Magnets
Introduction to Magnets
This is a great resource for your KS2 class to watch when learning about magnets as part of Science or STEM lessons.
Your class will be introduced to the magnetic materials, poles on a magnet, earth’s magnetic field and more.
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Main Focus: KWL Grid
This is a very quick science activity that gauges where your class are and individual children are in terms of their knowledge on magnets.
It is always useful to reflect on this after completing the STEM topic on magnets and all our resources on magnets to show how much their knowledge has progressed.
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Main Focus: Mindmap
In this activity for kids aged 9-11, or KS2, your class will create a mind map to show the things they know about magnets.
They will think about where they might find magnets or use magnets. We have also included headings to guide your class.
Main Focus: True or False Researching Activity
In this STEM activity, your class will read all the information and research to see if they are true or false statements about magnets.
Not only is this an activity to engage your class and encourage them to develop their research skills from reliable sources, your class will learn key information about:
- properties of magnets
- weakening magnetic force
- earth’s magnetism
- electromagnets
- animals an magnetism
- compasses and magnetism
- magnetometer
and more…
You could also ask your KS2 children to go into groups and specialise on an area mentioned above and present information to the class.
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Main Focus: Sorting Materials
Is it magnetic?
In this Science resource, your class will make predictions and decide whether or not the materials are magnetic. They will then test the materials to see if they were accurate.
Not all materials are magnetic. Your class will select some materials and predict which they think are magnetic and which are non-magnetic?
After your Year 5 / Year 6 class have made their predictions, test each material and see if they were right and if there were any surprises.
Main Focus: Crossword
Magnet crossword
There are 18 words hidden in the wordsearch. Your class are challenged to find them all.
This is a useful activity to encourage your class to recognise the vocabulary associated with a magnets topic.
Wordlist
Earth, Repel, Force, Cobalt, Metal, Nickel, Field, Compass, North, Pole, Iron & Steel.
Main Focus: Strong Magnets Experiment
This is a Science experiment that explores how magnet force can pass through an object and is aimed at Year 5 / Year 6 / KS2 / Aged 9-11 kids.
Magnetism is the force of attraction or repulsion. Every magnet has a magnetic field. This is invisible to us, but we can feel the impact of it. The closer you are to a magnet, the stronger the attraction will be. The force of a magnet can be felt through an object.
Challenge. Try to remove a paperclip from a glass of water without getting your hands or magnet wet or pouring out the water.
The attraction of the magnet to the paperclip works through materials. Here the attraction works through glass and water.
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Main Focus: Vocabulary and Paper Clips Experiment
This resource encourages your class to use the word bank of key vocabulary linked to magnets and place the words into the correct spaces.
Next, your class will complete an experiment using three different magnets and compare strengths by how many paper clips they can hold end-to-end.
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Main Focus: Magnets and Paper Experiment
Strong magnets
The attraction of magnets can work through different materials as we have already explored in the previous activities.
Experiment
In this experiment, you will test a magnet’s strength by finding out how many pieces of paper you can trap between the magnet and a magnetic disk.
You will need:
- Three magnets
- A magnetic disk such as a coin or washer
- Squares of paper
Your class will complete the sentences to explain what they are doing and why. They will then complete the experiment and fill in their findings.
Main Focus: Magnetic Field Distance Experiment
In this experiment, your Year 5 / Year 6 class will test a magnet’s strength by finding out the distance of its magnetic field. E.g. a magnet may have a magnetic circumference of 3cm.
Your KS2 class will set the ruler on a flat surface such as a table and position the magnet with the end of it set at zero. They will then place the paperclip at the other end of the ruler.
Now your kids will slowly slide the paperclip along the side of the ruler keeping a note of the measurement in cms.
When the attraction of the magnet is felt by the paperclip, it will pull the paperclip towards itself. They will then record the result on our resources provided.
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Main Focus: Famous Scientists
In this activity, your class will complete fact files on a list of famous scientists…
- Nikola Tesla
-
Alessandro Volta
-
Richard Feynmann
-
Michael Faraday
Main Focus: Michael Faraday Comprehension
This is a comprehension resource linked to the life and works of Michael Faraday.
Your class will read the information about him and then answer the questions to show their understanding.
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Main Focus: Magnets at Home
In this resource, your KS2 class will rearrange the letters to make objects that use magnets at home. They will then read the clues to match tot he words. Finally, they will answer the questions or decide whiter the statements are true or false.
Magnets in the home
Magnets are used in many electronic devices today. Even if you cannot identify it directly or even see it, many items that work around you make use of magnets. In fact, anything that has a motor uses a magnet to cause movement. Magnets can be used to keep doors closed, connect circuits, fasten bags and even can be used in jewellery!