keep a note on a fridge?

    • Tape on the floor
    • A magnet on the note
    • A rubber band
    • A wet sponge

  6. Question 6

    Two latch designs both hold the door. One costs less. If cost is a constraint, choose…

    • neither
    • a third one at random
    • the one that costs less
    • the one that costs more

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