Grades K-2
19 activities –85 pages

Magnets offer a fascinating way for young children to explore force and motion concepts. Primarily Magnets provides engaging activities that will show students how magnets interact with each other and with other things in their environment. The many, fun explorations will spark curiosity in young learners and lead them to a basic understanding of force and motion.

Four areas are addressed in this primary study of magnets.

1.    Magnets Interacting With Other Materials – Here students will be investigating what materials are attracted to magnets. What material will their magnets pull up from a bottle filled with a variety of objects? Will it be the shiny, metallic-looking confetti or the fuzzy, chenille-covered pipe cleaners? Through several activities, students will find that only certain metals (iron, for one) are attracted to magnets.

2.    Magnets Interacting With Other Magnets – In this section, students will learn that like poles repel and unlike poles attract. Children will model magnets and play a lively game where they find a partner to show attraction (two magnets with unlike poles attract) or repelling (two magnets with the same pole repel). Observations from this game and other explorations yield meaningful and memorable concepts.

3.    Magnetic Fields – Whether it’s with “hungry hounds” finding their way to the dog food, exploring the hair and whiskers of magnet men, or winding Willy the worm through his tunnel, students will discover that the magnetic field can pass through many materials.

4.    Everyday Uses of Magnets – Students will become aware of various uses of magnets, such as on screwdrivers, cupboard doors, can openers, purse clasps, etc. Through these explorations, they will gain a greater awareness of the many uses there are for simple magnets.