Electromagnet Crane Activity

This activity is not for sale - it has been replaced with the Electromagnet Crane 2.0. You can still complete this activity if you purchase Bulk Components or a Maker Cart.

Your Mission: Design and build a crane that can best sort magnetic materials for recycling. Start by making and experimenting with an electromagnet, then create a crane to move it. Test the crane using the scientific method. Evolve the crane through the engineering design process. How many magnetic items can you sort in two minutes? Compete against other cranes, or challenge yourself in the Super Sort Engineering and Design Challenge.

Use found (recycling bin) materials to enhance your crane design or as sorting material for the Engineering & Design Challenge. Each activity provides plenty of extra parts to try different designs and continue to tinker. This activity is a real “pick me up.”

This discontinued product has been updated to the Electromagnet Crane 2.0 which allows for even more builds and innovation! Check your label to make sure you're on the correct page.

Click here to go to the original Electromagnet Crane page! (You're in the wrong place.)

You're in the right place! Scroll down to find documents and videos.

Electromagnet Crane Educational Goals

  • Utilize the design and engineering process
  • Encourage creativity, critical thinking and problem solving
  • Learn about electromagnetism, magnetic fields, and simple machines
  • Apply the scientific method
  • Innovate (design, build and evolve your own unique Crane design)

Completing the

Electromagnet Crane Activity

(Ages 7-11)

For ages 12 and up, click here

 

  • Choice #1 Without Labs: Go straight from the Build Guide to the Engineering Challenges. This option works well when you’re doing the activity outside of a classroom, in a Makerspace, as a self-directed activity, or just for fun.
  • Choice #2 With Labs: Start with the Optional Labs to build the magnet and explore how and why it works. Then, go on to the Crane Build to build the body of the Crane. Next, move on to the Engineering Challenges to see if your innovative abilities and your Crane are up to the challenge . This option works well when you want to teach this activity to a class or during a class visit to a Makerspace.

MS Word or PDF- Which document format should you download? Always download the PDF document, unless you want to edit/change it. If you want to edit/change the document, download the MS Word (Microsoft Word) version.

     Build Guide     

Start by creating an example Electromagnet Crane using the Build Guide.

  • Electromagnet Crane All-In-One Build Guide: PDF or MS Word

     Build Guide with Lab     

Build your magnet for the crane and explore how and why magnets work! (Suggested Grade Levels: 2-4)

     Crane Build     

The magnet is built and now you are ready to build your Crane.

     Engineering Challenges     

It’s time to redesign your Electromagnet Crane to compete in one or more Engineering Challenges. Use these Challenges to solve design problems and improve your prototype.

 

Electromagnet 'In the Bucket' Challenge Thumbnail
  • ”In the Bucket” Challenge: : PDF or MS Word --Collect as many paper clips as possible.

 

 

 

 

Electromagnet 'Clip Hanger' Challenge Thumbnail
  • ”Clip Hanger” Challenge: PDF- or -MS Word--Hang as many paper clips as you can.

 

 

 

 

Electromagnet Engineering Challenge Thumbnail
  • ”Super Sort” Challenge: PDF -- or -- MS Word -Sort as much magnetic and non-magnetic materials as you can in the “Super Sort” Arena.
  • ”Super Sort” Arena: Single Player PDF -- or -- Two Player PDF -Printable Arenas available for Single Player mode, or go head-to-head in the Two Player Arena.

 

 

 

 

Electromagnet For Fun Build Guide
  • Scorecard Challenge: PDF-Use this simple scorecard to keep track of student progress and points for Electromagnet Competitions.

 

 

 

 

     Optional Resources     

Classroom Overview

  • Electromagnet Crane Overview: PDF --A brief overview of TeacherGeek Electromagnet documents, activity procedure, educational alignment standards, concepts, vocabulary, background information, and supplementary resources.

Engineering Notebook

Available at two different learning levels, the TeacherGeek Engineering Notebook is designed to help students cycle thru the Design & Engineering Process and help them innovate and invent new designs. Use an Engineering Notebook page for each iteration of design. It is recommended that extra pages are printed and on-hand during activities.

