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Science

Magnetic or Not?

Overview

Children test a range of everyday materials with a magnet, predicting and observing which are attracted and which are not.

Learning Objective
Children investigate which materials are magnetic and identify patterns in their results.

Resources needed

  • One magnet
  • Collection of objects: iron nail, coin, aluminium foil, plastic, stone, wood, paper

Lesson stages

0 / 7 done
  1. 1 Show the magnet and let children feel its pull on each other.
  2. 2 Ask: what do you think this magnet will attract?
  3. 3 Children test each object by holding it near the magnet.
  4. 4 Sort into two groups: attracted to magnet and not attracted.
  5. 5 Look at the attracted group — what do they have in common?
  6. 6 Introduce: magnets attract iron and steel, not all metals.
  7. 7 Ask: can the force work through paper? Try holding paper between the magnet and a nail.

Tap a step to mark it as done.

Variations

  • Test whether magnetism works through water or through their hand.
  • Make a simple fishing game — fish with paper clips caught by a magnet on a string.
  • Test the magnet at different distances — how far away can it still attract?
More information

Teach: magnet, magnetic, attract, repel, iron, steel, force, distance. Crucially: not all metals are magnetic — aluminium and copper are not.

Reduce to five objects only and focus on the predict-test-sort cycle before discussing patterns.

Can children correctly sort objects as magnetic or not? Can they state that magnets attract iron and steel specifically, not all metals?

If no magnet is available, demonstrate magnetism by magnetising a needle with a magnet and floating it on water in a leaf — a simple compass.

Children assume all metals are magnetic. Testing aluminium foil against iron directly challenges this and introduces the important nuance that magnetism is specific to certain materials.

Magnetism is children's first encounter with action-at-a-distance — a force that works without touching. This concept is fundamental to understanding electric and gravitational forces later.

Activity details
Primary Easy 20 minutes 5 minutes prep Small Group Indoor & Outdoor
Topics
Magnetism Forces Materials