There are three main ideas that need to be covered and understood at the primary level:
I. Magnets have two distinct 'poles'. When like poles are brought together, they repel each other
2. Magnets exert an attractive force on a small range of metallic materials.
3. When they are allowed to move freely, magnets line up with the magnetic field of the Earth.
Teaching Concepts
Click on each concept to see Subject facts, Why you need to know these, Vocabulary, Amazing facts, Common misconceptions, Questions and Teaching Ideas
It is important to be aware of how these concepts can be developed in teaching. The following is one way in which the progression can be described. It goes up to Key Stage 3, because it is necessary to know where the children will be going next.To demonstrate your own understanding of the concepts, it is useful to produce your own concept chain.
Materials can be sorted into two categories: magnetic and non-magnetic. Magnetic materials are attracted to magnets. All magnetic materials are metals, Magnets can attract or repel other magnets.
Only a few types of metal are magnetic materials.The Earth has a magnetic field, with magnetic north and south poles. A free floating magnet will align itself to the Earth's magnetic field. Each magnet has a north-seeking pole and a south-seeking pole.There is an attractive force between unlike poles and a repulsive force between like poles.An object made from a magnetic material can be made into a magnet (magnetised) by stroking it repeatedly with a permanent magnet.
Magnets can be made out of non-magnetic materials (ceramic magnadur magnets).A compass can be affected by the close proximity of magnetic materials or magnets. Magnetic fields are not disrupted by non-magnetic materials. A flow of electricity through a cable produces an electromagnetic effect. A magnet can be made by placing a rod of magnetic material in an electric coil. A steel electromagnet is permanent. An iron electromagnet is temporary.The strength of an electromagnet is determined by the number of turns in the coil and the current passed through it.