Magnet activities are the best, because there are so many to choose from. My students have some magnet background knowledge from first grade, and the third grade content isn’t too difficult. Plus, I get to do really fun hands-on activities with my class. I used my Magnet Investigations Booklet that I made several years ago to introduce the concept. I did make some changes to it, because I can’t keep printing in color ink and the black and white copies didn’t look that good. You can click here for a copy of the Magnet Station Activities Booklet.
There is a hands-on activity on every page. The main focus of the majority of the activities is that magnets have a north and a south pole, and that the magnetic field is strongest around its poles. To teach this, students make a magnetic train where they join bar magnets together through their north and south poles. Students also make floating magnets with magnetic rings (this is always the favorite). Of course, I do have a couple activities where students find things that are and are not attracted to magnets. I always make sure I have something aluminum for this activity, because it’s not magnetic.
One of the more complicated activities demonstrates how a compass works. This always leaves my students amazed, and it’s a great way to review a little social studies!
To implement the activities, I give each of my groups (four students in a group) a kit of magnets and any needed supplies and a booklet. Students work through the booklet at their own pace, but I do encourage them to move at an appropriate pace.
If you teach science, you definitely want to check out this mega post on teaching science and social studies! It’s packed with great information.
