Standing Magnet Jump
Tools:
Extras: Colored markers; Masking tape; Metal objects
such as paperclips, washers, steel bolts, etc.
Key Science Concept:
Magnets are not attracted to all magnetic objects equally.
Magnets attract certain metals: iron, steel, nickel,
and cobalt.
© Learning Resources, Inc.
1
What to do:
Tear off a 12-inch strip of masking tape and set it on a flat surface.
Use a marker to write the word Start at one end and make a
line across the tape to indicate the starting position.
Set a paperclip (or other magnetic item) at the starting
line. Pick up the bar magnet. Starting from the opposite end of the
tape, slowly move the bar magnet toward the paperclip.
Where the paperclip jumps to meet the magnet, make a line with the
marker to indicate the magnet’s placement. Do the same with the
horseshoe magnet and the magnetic post. Which of the magnets, if
any, had the strongest attraction to the paperclip?
Take the same measurements with other objects such as washers and
steel bolts. Compare your findings with what you learned from
measuring the paperclip. Does the magnet that had the strongest
attraction to the paperclip also have the strongest attraction to the
washer? How about the steel bolt?
Go Fly a Kite!
Tools:
Extras: Paperclip; Sheet of paper; Tape
Key Science Concept:
Magnetism is powerful enough to temporarily defy gravity.
© Learning Resources, Inc.
2
What to do:
With the help of an adult, cut a diamond shape
about 3–5 inches out of a piece of paper. Tape a
paperclip to the top corner of the diamond. This is your kite.
Tape one end of the string to the bottom corner of the kite and
tape the other end of the string to a flat surface.
Pick up the horseshoe magnet. Hold the magnet over the kite and raise
it high into the air while maintaining contact between the paperclip and
magnet. How far can you stretch the string?
Now, very slowly move the magnet away from the paperclip until the kite
is able to fly without direct magnet contact! Try maintaining this level of
separation while moving the kite through the air in different directions.
Also, try this activity with different magnets in the set. Does the
kite fly as well with the bar magnet, magnetic post, or ring magnet?
Gone Fishing
Tools:
Extras: 12 Paperclips; Construction paper; Small empty
box such as a shoebox
Key Science Concept:
Magnets are key components of many everyday objects
such as credit cards, stereo speakers, and toys
and games!
© Learning Resources, Inc.
3
What to do:
Pull the string through the hole in the magnetic post
so the knotted end is tight against the post.
Wrap the other end of the string around the ring magnet
and knot it tightly to keep the magnet from falling off the
string. This will be your fishing pole—the post is the handle
and the ring magnet is the hook!
Next, cut out 12 fish (between 1"–3" each) in your favorite colors from construction
paper. Attach a paperclip to each fish.
Scatter the fish in the bottom of a shoebox or other small cardboard box.
Time to go fishing! Drop your “hook” into the box to collect as many fish as you
can. Can you get all 12?
Do you think another magnet would attract more fish than the ring magnet? Go
fishing again, but this time use the bar magnet as the hook instead of the ring
magnet. Which magnet made the better fishing pole?
7 Also, try the same activity with color-coded fish! Cut out an even number of
fish in two colors (for example, 6 blue and 6 green). Attach paperclips to the
blue fish only—leave the green fish blank. Why are you only able
to reel in the blue fish?
Sheep Stampede
Tools:
Extras: Cotton balls
Key Science Concept:
Magnets can retain their magnetic force
through objects.
© Learning Resources, Inc.
4
What to do:
Place up to 5 cotton balls at different
spots inside the maze—these are your sheep!
Set a magnetic bug at one corner of the maze.
Hold the maze in one hand and the magnetic post in the other. Position
the magnetic post under the maze, directly below the bug.
Can you guide the sheep through the maze using magnetism alone?
Try it! Use the magnetic post to move the bug into the sheep, pushing
them through the maze. Were you able to get all the sheep to the end of
the maze?
Also, try this activity with the horseshoe magnet underneath the
maze. Was it easier or harder to push the bug and the sheep with
the horseshoe magnet?
Horseshoe Towing, Inc.
Tools:
Key Science Concept:
Opposite poles attract and same poles repel.
© Learning Resources, Inc.
5
What to do:
Turn the car shells over. Snap the car shells onto the bar
magnets (the N and S should be facing down).
Bring the horseshoe magnet and cars close together. If the cars and the horseshoe
connect, that means the magnets’ poles are attracting. If they stay apart, that means
the magnets’ poles are repelling.
Connect the horseshoe to the cars. Lift the horseshoe into the air—do the cars stay
hitched? Notice the colors on the bar magnets: the north pole is on the red side and the
south pole is on the blue side.
Can you guess which pole is in each end of the horseshoe based on the connecting
colors of the bar magnets? Remember that opposite poles attract, or bring the magnets
together.
Before you bring the cars back to the garage, try this: walk across the room, turn slowly
in a circle, and raise the “tow truck” (horseshoe magnet) up and down, lifting and
lowering your arm. What happens?
Remove the cars from the horseshoe. This time, connect the ring magnets to the
horseshoe. Do the ring magnets attract vertically? Why not?
7
Remove the ring magnets. Try connecting both magnetic bugs to one foot of the
horseshoe. Did it work? Now, connect a bug to each horseshoe foot.
What difference do you notice between the bugs?
Magna Charta
Tools:
Extras: Pen; Paper; Household items such as paperclips,
washers, steel bolts, cereal, keys, etc.
Key Science Concept:
A magnet’s attraction to an object depends on
the strength of the magnet and the composition
of the object.
© Learning Resources, Inc.
6
What to do:
With the help of an adult, print out the chart on
n
the following page or create one that looks similar.
milar.
Spread out an assortment of the “extras,” or other
ther
handy items, in separate piles on a flat surface. Write the name of each item
on the chart, filling in the blank squares on the left-hand side of the page.
Discuss characteristics of each item and make predictions about which ones
will be attracted to magnets.
Test your predictions! Start with the first magnet and item on your chart. Bring
the item close to the magnet and see if there’s an attraction. If the magnet
attracts the item, write Y for yes in the appropriate column; if it does not
attract, write N for no.
Continue with the next magnets on your chart. When you finish testing the first
item with all the magnets, move on to the second item.
Do the items that attract have any characteristics in common?
How about the items that do not attract? Do all things shiny
attract? Do all things colorful attract? Why or why not?
Household
Item