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Lessons / Magnetic force with simple door alarm

Magnetic force with simple door alarm

Individual lesson

MakeCode

7-11 yrs

The BBC micro:bit has a built-in magnetometer that can detect magnetic fields. Students can use the micro:bit to observe that magnets can interact with objects like the micro:bit without touching them to develop understanding of magnetic fields.

Students can use the magnetometer and a magnet to make a simple door alarm. They can then extend their learning by using the micro:bit to design and create solutions to their own problems such as an alarm for their desk or locker.

Sciences:

Magnetism

Working scientifically

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Overall key learning

Learning objectives are at three different levels:

  • Mild - I can observe and ask questions about magnetic fields using the micro:bit simple door alarm.
  • Medium - I can modify my own simple door alarm program to observe and ask questions about magnetic fields.
  • Spicy - I can create my own door alarm program to observe and ask questions about magnetic fields.

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This content is published under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0) licence.

CA NGSS Standards

3-PS2 Motion and Stability: Forces and Interactions

  • 3-PS2-3 Ask questions to determine cause and effect relationships of electric or magnetic interactions between two objects not in contact with each other.
  • 3-PS2-4 Define a simple design problem that can be solved by applying scientific ideas about magnets.*

* Integrate traditional science content with engineering through a Practice or Disciplinary Core Idea.

CA CS Standards

  • 3-5.AP.12 Create programs that include events, loops, and conditionals. (P5.2)
  • 3-5.CS.2 Demonstrate how computer hardware and software work together as a system to accomplish tasks. (P4.4)
  • 3-5.CS.3 Determine potential solutions to solve simple hardware and software problems using common troubleshooting strategies. (P6.2)
  • 3-5.AP.14 Create programs by incorporating smaller portions of existing programs, to develop something new or add more advanced features. (P4.2, P5.3)
  • 3-5.AP.17 Test and debug a program or algorithm to ensure it accomplishes the intended task. (P6.2)