BACKGROUND:
Magnetism is a
mysterious phenomenon to children. They can see the results of the
repulsion and attraction, but the reason why it happens is very
confusing. The word magnetism may be new to students, but the only way
you can define magnetism is to have the students play with the
"force."
Nature has different forces that act
on objects, and magnetism is a force that only certain metals have like
iron, cobalt, and nickel.
PROCEDURE:
- Use the coloring exercise to
emphasize that there is a north pole and a south pole, just like the
Earth. When a north pole and a north pole meet, they REPEL. When a
magnet’s south pole and a north pole meet, they ATTRACT.
- Introduce the idea that magnets
will pick up things that are made of some metals. Emphasize that magnets
near computers or televisions can cause damage to that piece of
electronic equipment.
- Arrange students into two lines
and have them face each other holding hands. Tell students to take one
step toward their partner. This is attraction. Now have them move one
step back. This is repulsion. Do this several times with the students,
almost singing the terms: Attract (move together) and Repel (move
apart).
