Activity: Designing a Magnetic Maze Game

Topic: Forces, Electricity, and Waves (Magnetism) Curriculum Level: First Level (Scottish Curriculum)

Desired Outcome: By exploring the forces exerted by magnets on other magnets and magnetic materials, I can contribute to the design of a game.

Introduction: 1. Begin the activity by discussing the concept of magnetism and its applications in everyday life. 2. Explain that the students will be designing a magnetic maze game where they will explore the forces exerted by magnets on other magnets and magnetic materials.

Activity Steps:

Step 1: Understanding Magnetism 1. Provide a brief explanation of magnets and their properties. 2. Show different types of magnets and discuss their uses. 3. Conduct a hands-on activity where students can explore the attraction and repulsion forces between magnets.

Step 2: Designing the Magnetic Maze Game 1. Divide the students into small groups. 2. Provide each group with a large sheet of paper, markers, and a set of small magnets. 3. Explain that they need to design a maze game where a magnetic object (e.g., a small metal ball) needs to navigate through the maze using the forces exerted by magnets. 4. Encourage students to think creatively and design challenging mazes with different levels of difficulty. 5. Remind them to consider the forces of attraction and repulsion between magnets while designing the maze.

Step 3: Testing and Refining the Game 1. Once the groups have designed their magnetic mazes, allow them to test their games. 2. Provide each group with a magnetic object (e.g., a small metal ball) to navigate through the maze. 3. Encourage students to observe and discuss the forces exerted by magnets on the object as it moves through the maze. 4. Ask students to reflect on the challenges they faced during testing and suggest improvements to make the game more engaging and challenging.

Step 4: Sharing and Reflecting 1. Ask each group to present their magnetic maze game to the class. 2. Encourage students to explain the forces of attraction and repulsion they incorporated into their designs. 3. Facilitate a class discussion on the different approaches taken by each group and the effectiveness of their designs. 4. Reflect on the learning outcomes and discuss how understanding magnetism helped in designing the game.

Extension: 1. Challenge students to create additional levels or variations of their magnetic maze game. 2. Encourage them to explore other magnetic materials and their properties. 3. Discuss real-life applications of magnetism, such as magnetic levitation or magnetic storage devices.

Assessment: 1. Observe students’ engagement and participation during the activity. 2. Assess their understanding of magnetism through their maze designs and explanations of the forces involved. 3. Provide feedback on their ability to contribute to the design of the game based on their understanding of forces exerted by magnets.

Note: Ensure that appropriate safety measures are followed while handling magnets and small metal objects.