Objective

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to understand the basic concepts of magnets and their properties.

Materials and Prep

• A magnet
• A variety of objects made from different materials (e.g., paperclip, plastic spoon, wooden block, metal key, etc.)
• A piece of string
• A pencil or stick
• A piece of paper

No prior knowledge or preparation is required for this lesson.

Activities

1. Introduction to Magnets: Show the magnet to the student and discuss its properties. Explain that magnets can attract certain objects and repel others.
2. Magnetic or Not?: Gather the variety of objects and ask the student to predict which ones will be attracted to the magnet and which ones will not. Have the student test their predictions by holding the magnet near each object and observing the results.
3. Magnetic Race: Tie the piece of string to the pencil or stick to create a makeshift fishing rod. Place the paperclip on a flat surface and challenge the student to "fish" for the paperclip using the magnet as the hook. Time the student to see how quickly they can complete the task.
4. Create a Magnet Maze: Draw a simple maze on the piece of paper. Place the magnet underneath the paper and guide it through the maze by moving the magnet from above. Encourage the student to follow the magnet's movements with their finger on the paper.

First Grade Talking Points

• "Magnets are special objects that can attract some things and push away others."
• "Some objects, like paperclips and metal keys, are attracted to magnets and stick to them."
• "Other objects, like plastic spoons and wooden blocks, are not attracted to magnets and do not stick to them."
• "We can use magnets to play fun games, like fishing for paperclips or guiding them through mazes."
• "Magnets have a special power that helps them move objects without touching them."