Magnetism_Resources

Magnets

You will need a selection of ceramic or alloy magnets in different shapes (bar, ring, button, horseshoe), plus some steel magnets to compare them with. Steel bar magnets should always be stored in pairs, side by side, with each north pole next to the south pole of the other magnet and with a small piece of steel attached to each end. Steel horseshoe magnets should be stored with a steel 'keeper' going between and covering the poles. Strip magnets (strips of flexible plastic impregnated with magnets) are useful, and can often be attached to dry-wipe boards. Explanations are available at:

www.explainthatstuff.com/magnetism.html

www.bbc.co.uWschools/scienceclips/ages/7_8/magnets_springs. shtml

Iron filings:

http://demoroom.physics.ncsu.edu/html/demos/128.html

www.technofrolics.com/products-services/choreographed-irondust/gallery/video-to-music/dust-video-to-music.html

Magnetic materials

It is well worth having some samples of different types of metal available for the children to experiment with. These can be obtained with the names of the metals embossed for quick identification. Beyond that, children can use magnets to test objects in the classroom. NB Children must not take magnets anywhere near electrical sockets or equipment — especially video monitors, TV sets or computers. Iron filings should only be used when they can safely be enclosed in a transparent container, such as a taped-up Petri dish.

See Figure 5

Compass

Compasses

Your school should have at least one good quality compass for demonstration, and a number of tiny 'plotting compasses' (see Figure 5) which the children can use to explore magnetic fields.

Books and CD-ROMs

Scholastic Primary Science: Spring into Action

Create & Display: Science and Create & Display Interactive: Science (both Scholastic, 2012) have some interesting scientific art activities involving magnets.