Science - Year 3/4A Autumn 1 Forces and Magnets Magnetic Fun and Games Session 4 PowerPoint © 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.

Here are 12 everyday classroom items You may think that some would be attracted to magnets whilst others would not Let’s play a guessing game!

Attractive Objects Guessing Game

Your teacher has 12 objects in a tray Your teacher has 12 objects in a tray. Your task is to guess which will be attracted to a magnet and which will not. Look down the list of objects on your sheet. Put a tick in the middle column beside all the objects you think will be attracted to a magnet and a cross beside all the objects that you think will not.

Don’t worry if some of your objects look different to the ones in the picture, your teacher will show you the one you will be testing. Make your guess on the actual object in the tray.

Testing your objects Once you have made all your guesses, it’s time to test the objects. Take turns to dangle a strong magnet on a string over the tray – a bit like fishing in a pond! See what you catch! If an object is attracted to the magnet, it will lift out of the tray. Tick that object in the right hand column. When no more objects will pick up, put crosses against the objects left in the tray. Do this now.

Congratulations! Great guessing Let’s find out how well you did! Congratulations! Great guessing Stand up everyone who got 8 or more correct Stay standing everyone who got 10 or more correct Wow! That’s really impressive! Stay standing everyone who got all 12 correct Pure Genius!

Remember scientists are always asking the question “Why?” Why were some objects attracted to the magnet when others were not? Discuss your ideas. Then write your theory at the bottom of your sheet.

Materials that are attracted to magnets are said to be magnetic. Other materials are said to be non-magnetic.

Write them on cards as well. ? Read out and hold up any questions you wrote on this theme last session Can you think of any new questions you would like to investigate on magnetic and non magnetic materials? Write them on cards as well.

Here are some questions you could investigate: Which materials are magnetic? Are any coins magnetic? If so, which ones? How can you tell a magnet from a magnetic material?