Getting to experience magnets for the first time can be an almost magical experience for kids.
For kids, it can be like, “What is going on with this object that so many things stick to it?” That is part of what makes discovering magnets so exciting.
In this post I share three activities I have done with my kids to learn about magnets through play.
Note: Find more hands-on science activities for young children on my Science Activities for Kids page!
Magnet sensory bin
Our day started with a magnet sensory bin. (I LOVE sensory bins!) I used white rice as the base and then put in in some magnets from our Fun with Magnets kit
Both of the kids picked up a magnet and started exploring with it.
They liked to see what objects would stick to the magnet.
Using a magnet to remove a paperclip from a bottle
After they had explored the contents of the sensory bin for a while, I showed the kids how they could use a magnet to get a paperclip out of a bottle. QBoy and XGirl took turns doing this several times each.
Painting with magnets
Then I introduced them to magnet painting, an idea I originally saw on Rockabye Butterfly.
I had the kids squirt globs of paint onto a paper plate.
Then, they dropped a paperclip and a metal nut onto their plates.
Then they used a magnet beneath the plate to move the paperclip and metal nut through the paint. This was a bit more challenging then I had anticipated as the items on the plate did not seem to stick to the magnet as well as I had thought they would. But it worked well enough.
The kids loved this activity, and asked to do it more than once. Here is the end result!
Do you have other ideas for learning about magnets we should try? If so, please leave me a note in the comments. I’d love to hear your ideas!
Looking for more hands-on activities that incorporate Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math (STEAM)? Then you’ll love STEAM Kids! This book features 52 hands-on activities are helpfully identified by category (science / technology / engineering / art / math) so you know exactly what skills your kids are developing.
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More science activities for kids
More science posts from Gift of Curiosity:
- Dancing raisins
- Candy experiments
- Jumping colors science activity
- Make your own glycerin soap
- Crystallized snowflakes
- Dissecting an apple
- What do ants like to eat?
- Make your own telescope
- The great baking soda and vinegar experiment
- Magic inflating balloons
Don’t have time to gather materials? Want to make science super easy? Check out these monthly subscription services that will send science and creativity kits to your door!
Find more great science activities on my Science Activities for Kids page and my Science Activities Pinterest board.
Jeff Stokes says
February 27, 2013 at 12:39 amGreat activity! Can’t wait to make a trip back down soon and see how QBoy and XGirl are doing! Miss you all sis!
Tulip says
February 27, 2013 at 3:35 pmLove that magnet painting idea. Thanks for sharing at Mom’s Library!
Judy says
February 28, 2013 at 11:21 amI love the paper plate idea…I will have to try that with my boys!
Angela @ Teaching Mama says
March 1, 2013 at 10:16 amWow what a neat activity! I will have to try this with my 3 year old.
Ashley says
March 3, 2013 at 5:09 amGreat magnetic ideas! I will have to pin them for later. Thanks for sharing at Mom’s Library!
Emily says
March 4, 2013 at 6:11 amI love the magnetic sensory tub! I have a basket of magnets like that in my classroom…LOVE Magnatiles!
Katie says
March 4, 2013 at 6:47 amMagnatiles are the best! We get so much use out of them at our house.
Isabel Rea says
March 4, 2013 at 5:58 pmGreat activity! I love tha magnet painting.:)
Deb @ Living Montessori Now says
March 4, 2013 at 6:10 pmWhat awesome magnet activities! Thanks so much for linking up with Montessori Monday. I featured your post at the Living Montessori Now Facebook page and pinned it to my Kids’ Science Activities Pinterest Board at http://pinterest.com/debchitwood/kids-science-activities/
chelle says
March 4, 2013 at 7:46 pmFun ideas…we have magnet painting on our to-do list 🙂
Thanks for sharing at Sharing Saturday!
Heather {Upside Down Homeschooling} says
March 5, 2013 at 4:47 pmI LOVE this magnet and paint idea. We will be trying it soon!
Thanks for linking up to the Hearts for Home Blog Hop! Blessings!!
Ticia says
March 9, 2013 at 5:44 pmI like the challenge of getting the paper clip out with a magnet.
Thanks for linking up to Science Sunday!
Genny Upton @ In Lieu of Preschool says
March 11, 2013 at 10:11 pmThanks for linking up to Tuesday Tots! I’m featuring your post this week on In Lieu of Preschool. Please feel free to stop by and grab a featured button! Off to pin your post. Thanks again for sharing! 🙂 ~Genny
Valerie @ Glittering Muffins says
March 12, 2013 at 7:18 amGreat post! Have to get a magnet wand.
I like the posts so much I featured it on our “The Kid’s Co-op” post!
Katie says
March 12, 2013 at 8:34 amThanks for featuring our fun with magnets post!
Deb @ Living Montessori Now says
October 28, 2013 at 6:58 amI featured your post and magnet sensory bin photo in my post today at Living Montessori Now.
Katie says
October 28, 2013 at 2:17 pmThanks Deb!
Kathryn @ Big Kids says
November 13, 2013 at 11:50 amMagnet bins are awesome to play with & I love the challenge of moving a paperclip through the rice! The following is an easy & fun activity that’s heavy on problem-solving & critical thinking. Use recyclable plastic water bottles to make 5 Discovery Bottles. Fill one with colored water & oil, one with rice, one with popcorn kernels, one with store-bought sand, and one with corn syrup. Inside each bottle add different little items that are magnetized and others that are not (small plastic letters, glitter, coins, shells, glass beads, screws, paperclips, pony beads, nuts & bolts, etc). If you have magnet paddles, they’re perfect to manipulate the items inside. If not, get a child size pair of thin winter gloves & hot glue heavy duty magnets to a couple of the fingertips. The sensation of feeling the “pull” of the magnets is pretty cool, too.