Magnets
Main Focus: KWL Grid
Your class will use this grid to think about their topic on magnets.
This is a great starting point for your Year 3 / Year 4, aged 7-9 kids to see what they know about magnets and what they would like to find out.
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Main Focus: What is a magnet?
What is a magnet?
In this science resource your KS2 class will explore this question and look at some real world uses for magnets.
Magnets attract objects that are made of magnetic materials. Objects that are made of steel and iron will be attracted by a magnet. A natural magnet is called a lodestone. Magnets are made of magnetic materials. Magnets are used in everyday activities.
Main Focus: Sorting Magnetic and Non-Magnetic
Is it magnetic?
Magnetism is a force that acts between certain objects called magnets. Magnets attract objects like nails and pins, but they do not attract objects that are made from wood or plastic as well as a few others.
In this science resource, your class will use a magnet to test the objects on the final page then cut out the pictures and sort them into the right box.
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Main Focus: The Legend of Magnes the Shepherd Boy
This is a science comprehension resource linked to The Legend of Magnes the Shepherd Boy and is aimed at children aged 7-9 / Year 3 / Year 4.
Your class will read the passage and answer the questions based on their knowledge and understanding of the story.
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Main Focus: Magnets Wordsearch
This is a crossword resource linked to magnets. You can choose which resource would best suit your class, the one with the word list, or the one with the clues given for your class to decide what the word is, then find it in the crossword to challenge them further and deepen their understanding.
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Main Focus: Bottle Maze
Magnet Maze
In this activity, your class will make their own magnet maze.
You will need:
- A clean plastic bottle with wrappers and bottle top removed
- Coloured permanent marker pens
- A 1p coin
Instructions
- Use the marker pen to show the start at the bottom of the bottle and the end of the maze at the top your bottle.
- Draw your maze on the bottle linking the star and end points.
Use different colours and patterns to make your design look interesting.
- Use all sides of your bottle. You can make it as easy or as hard as you like. Make sure that the maze path is as wide as the coin.
The second activity involves magnetic money…
Magnetic money
1p coins are made from copper-plated steel. This means that it is steel covered with a thin layer of copper. This is magnetic as steel contains iron which is magnetic.
Have a look at the date on your coin. If it is a pre-1992 1p coin then it will not be magnetic because these were made from copper plated bronze. These coins will not work for this activity.
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Main Focus: Magnets Vocabulary
In that activity, your Year 3 / Year 4, LKS2 class will look a the vocabulary associated with magnets and look at definitions.
We have also included a resource that encourages your class to read the definitions and math them to the word.
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Main Focus: Magnetic Poles
This activity will deepen the understanding of your class in relation to the poles of a magnetic and how they work in terms or attracting and repelling.
In this resource, your class will read the science behind the poles, test and make predictions.
Magnetic attraction
Magnets create a magnetic field. This is space where a magnetic force can be detected. Magnetism is a force that acts between two magnetic materials. Cobalt, iron, steel and nickel are magnetic materials.
A magnet has two poles. The north pole and the south pole. When two magnets are close, they create pushing or pulling against each other. These forces are the strongest at the ends of the magnets. Some magnets are stronger than others.
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Main Focus: Magnetic Earth
In this activity, your class will recognise that planet Earth is a giant magnet and the impact that has on explorers of the past and present as well as how animals use it to find their way home.
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Main Focus: Making a Compass
In this activity, your class will learn what a compass is, what first compasses were made from, how to make a compass and learn the science behind a compass and Earth’s magnetic field.
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Main Focus: Quiz
This is a great way to finish the STEM topic, by revisiting some of the concepts and answering the questions.
This can also be done orally with your class, by calling out the questions and children write down their answers as a team.
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