Mission Library

Polar Opposites (3rd)
Magnetic Interactions
3rd Grade

The Mission
21 min

Storyline

Using their knowledge of magnetic interactions, the crew will infiltrate Moodoo's stronghold to get a valuable, stolen crystal back.

Moodoo has struck again! This time, he has targeted one of our galaxy's most valuable treasures - a rare crystal that can power an entire planet for centuries. This crystal was powering the planet Tellenor, but Moodoo has taken it back to his stronghold and set up defenses to keep anyone from getting the crystal back from him. Students will need to investigate how to get past a laser maze by determining the correct arrangement of magnets and static electricity required to deactivate the lasers. This investigation will require students to demonstrate an understanding of how magnets and static electricity can cause objects to move without touching.

3-Dimensional Science

Phenomenon

Even when not touching, magnets can push or pull other magnets.

Science and Engineering Practices

Asking Questions and Defining Problems

  • Ask questions about what would happen if a variable is changed.

  • Ask questions that can be investigated and predict reasonable outcomes based on patterns such as cause and effect relationships.

Planning and Carrying Out Investigations

  • Make observations and/or measurements to produce data to serve as the basis for evidence for an explanation of a phenomenon or test a design solution.

  • Make predictions about what would happen if a variable changes.

  • Test two different models of the same proposed object, tool, or process to determine which better meets criteria for success.

Crosscutting Concepts

Cause and Effect

  • Students routinely identify and test causal relationships and use these relationships to explain change. They understand events that occur together with regularity might or might not signify a cause and effect relationship.

Disciplinary Core Ideas

PS2.B: Types of Interactions

  • The effect of unbalanced forces on an object results in a change of motion. Patterns of motion can be used to predict future motion. Some forces act through contact, some forces act even when the objects are not in contact. The gravitational force of Earth acting on an object near Earth’s surface pulls that object toward the planet’s center.

Resources
Targeted Standards
Timeline
Skills in Action