This is part of my Fifteen Minute Focus series.

Supplies: magnets, magnetic toys, items to test to see if they’re magnetic or not

Show two bar magnets that are clearly marked with north and south poles. Show how if you put opposite ends next to each other, they attract – they pull together. If you put matching ends together, they repel, or push away. (You can also demo this with other magnets – it’s great if you have one that’s has a strong enough magnetic field that you don’t even have to touch them together… it can lift another magnet up in the air (levitate it) to pull them together.) This relates to Next Generation Science Standard 3-PS2.3) 

Give them magnets to play with and explore attract and repel. I like these Magnetic Match Rings. If you flip them one way, they stick together, if you flip one over, they repel – they’ll even float above each other on the peg. They’re plenty strong to have fun playing with, but not so strong you can pinch your fingers with them.

I also like magnetic marbles and wands. You could put out two toy train cars that connect with magnets, and let them notice how if you turn a train car one way it connects, and if you turn it the other way, it repels. (They’ve likely already experienced this – this gives them the opportunity to connect this familiar experience to the new science learning.)

Song: From www.tooter4kids.com/Magnets/magnet_poems.htm. (To the tune of Did you ever see a Lassie? Have them lean side to side when singing “this way and that”)
Did you ever see a magnet, a magnet, a magnet?
Did you ever see a magnet pull this way and that?
Pull this way and that way, and this way and that way.
Did you ever see a magnet pull this way and that?

Once they’ve explored attract and repel, it’s time to try out some “will a magnet stick to it” experiments. Do a demo testing about 6 items, where you hold one up – ask if it will stick or not (they vote with a thumbs up or thumbs down.)

After you’ve tested ~6 things, ask for their observations. What did it stick to? Metal? All metal? Would it stick to wood? plastic? Make some hypotheses together, then give them a pile of stuff to test during free play and continue to talk about their observations as they test everything.