Magnetism and Electromagnets Find the Pair Game for Middle School

This is an engaging and enjoyable memory game on magnets and electromagnets which tests knowledge and reinforces prior learning. It is an ideal activity for the end of the topic or for test prep. It suits a wide range of abilities and can even be used for a cover lesson as all answers are provided. This is so much fun, pupils will forget they are learning!

How to Play

• Divide students into groups of 4.

• Shuffle cards.

• Groups lays their cards in a square face down.

• Students take turns to turn over two cards.

• The pupil keeps the pair If a question is matched by its answer,.

• If not the two cards are replaced face down and the next pupil takes a turn.

• Continue until all cards are paired.

• The student with the most pairs wins.

• A student can challenge if they think an opponent’s pair is not a correct match..

• If the challenge is found correct the challenger takes the cards.

Pupils should check their books for the correct answer but, for ease, a quick-check answer sheet is provided for the teacher.

Included in this Pack.

• 21 question and 21 answer cards

• Answer sheet.

• How to play directions

Preparation

• Use back-to-back printing to copy a set for each group of 4 pupils.

• Sheets can be laminated to enable year-on-year use.

• Trim sheets into cards.

Prior Knowledge Required: An Overview of Magnets and Magnetic Fields

1. Composition of Magnets: Magnets are constructed using magnetic materials. Common materials include Iron, Cobalt, Nickel, and their corresponding alloys.

2. Pole Interactions: Magnets have two types of poles - North and South. When two like poles (e.g., North and North) come close to each other, they repel. Conversely, when opposite poles (e.g., North and South) are brought together, they attract each other.

3. Magnetic Fields: Surrounding every magnet is an invisible force field known as the magnetic field. This field can be visualized through field lines.

4. Field Line Density: The density of these field lines determines the strength of the magnetic field. A region with closely spaced field lines indicates a stronger magnetic field than a region where they're spread out.

5. Visualization of Field Lines: It's essential to understand and recognize the pattern of field lines around two bar magnets, especially when they have the same or opposite poles facing each other.

6. Field Strength at Poles: The magnetic field is strongest at the poles of a magnet due to a higher concentration of field lines.

7. Distance and Field Strength: The strength of the magnetic field diminishes as one moves farther from the magnet.

8. Direction of Field Lines: Field lines emanate outward from the magnet's south pole and point inward toward the north pole.

9. Magnetization Process: When a non-magnetized magnetic material becomes a magnet, the tiny regions within it called domains, which were initially oriented in random directions, align themselves to point uniformly in the same direction.

10. Earth's Magnetic Properties: The Earth behaves like a large magnet. Interestingly, there appears to be a south-type magnetic pole near the Earth's geographic North Pole and a north-type magnetic pole near the Earth's geographic South Pole.

11. Application in Devices: It would be beneficial to have a basic understanding of how magnets and magnetic fields operate within certain devices. Familiarize yourself with the structure and functioning of electric bells, relays, and circuit breakers, as they use these principles.

With this foundational knowledge, you will be better prepared to delve deeper into the study of magnets and their wide-ranging applications.

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