National Standards for Grade Levels 5-8
 
Designing simple electric motors from wire and magnets, students explore the effects of number of coils, wire thickness, and magnet characteristics. They are guided through the engineering design process with four progressive experiments and a design competition. Great for introducing guided inquiry-based learning, systematic problem solving, and engineering design practices. Kits include instructor’s manual with lesson plans, background information, reproducible stepwise student protocols, and guided worksheets. Allow four thirty minute lab times for experiments, and 30 minutes for competition. Single kit is designed for 1-4 students. Class kit is designed for 24 students working in groups of four. Safety goggles and batteries not included; single kit (15-210) requires 3 D-cell batteries; class kit (15-212) requires 18 D-cell batteries.