Magnets

Magnetism concepts:

Magnets attract metals containing iron or steel.

Magnets have two poles, a north and a south.  

Opposite poles of magnets attract and same poles of magnets repel.

There are many types of magnets in a variety of shapes and sizes.

Magnets can attract through materials such as paper, cardboard, or glass.

Magnets can be useful tools to make tasks easier.

The earliest magnets used by people were lodestone.

Iron or steel can be magnetized by contact with another magnet.

The earth is surrounded by a magnetic field that is strongest at the poles.  The needle of a compass is magnetized and points to the north pole.

After I introduce a concept, I like to give the children ample time to explore and experiment with materials.  I think this helps them develop concepts in their own minds.

These children are testing materials to determine which are attracted or not attracted to magnets.

These children are using floating magnet stands to understand the concept that the opposite poles of a magnet attract and same poles repel.  They enjoyed seeing how many magnets they could stack on while making them "float."

A dowel stick or pencil is also a great holder for this activity.