About This Lesson
In this hands-on science lesson, students explore the basic properties of magnets through guided play and simple investigations. Working in small groups, students experiment with different types of magnets to observe attraction and repulsion, identify magnetic poles, and feel magnetic forces firsthand. By suspending magnets and using plotting compasses, students discover how magnets align with Earth’s magnetic field and how magnetic forces act at a distance. These activities help build foundational understanding of magnetism while encouraging curiosity, observation, and discussion. The lesson also offers opportunities to connect students’ discoveries to the historical development of scientific ideas about magnetism and navigation.
