Magnetism & Navigation - Sea Turtles

How do sea turtles travel thousands of miles across open oceans and still find their way home?

In this hands-on science lesson, students explore magnetism and Earth’s magnetic field to understand how sea turtles navigate vast distances. Using simple materials, learners investigate magnetic forces, build a basic compass, and observe how magnets naturally align — revealing how animals can sense invisible forces in the natural world.

This lesson is designed as a clear, educator-friendly plan, with a short read-aloud to set context, a guided investigation led by students, and opportunities for discussion and reflection. The focus is on physical science concepts, while using sea turtles as the real-world connection that makes learning meaningful and memorable.