This site contains two FREE downloadable teaching modules. Children investigate the phenomena of magnetism, electricity, and electromagnetism. They use magnets and compasses to build a working device and explore the characteristics of switches, circuits, and electromagnets. They explore how electric motors are built and learn how electricty is produced. Magnets and Motors was developed by the National Science Resources Center with support from the National Academy of Sciences and the Smithsonian Institution.
Children investigate structures and their strength.
They observe structures in the school neighborhood and record the variety of sizes, shapes, materials, and functions of these structures. They build structures with straws, index cards, and additional classroom materials. The unit was developed by Education Development Center, Inc., with funding from the National Science Foundation. Building Big - Explore large structures and what it takes to build them. This web site presents some very good ideas for making airplane structures from straws.