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)
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.
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.
- ”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.
- 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.
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.
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.
- ”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.
- 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.
|
Process |
Process Description |
Recommended Tool |
Alternate Tool |
|
Cutting |
Cutting dowels, strips, recycling bin items, etc. |
|
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). |
|
#3 Drill Bit and Drill |
|
Screwing |
Tighten and loosen screws |
|
None |
|
Holding and Pulling |
Hold nuts, pull apart components |
|
None |
| Wire Stripping | Strip (remove) wire insulation | 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 StandardsNGSS 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