Making A Compass

• create their own magnetized compass.
• be able to use their created compasses and find the directions of north, south, east and west.

2.1.1 Manipulate an object to gain additional information about it.
2.1.6 Use tools to investigate, observe, measure, design, and build things.
3.1.2 Participate in different types of guided scientific investigations, such as observing objects and events and collecting specimens of analysis.
3.1.3 Keep and report records of investigations and observations using tools, such as journals, charts, graphs, and computers.
3.2.3 Keep a notebook that describes observations and is understandable weeks or months later.
3.2.5 Construct something used for performing a task out of paper, cardboard, wood, plastic, metal, or existing objects.
5.2.4 Keep a notebook that describes observations and is understandable weeks or months later.

1. Stroke the needle on the north pole of horseshoe magnet from the center to the tip, always moving in one direction. Stroke the needle up to 30 times. Repeat these directions going from center of the needle to the eye of the needle on the south pole of the magnet. Check its magnetism with iron filings. If the needle picks the filings up, it is magnetized.

2. Tape the center of the needle to the flat piece of cork and place it in a plastic bowl filled with water. What happens to the needle? Move the cork; what happens to the needle now?

3. Have students write in their journals, and hypothesize why the needle is continuing to turn in a north/south direction. Students should remember in Lesson Five that opposite poles attract, therefore, the north pole of the compass will face the South Pole of our Earth and the south pole of the magnets will face North Pole of our Earth.

4. Allow plenty of time for students to experiment with their compasses and write in their journal. Once each child has completed the above, bring the class outside to an open area. Using a real compass, mark north, south, east and west on the pavement with chalk. Encourage students to find northeast, southeast, northwest and southwest.

5. Have students try their created compasses with the "pavement compass."
   • What happens when they stand in the middle with their needle compasses? Have students write about their findings in their science journals.

6. Students should be given enough time to experiment with their compass and the real compass. Students should be able to record north, south, east and west in their journals.