Science Year 3 Forces and Magnets Amazing Magnets

Science - Year 3 Forces and Magnets – Amazing Magnets © Original resource copyright Hamilton Trust, who give permission for it to be adapted as wished by individual users. We refer you to our warning, at the foot of the block overview, about links to other websites.

Chain Magnets

How can we make a magnet chain? Each magnet in the chain must be attracted to the next one

Would these 2 magnets attract or repel? Opposite poles Attract

Would these 2 magnets attract or repel? Same poles repel

How could we make a chain with these bar magnets? Test your idea with 4 bar magnets

A chain of magnets can be made when opposite poles are pulled together Magnetic attraction

How to play Chain Magnets • • • The object of the game is to create the longest magnet chain you can You will play in teams of 6 -8 people Each team has a base in a corner of the playing space The cardboard magnets will be spread out in the centre of the space On your teacher’s signal, one person from each team leaves the base to collect a magnet which they put down in their base (red/blue side up) Another person then goes to collect a magnet. Back at the base, they turn it over to see if it says Attract or Repel If it says Attract they must lay it down so it would be attracted to the magnet already there If it says repel they must lay it down so it would repel the magnet already there

• Once the second magnet has been placed, the next person from the team goes off to collect a magnet • They check the reverse side (only once they are back at base) and lay it down with the first two magnets according to whether it says Attract or Repel. Attract Repel

• Continue in this way with each team member collecting a magnet in turn and laying it down according to the word on the back • Hopefully a chain will grow, although not all your magnets will be in it Carry on until there are no more magnets left to collect The team with the longest chain wins the game

Before you play, here’s a reminder Golden Rules • • • Players must collect magnets one at a time in turn Only one person can go off base to collect at a time You must not turn a magnet over until you bring it back to base The person collecting the magnet must lay it down, but the other team members can advise them Think carefully about where to place each new magnet because once the next person goes away from the base, the magnets already laid cannot be moved Repel Chain of 3 magnets This new magnet would now have to start a new chain Attract Repel

It’s time to play Chain Magnets

Science Fair Ideas on Magnetism Try to think of ideas that … • are fun • make people think • teach people something about magnets

1. Magnetic Fishing Make a simple fishing rod with a garden cane, some string and a ring magnet Make a pond with a pond shaped piece of paper or a cardboard box lined with paper. Cut out fish from coloured card, felt or foam, or draw your own pond creatures on card. Use a paperclip or paper fastener to make them magnetic

Challenge people to: • • You can write scores on the back of your fish or pond creatures. Catch the most fish at a time Catch the most fish in one minute Catch 5 fish with the highest total score Catch all the fish in the fastest time

2. Magnetic Tracks Draw a track, maze or course on a large sheet of card. Then draw, colour and cut out items to go on your track. Make them magnetic by adding a paperclip or paper fastener to each one.

Remember we learnt that magnetic force can work through solid materials, so with a strong magnet under the table you will be able to move your magnet items along the track as if by magic! Challenge people to: • • Move their magnetic item all the way along the track without touching the sides Get to the end in the fastest time Race with someone else Chase someone else, e. g. cat and mouse

3. A Coin Activity You know that some coins are magnetic and some are not, but the visitors probably won’t. Get them thinking by setting them some coin challenges. For example: • Asking them to guess which coins are magnetic and which are not from a set. You could give points for how many they get right! • Challenge them to make a penny pyramid • Challenge them to get the highest total amount of money attracted between 2 magnets Magnetic Not magnetic

Collect together and make the resources you need. Don’t forget you need signs to tell people what your challenge is. Magnetic Not magnetic

4. Challenge people to find the strongest magnet Collect together and make the resources you need. You will need to make signs and labels to tell people what your challenge is.

5. Guessing game or Quiz • Challenge people to guess which items will be attracted to magnets and which won’t • Make a magnetic quiz game

6. Magnetic Paper Boats • Make a course for sailing boats in a tub of water • Decorate paper boats with permanent pen • Put a paperclip on the front • Challenge people to steer the boat around the course in the shortest time without the magnet touching the paperclip

Trying out your idea Once you have collected and made things that you need, try out your idea and together decide on the exact task. What will you ask people to do? Make a sign to explain the task. Check you have everything you need for people to do it.