Teaching Resources

University Materials

Lectures in Paleomagnetism by Lisa Tauxe. Includes recorded lectures.
Essentials of Paleomagnetism book Tauxe, L, Banerjee, S.K., Butler, R.F. and van der Voo R, Essentials of Paleomagnetism, 3rd Web Edition, 2014.
Magnetism and plate tectonic activities (IODP JRSO).

University/Conference Seminars

Global Paleomagnetism Seminar Series MagIc (Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UCSD)
AGU Lectures Video Archive
Workshop on Ethics during Field Work and Sample Collection (2022 AGU Fall Meeting SCIWS 18)

K-12 Materials

For Teachers

Columbia Education Center. Science Lesson plans covering elementary to high school grades. Includes some magnetics experiments and an extensive list of other science experiments.
Magnetism and plate tectonic activities (IODP JRSO).
Understanding magnetism lesson plan from Discovery Education.
Seafloor spreading teaching resources (all levels) provided by Enduring Resources for Earth Sciences Education (ERESE).
The Earth’s magnetic field teaching resources (all levels) provided by Enduring Resources for Earth Sciences Education (ERESE).
Magnetic reversals teaching resources (all levels) provided by Enduring Resources for Earth Sciences Education (ERESE).
Planetary magnetic teaching resources (elementary and high school) provided by Enduring Resources for Earth Sciences Education (ERESE).
Exploratorium: Science Snacks About Magnetism. Simple science experiments related to magnetism, including using a grape to demonstrate diamagnetism and loss of magnetization due to heating.
An Introduction to Geomagnetism. The IMAGE satellite tutorial on the Earth’s magnetic field. The site includes a brief introduction to magnetism and a collection of classroom activities that help students understand Earth’s magnetic field and its changes through space and time. Activities and projects are appropriate for a number of Grades (3-12) and include “Exploring the Earth as a Magnet” (Grades K-5), “Motion of the Magnetic Pole” (Grades 6-9) and “The Inverse-Cube Law for Magnetism” (Grades 9-12).
Mineral Information Institute. A US not-for-profit organization dedicated to the science of natural resources. Includes lesson and activity booklets on the Earth and uses of minerals.
Science NetLinks: Provides resources for K-12 science educators and lessons for Grades K-12, together with reviewed internet resources. Covers a large range of science topics, including magnets and magnetic fields.
Teaching about the Earth’s Magnetism in High School by David Stern.
teAchnology lesson plans on electricity and magnetism.
USGS Educational Resources. Detailed site including educational resources for primary grades, secondary grades, and undergraduate education.

For Students

Elementary school

Creative Kids at Home: Magnets
Electricity and magnetism links provided by the Educational Technology Center, Kennesaw, Ga.
Magnetism by Fact Monster.
Magnetism by ThinkQuest. Includes some simple experiments.
Magnet Man by Rick Hoadley. A site with lots of background information at different levels, with magnetism related experiments and useful links.
Physics links on electricity and magnetism provided by The Science Spot Kid Zone.
An Introduction to Geomagnetism. The IMAGE satellite tutorial on the Earth’s magnetic field. The site includes a brief introduction to magnetism and a collection of classroom activities that help students understand Earth’s magnetic field and its changes through space and time. Activities and projects are appropriate for a number of Grades (3-12) and include “Exploring the Earth as a Magnet” (Grades K-5), “Motion of the Magnetic Pole” (Grades 6-9) and “The Inverse-Cube Law for Magnetism” (Grades 9-12).
Save on Energy kids learning center

Middle school

Magnet Man by Rick Hoadley. A site with lots of background information at different levels, with magnetism related experiments and useful links. Experiments include Magnets in Motion, visualizing magnetic fields and much more. The site also includes a list of magnetics books.
An Introduction to Geomagnetism. The IMAGE satellite tutorial on the Earth’s magnetic field. The site includes a brief introduction to magnetism and a collection of classroom activities that help students understand Earth’s magnetic field and its changes through space and time. Activities and projects are appropriate for a number of Grades (3-12) and include “Exploring the Earth as a Magnet” (Grades K-5), “Motion of the Magnetic Pole” (Grades 6-9) and “The Inverse-Cube Law for Magnetism” (Grades 9-12).
Magnetism Web Resources (National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, FSU)
Beginners guide to electronics (from AppliancePartsPros.com)
Electronics experiments including an introduction to magnetism and magnetizing a screwdriver.

Other Materials

Earth and Rock Magnetism

Gallery of electromagnetic personalities, including 42 scientists such as Coulomb, Faraday, Kelvin, and Tesla.
The Great Magnet, the Earth by David P. Stern. A non-mathematical historical overview of the Earth’s magnetism, written for the 400th anniversary of William Gilbert’s book “De Magnete,” covered in some detail. Also discusses electromagnetism, solar magnetism, dynamo theory, ocean floor magnetization, and magnetospheres of Earth and planets. Includes a long review “A Millennium of Geomagnetism,” several detailed articles on teaching magnetism in high schools (including classroom demonstrations) and translations to Spanish, German and French (also some Polish). Has a large section of questions from users, with answers.
Hitchhiker’s Guide to Magnetism, by Bruce Moskowitz for the Environmental Magnetism Workshop, held in 1991. A detailed introduction to rock magnetism, including classes of magnetic materials, magnetic anisotropy, domain theory, types of remanence and more.
Essentials of Paleomagnetism (Web edition) by Lisa Tauxe.
AGU short course by Lisa Tauxe.
Resources from the Centre for Environmental Magnetism and Paleomagnetism, Lancaster University. Includes links to information on paleomagnetic, the magnetic polarity time scale and the Atlas of magnetic minerals under the microscope.

External Magnetic Fields

The study of Earth’s magnetism (1269-1950): A foundation by Peregrinus and subsequent development of geomagnetism and paleomagnetism by Vincent Courtillot and Jean-Louis Le Mouël (Rev. Geophys., doi:10.1029/2006RG000198)
The Exploration of the Earth’s Magnetosphere by David P. Stern. A non-mathematical overview of research on the magnetic space environment around Earth, about 80 files, illustrated, includes Spanish version (MIntro.html) and one in French (incomplete), glossary, timeline, Q and A from users, teacher guidance, a history overview and articles “Birth of a Radiation Belt” and “Secrets of the Polar Aurora.” Stresses history, also conceptual understanding and some basics such as electrons, ions and their motion in space, plasmas, and energy.
A Beginners Guide to the Earth’s Magnetosphere. An introduction to the magnetosphere written by Stanley Cowley.
Geomagnetic tutorials, including the “Conductivity of the Ionosphere” by Stefan Maus and “Magnetospheric Currents at Quiet Times” by Robert L. McPherron.