Grown-Up Goals. Kid-Sized Joy. Learning in disguise.
Magnet Mania
Suggested Items:
Magnets
magnetic objects and objects not attracted to a magnet
magnetic boards magnet exploration kits
Iron filings (in a sealed container or between two clear sheets)
Magnetic maze or games
Books about magnets
Material Preparation:
Magnets:
Provide a variety of magnets (bar magnets, horseshoe magnets, ring magnets, wand magnets, magnetic tiles).
Place them in accessible containers or on a tray.
Magnetic Objects:
Gather a collection of magnetic objects (paper clips, metal washers, screws, nails, magnetic letters, magnetic toys).
Place them in clear bins or trays.
Non-Magnetic Objects:
Include a variety of non-magnetic objects (plastic toys, wooden blocks, fabric pieces, paper).
Place them in separate containers for comparison.
Activities
Magnetic Attraction:
Have children test different objects to see if they are attracted to magnets.
Discuss which materials are magnetic and which are not.
Magnetic Poles:
Introduce the concept of magnetic poles (north and south).
Have children experiment with how magnets attract and repel each other.
Magnetic Strength:
Have children compare the strength of different magnets.
Use paper clips or other objects to test how many objects each magnet can hold.
Magnetic Games:
Play magnetic games like fishing for magnetic objects or building magnetic structures.
Magnetic Art:
Use magnets to move magnetic objects on a magnetic board to create art.
Use magnetic tiles to build structures.
Sorting and Classifying:
Have children sort objects into magnetic and non-magnetic categories.
Visual Displays:
Display pictures of magnets and their uses in everyday life (e.g., refrigerator magnets, magnetic door latches).
Create a chart of magnetic and non-magnetic materials.
Create a "mystery box" with a hidden magnet:
Have the children use other magnets to try and find the hidden magnet.
Magnetic Boards:
Provide magnetic boards/whiteboards for children to experiment with magnets and magnetic objects.
Magnetic Tiles
Magnetic Tile Exploration:
Provide a generous supply of magnetic tiles in various shapes and colors.
Encourage children to explore how the tiles connect and build structures.
The teacher should model building ideas by creating structures, or if you are not familiar with using them, children will learn quickly from youtube examples.
Discuss how the magnets within the tiles attract and hold them together.
Magnetic Tile Building Challenges:
Set up building challenges (e.g., "Build a tower as tall as you," "Create a house for a toy animal").
Encourage children to collaborate and problem-solve as they build.
Have the children try and build 2D shapes, and then 3D shapes.
Light Table Integration:
If you have a light table, place the magnetic tiles on it to create colorful and illuminated structures.
This adds a sensory and visual element to the activity.
Combine with Other Magnets:
Explore how other magnets interact with magnetic tiles.
Can other magnets pick up the tiles?
How do different poles of magnets interact with the tiles?
Magnetic Object Sorting with magnetic tiles:
Use magnetic tiles to create sorting areas for magnetic and non-magnetic objects.
Children can place magnetic objects on one color of tiles and non-magnetic objects on another.
Magnetic Field Visualization with using magnetic tiles
Place iron filings (safely contained) on a using magnetic tiles and observe how they align with the magnetic field.
The transparent tiles allow for a clear view of the filings.
Magnetic Art with magnetic tiles:
Use magnetic objects to create designs on a magnetic board and then incorporate using magnetic tiles to build around those designs.
Use dry erase markers on the using magnetic tiles to draw designs.
Magnetic Maze with magnetic tiles:
Build a maze using magnetic tiles and then use a magnet to guide a metal object through the maze.
The maze can be built on a vertical magnetic whiteboard. Learn how with the video at this link.
Make Holograms with Magnetic tiles Learn how with the video at this link.
Safety Considerations:
Small Magnets:
Be mindful of small magnets that could be choking hazards.
Supervise children closely, especially with younger children.
Strong Magnets:
Avoid using extremely strong magnets that could pinch fingers.
Iron Filings:
Ensure that iron filings are safely contained to prevent ingestion or eye irritation.
Supervise children closely during magnet exploration.
Get in touch
Questions? Comments? Concerns?
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