Magnet Experiments MatchCard
The Magnet Experiments MatchCard leads students on an exploration of the poles of common magnets.
Opposites Attract
Objective: Predict what poles of a magnet will be attacted or repelled by the pole of another magnet.
Let the student experiment with a set of common magnets. They will quickly find that one side of a magnet will either be attracted or repelled by one side of a different magnet.
Explain that the magnet has two poles: north and south. What else has two poles? (Earth)
Ask them to find a way to tell which pole is north and which pole is south.
Where Is North?
If a magnet hangs free on a string, it will automatically position itself so that its north pole is facing the Earth's North Pole.
Here is how you might find north with different types of magnets and string:
- Horseshoe magnet: Tie the string (yarn or tooth floss will also work) in the middle.
- Bar magnets: Line up two or more magnets so they attract each other. Put a string in the middle of them.
- Washer shaped magnets: Tie the string through the circle.
Extra challenge: Use different types of magnets to discover which sides repel and attract.
Make a Compass
- Once you have found the north pole of a magnet, rub the end with a needle or straight pin. You have magnetized the pin.
- Fill a glass with water.
- Very carefully, without breaking the surface tension on the top of the water, lay the magnetized pin or needle on the water.
- Watch the needle move so it points north.
Crazy Compass
Magnetize another pin or needle.
Lay it next to the first needle in the water, being careful not to break the surface tension.
Notice how they react.
Using the Magnet Experiments Matchcard
This is the third Matchcard of the Light and Energy Unit Study. You can download the Magnet Experiments Matchcard here.
Cut the two magnets from the information pieces. Have the student place them on the student MatchCard in the correct location.
The second page is the Instructor's Guide with the correct answers.
The third page has the Information Pieces. Student's cut them apart and place them in the correct place on their copy of the Matchcard (first page.)
MatchCards provide on-going learning and review of science facts and concepts.
For more information on how to use the Matchcards, see the MatchCard Science Instructor's Guide.
MatchCard Science
The activities and illustration above are from MatchCard Science, a homeschool science unit study.
For the complete Light and Energy Unit Study follow this link. This unit study provides:
- hands-on demonstrations
- MatchCard reviews to master the material
- suggestions for science projects to complete
- instructions on a complete unit study curriculum
Currently this curriculum is under-going revision. We are providing free access to the unit study, with the desire that you will provide feedback as you are field testing the materials.
Science Notebook
If you are just using this single project, and are not in need of a full unit study, you might want your student to complete a science notebook entry for this project.
Return from the Magnet Experiments Matchcard to the MatchCard Science Main Page.
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