Early years activity: Little scientist explore…Magnets 

Magnets feel magical to young children. Exploring what ‘sticks’ and what doesn’t encourages curiosity, prediction and early scientific thinking while supporting language and problem-solving skills.  

Little scientist explore…Magnets learning aims

• Explore forces through investigation 
• Identify materials that are magnetic or non-magnetic 
• Make predictions and test ideas 
• Develop observation and reasoning skills. 

Resources you will need for this activity

• Child-safe magnets  
• Selection of objects, such as: 
  • Paper clips 
  • Metal spoon 
  • Foil tray piece 
  • Wooden block 
  • Plastic toy 
  • Fabric square 
  • Coin 
  • Leaf or stick. 

Little scientist explore…Magnets activity outline

• Introduce the magnets 

Ask the children is they have had any experience of magnets before and find out what they already know. Then show the children the magnets and demonstrate how they work by picking up a paper clip. Let them watch how it ‘jumps’ to the magnet 

• Explore together 

Invite the children to use the magnets to pick up paper clips themselves 

• Explore different objects 

Show a selection of everyday items. Explain that you are going to test which objects ‘stick’ to (or have magnetic attraction to) the magnet and which do not 

• Encourage predictions 

Ask the children to guess which items will stick and ask them for their reasons. Sort the objects into three groups based on their guesses: 

• Magnetic 

• Not magnetic 

• Not sure 

• Test and discover 

Encourage the children to test each item and see if their guesses were correct. As they find out the answers, encourage the children to talk about their changing understanding of which items are magnetic or not. What are they finding out from their testing? 

• Model simple scientific language 

Use clear vocabulary and repeat key words.  Comment that the magnet ‘pulls’ the paper clip with magnetic force, the spoon is metal and most metals are ‘magnetic’, which is why it it is ‘attracted to’ the magnet, the wood is ‘not magnetic’ and so is not attracted to the magnet, etc. Magentic (or ‘ferromagnetic’) materials are iron, nickel, cobalt, and steel. 

• Support observation and thinking 

Ask open-ended questions such as: 

• Why do you think this one sticks? 

• What is the same about the objects that are magenetic? 

• How do you think magents work? 

• Review and celebrate learning 

Revisit what the children discovered, repeat new words like magnet and metal, and celebrate their curiosity and effort. 

How to extend this activity

• Have a magnet hunt 

Encourage further curiosity by providing magnets so the children can go on a magnet hunt around the room, looking for objects that are attracted to the magnet. You could also extend the exploration by testing whether magnets work through materials such as paper, card, or fabric, helping children discover that magnetic force can pass through some surfaces. 

NDNA products to support you with this activity

Little Scientists Leading the Way – Online course

Disclaimer: Activities with children must always be risk assessed, including for allergies or choking. Children must always have adequate supervision. Resources and materials must always be appropriate for children’s age and stage of development.