Introduction to magnets: Just for Fun
One fine day, Lady Guinevere was on her way to a feast at the Castle Camelot. As she was crossing the drawbridge her purse fell into the waters of the moat. She was very upset because she had very import items in her purse. A sentry was nearby standing guard and raced to Lady Guinevere’s side to help retrieve the fallen items. She began to list what he should search for, “in my purse was a key, a silver bracelet, aluminum foil, coins, a button, there’s a screwdriver, scissors, paperclips, a silver ribbon, a butterfly, staples, and a pipe cleaner” said Lady Guinevere. The sentry was quit confused as to what some of these items were and how he might get them out of the crocodile filled moat, but he asked no questions. While attempting to retrieve her items he remembered something. A friend of his, named Magnes, had given him a special rock called a lodestone; based on the strange story told him of Magnes he could possibly use the lodestone to help the queen. This rock was like magic and would probably be able to pick up some of her items from the waters of the moat. Although he might not be able to save everything, Lady Guinevere was more than happy for the sentry to try anything.
Assignment
1. Gather your groups "moat" (a plastic shoebox of items from the purse of Lady Guinevere) and use this handout to
complete the magnet investigation.
2. Use this Data Sheet to predict which objects a magnet or loadstone will pick up and then
investigate to confirm your predictions.
Take a look around the following website to find out how lodestone might work, where it came from, and more.
Photo Credit
Wagner, David. bodiam_castle2.jpg. 11/13/2006. Pics4Learning. 21 Jul 2013
<http://pics.tech4learning.com>
Assignment
1. Gather your groups "moat" (a plastic shoebox of items from the purse of Lady Guinevere) and use this handout to
complete the magnet investigation.
2. Use this Data Sheet to predict which objects a magnet or loadstone will pick up and then
investigate to confirm your predictions.
Take a look around the following website to find out how lodestone might work, where it came from, and more.
Photo Credit
Wagner, David. bodiam_castle2.jpg. 11/13/2006. Pics4Learning. 21 Jul 2013
<http://pics.tech4learning.com>