Lets Think About...Magnets & Gravity
Activities:
1. Magnets Can Find and Attract Iron Ore
Bring sand inside the classroom and place in a shallow tray.
Have children use magnets to drag through the sand.
The magnets will attract the iron particles in the sand and pick them up.
Examine the iron filings under a magnifying glass.
2. Gravity Pulls Everything Back to Earth
Introduce the concept of gravity and prepare the children to be scientists.
Let them know they are going to do a scientific experiment.
Take several balls and bean bags of varying sizes outside.
Let children take turns throwing the balls and bean bags into the air.
Can anyone make their ball or bean bag stay up in space? Why not?
3. All Things Feel the Pull of Gravity, Even Very Light Things
Give each child a feather and see how long they can keep the feather afloat before gravity brings it back to earth.
Have them blow on the feather or use a fan to do the same activity with air filled balloons.
4. Magnets Work on Certain Metal
Provide children with a collection of interesting small things, like paper clips, nails and safety pins that respond to magnets. Using a magnet, have children sort items
by things that the magnet can move, and then those things magnets cannot move.
