Teacher: Mills
Grade: 8
School: East Hall Middle School
Date: 4/13/18
Subject: Electricity and Magnetism
Topic: Electricity and Magnetism Lit Circles
Standard(s): S8P5. Obtain, evaluate, and communicate
information about gravity, electricity, and magnetism as
major forces acting in nature.
a. Construct an argument using evidence to support
the claim that fields (i.e., magnetic fields,
gravitational fields, and electric fields) exist
between objects exerting forces on each other
even when the objects are not in contact.
b. Plan and carry out investigations to demonstrate
the distribution of charge in conductors and
insulators.
c. Plan and carry out investigations to identify the
factors (e.g., distance between objects, magnetic
force produced by an electromagnet with varying
number of wire turns, varying number or size of
dry cells, and varying size of iron core) that affect
the strength of electric and magnetic forces.
Essential Learning Target(s):
Students will be able to:
a. Understand that like poles repel and opposite
poles attract.
b. Explain what metals are attracted to magnets
c. Explain the role of domains and an objects
magnetism
d. Explain the difference between an electric motor
and a generator
e. Explain how a compass works
f. Explain how an electric field interferes with a
magnetic field
g. Determine how to strengthen or weaken an
electromagnet
h. Explain the difference between electric insulators
and conductors.
Essential Question(s):
1. Why do magnets sometimes push away from each
other yet other times pull together?
2. Why are not all metals picked up by magnets?
3. How is an electric motor different from a
generator?
4. Why does a compass always point north?
5. How does electricity effect a compass’ ability to
point north?
6. How is an electromagnet different from a
permanent magnet?
7. How can an electromagnet be strengthened to
pick up more?
8. Why does electricity run through some objects but
not others?
Lesson Procedures:
1. Organize students into groups based on a combination of Lexile level and benchmark scores.
2. Show students how to navigate to the Literature Circles tab in Canvas.
3. Project the groups and book assignments on the board so students know which book to read.
4. Allow students enough time to read their book or assigned pages.
5. When finished with their reading, students should navigate to the discussion page for this lesson.
6. Students should post an initial post responding to one of the provided prompts and then respond to two other
students before finishing with their computers.

Materials: Assessments:
 Computers I take the discussion posts as a quiz grade. The information
 Headphones included in their discussion should show evidence of understanding of
the different concepts.