Materials for the lesson

Teacher has prepared headbands in the number of the students which have a + or a – on a label which should be placed in the center. All labels are covered.

A CD player and music.

A chair and a table at the corner for the teacher-‘judge’

Layout of classroom

Desks are moved to the side. Chairs form a semi-circle. Each student picks and wears a headband without being able to see neither his/her own label nor the others’.

Students are explained that the aim of this game is to form ‘successful couples’, which are represented by a +/- combination.

1^st Phase

Students are asked to dance alone within the semi-circle. When the music stops by the teacher they have to form ‘couples’ at once!

Couples appear separately before the teacher-‘judge’ at the corner. They are asked to reveal their labels. Couples with +/- labels win and stay on the side. No student gets to see his/her label. ‘Unsuccessful’ couples continue.

2^nd Phase

Second round of dancing begins. ‘Whirling particles’ move while the teacher plays the music. When the music stops, students form couples. The same process as above with the teacher-’judge’ continues.

3^rd Phase

After two or three rounds students finally sit back in the semi-circle, unveil their labels and see why they formed or couldn’t form a ‘successful’ couple.

Key words/phrases: ‘Opposites attract’, magnetism and electromagnetism, magnets, poles, earth as a magnet, particles and their role in electromagnetism