Introduction:
Earth’s magnetic field is a fascinating natural phenomenon that has been studied

for centuries. At the core of the Earth lies a molten iron core that generates the planet’s magnetic fields. These fields are crucial in shielding our planet from harmful cosmic radiation, which would otherwise have catastrophic effects on life as we know it. The magnetic field is also responsible for the northern and southern lights seen in polar regions.

The direction of the magnetic fields is from the South Pole to the North Pole. Humans have used this directional flow for navigation purposes, using a compass, for centuries. The compass needle aligns itself with the magnetic field and points north, which has been an essential tool for sailors, explorers, and travelers. Understanding Earth’s magnetic fields is crucial in navigation and essential for studying the planet’s geological history. Scientists can learn more about the Earth’s structure and how it has evolved by measuring the magnetic fields.

In this lesson, students will take turns being magnetic fields that protect the Earth from Cosmic Rays trying to invade. This capture-the-flag style game is also excellent for teaching basic theory for defense setups for team sports like soccer or basketball. The magnetic field team will determine whether a player-to-player or zone defense works best. The offense will respond by trying to create confusion and penetrate weak points in the defense. Your students will love this action-packed game!

Materials:

• A large gym with volleyball court lines

  • If your gym does not have these, one could use painter’s tape or rubber

    disc dots to make the boundary line for the magnetic field players.

  • If the game is being played outside, one should use rubber disc dots for the

    boundary line for the magnetic field players.

• One hula-hoop per person

• (optional) Scoreboard or score-keeping device

• (optional) yoga ball

• This can be a cone or any object, but impressionistically, a yoga ball works better.

Minimum Number of Students Needed:

You could play this game with as few as four people total. The game is even better with eight total people. However, I believe the best number is twelve in total. More players can certainly work if the game is being played outside with ample space.

Age: Upper elementary and middle school