  • Simple Engineering Notebook: PDF
  • Engineering Notebook: PDF

STEAM Market-It Challenge

Add the STEAM Market-It Challenge to any completed TeacherGeek activity to teach students how to turn their TeacherGeek design into a retail product. Students will learn the 4 'Ps' of marketing - Product, Placement, Price and Promotion. Students have the option of completing a commercial, a billboard or retail packaging as a summative assessment.

Completing the

Electromagnet Crane Activity

(Ages 12 and Up)

For ages 7-11, click here

If you are working with ages 12+ on this activity, you can start with the Build Guidethen move on to the Engineering Challenges.

     Build Guide     

Start by creating an example Electromagnet Crane using the Build Guide.

  • Electromagnet Crane All-In-One Build Guide: PDF or MS Word

     Engineering Challenges     

It’s time to redesign your Electromagnet Crane to compete in one or more Engineering Challenges. Use these Challenges to solve design problems and improve your prototype.

 

Electromagnet 'In the Bucket' Challenge Thumbnail
  • ”In the Bucket” Challenge: : PDF or MS Word --Collect as many paper clips as possible.

 

 

 

 

Electromagnet 'Clip Hanger' Challenge Thumbnail
  • ”Clip Hanger” Challenge: PDF- or -MS Word--Hang as many paper clips as you can.

 

 

 

 

Electromagnet Engineering Challenge Thumbnail
  • ”Super Sort” Challenge: PDF -- or -- MS Word -Sort as much magnetic and non-magnetic materials as you can in the “Super Sort” Arena.
  • ”Super Sort” Arena: Single Player PDF -- or -- Two Player PDF -Printable Arenas available for Single Player mode, or go head-to-head in the Two Player Arena.

 

 

 

 

Electromagnet For Fun Build Guide
  • Scorecard Challenge: PDF-Use this simple scorecard to keep track of student progress and points for Electromagnet Competitions.

 

 

 

 

     Optional Resources     

Classroom Overview

  • Electromagnet Crane Overview: PDF --A brief overview of TeacherGeek Electromagnet documents, activity procedure, educational alignment standards, concepts, vocabulary, background information, and supplementary resources.

Engineering Notebook

Available at two different learning levels, the TeacherGeek Engineering Notebook is designed to help students cycle thru the Design & Engineering Process and help them innovate and invent new designs. Use an Engineering Notebook page for each iteration of design. It is recommended that extra pages are printed and on-hand during activities.

  • Simple Engineering Notebook: PDF
  • Engineering Notebook: PDF

 

Process

Process Description

Recommended Tool

Alternate Tool

Cutting

Cutting dowels, strips, recycling bin items, etc.

Multi-Cutter

Saw, Pruning Shears

Reaming

Change splined holes in components from press fit (dowels press and stay) to loose fit (dowels are able to slide and rotate).

Reamer

#3 Drill Bit and Drill

Screwing

Tighten and loosen screws

Screwdriver

None

Holding and Pulling

Hold nuts, pull apart components

Pliers

None

Wire Stripping Strip (remove) wire insulation

Wire Stripper

None

Sets of tools can be found here.

Additional Supplies Needed to Build an Electromagnet Crane: This activity requires AA batteries, tape, scissors, magnetic and non-magnetic materials (paperclips, binder clips, erasers, etc.).

Make your Electromagnet Crane even better by incorporating recycling bin material.

Electromagnet Crane Components

What's in the Electromagnet Crane Activity?

Component: 10pk Quantity: Single Quantity:
Hole Plate(s) 10 1
Perpendicular Blocks 40 4
1" Screws 60 6
2" Screw(s) 10 1
Hex Nuts 40 4
Dowels 20 2
Connector Strips 40 4
3in Slide Stop 10 1
Wire Roll 10 1
#6 1/4in Screws 20 2
Battery Holder (2 AA)
w/ Switch & Leads
10 1

This is an educational product and not a toy. It is intended for use by ages 9 and above with adult supervision.

Science, Math & Engineering Standards

TeacherGeek products fit proposals, grants or lesson plans with ease! Explore more resources below:

Next Generation Science Standards
NGSS Standards Download - PDF
NGSS Standards Spreadsheet - Editable /Searchable Excel Sheet

International Technology & Engineering Educators' Association Standards
ITEEA Standards Download - PDF
ITEEA Standards Spreadsheet - Editable/Searchable Excel Sheet