PBS
Nova: Magnetic Storms: When Compasses Pointed South
Earth's magnetic poles have reversed themselves throughout its long history. Find out what scientists know about these reversals. A geologic time line shows when the reversals occurred.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Physical Science: Why Earth Is a Magnet
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Why the Earth is a magnet and how its inner structure relates to its magnetic field.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Fifth Grade Science: Physical Science: Earth as a Magnet
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Looks at the Earth as a magnet and how Earth's magnetism benefits living things.
Exploratorium
Exploratorium: Science Snacks: Circles of Magnetism
Create a magnetic field that is stronger than Earth so a compass needle will orient itself to the new field in this activity.
Curated OER
Physics4 kids.com: Earth's Magnetic Fields
Illustration of Earth's magnetic field lines.
National High Magnetic Field Laboratory
Magnet Academy: Foucault's Disk
Leon Foucault, a French physicist much better known for his pendulum demonstrating the rotation of the Earth, also created in 1855 a device that illustrated how eddy currents work. (Java tutorial)
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: See a Reversal
View a computer model simulation from NOVA Online that illustrates what happens during a magnetic field reversal, an infrequent occurrence that may be currently underway.
Geography 4 kids
Geography4 kids.com: Fields of Magnetic Forces
Find out how the Earth's magnetic field functions.
National High Magnetic Field Laboratory
Magnet Academy: Oersted Satellite, 1999
Named in honor of Danish physicist Hans Christian Oersted, Denmark's first satellite has been observing and mapping the magnetic field of the Earth.
National Earth Science Teachers Association
Windows to the Universe: Magnetic Field Reversals
Provides a short article, with embedded links, about magnetic reversals and how they might occur.
NASA
Nasa: Image Science Center: Ask the Space Scientist Earth
Site from NASA contains a collection of 91 questions pertaining to the Earth's atmosphere, magnetic field, ionosphere, rotation and origin of life.
University of Colorado
University of Colorado: Ph Et Interactive Simulations: Magnet and Compass
Ever wonder how a compass worked to point you to the Arctic? Explore the interactions between a compass and bar magnet, and then add the earth and find the surprising answer.
Wikimedia
Wikipedia: Magnet
Wikipedia.com provides an excellent introductory site on magnets. Including basic information describing different types of magnets and their characteristics.
Texas Instruments
Texas Instruments: Where Is North?
In this activity, Students can use a Magnetic Field Sensor to measure the magnetic field of the Earth and to determine magnetic north. They will also calculate the magnetic inclination and declination at their location.
Other
Spacetech's Orrery: Earth Our Home Planet
This site provides a very interesting overview of our home planet, Earth. Content includes a focus on the atmosphere, the pull of gravity, and the active surface.
Other
This Old Earth: Geology Online: Paleomagnetism and Continental Drift
Discusses discoveries that laid the foundation for scientists' understanding of paleomagnetism, continental drift, and magnetic reversals.
National High Magnetic Field Laboratory
Magnet Academy: Make a Compass
Learn how to make a simple compass right at home. [1 min, 21 secs]
NASA
Nasa: Magnetic Reversals and Moving Continents
This site gives a good overview of magnetic reversals. Discusses continental drift, ocean floor magnetism, and sea-floor spreading.
PBS
Nova: See a Reversal
The earth's magnetic field is due for a reversal. Find out what causes the magnetic field and view an animated model that shows it reversing.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Northward Ho!
In this activity, students will create their own simple compass, be able to explain how a compass works, understand that the Earth's magnetic field has both horizontal and vertical components, and learn more about cardinal directions.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Earth Science: Earth's Interior
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Discover how scientists learn about Earth's interior using seismic waves, meteorites, density, and the magnetic field. Additional resources are available for download.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Earth Science: Magnetic Evidence for Seafloor Spreading
How magnetic reversals on the seafloor provide evidence for seafloor spreading. [Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.]
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Magnetic Polarity Evidence for Continental Drift
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] How magnetic polarity provided more evidence for moving continents.
National High Magnetic Field Laboratory
Magnet Academy: Magnetometer 1832
The Earth, the moon, the stars and just about everything in between has a magnetic field, and scientists use magnetometers when they need to know the strength of those fields.