Magnetic Poles

The science concepts/standards for this lesson are:

• Magnets have 2 ends called poles (North {positive} and South {negative}).
• Opposite poles attract (pull closer) each other (N an S).
• Like poles repel (move away from) each other (N and N) (S and S).

Materials Needed 

• 2 magnets (per child or group)

Opposite Poles Attract

  

   

Like Poles Repel

1. Give the kids 2 magnets and time to "play", observe, and discover with the magnets.
2. Ask the children what they observed and discovered from "playing" with the magnets.
3. Have the children predict (or recall) what happens when 2 opposite poles are pushed together. Have the kids push 2 opposite poles together. Then have them try to pull the opposite poles apart. The magnetic forces between the magnets will be holding them together.
4. Have the children explain what happens when 2 opposite poles are pushed together
5. Have the kids predict (or recall) what happens when 2 identical poles are pushed together. Have the kids try to push 2 identical poles together. They will feel the magnetic forces pushing the magnets apart.
6. Have the children explain what happens when 2 identical poles are pushed together.  

 Attraction



Lots of Attraction



Opposite Poles Attract

Children can sketch and label pictures of this activity in their science notebooks showing the magnets attracting and repelling.  

These magnetic rings also demonstrate magnets attracting and repelling and are lots of fun for kids to explore!

Have fun learning about magnets!

Static Electricity and Balloons

Static Electricity Balloon Demonstration

Vocabulary: positive charges, negative charges, attract (to move close together), repel (to move away)

Materials: 2 balloons, 2 pieces of string, (piece of wool - optional)

An object generally has the same number of positive and negative charges.
An object can lose negative charges and thus become positively charged.

• When 2 positively charged objects are brought close to each other they will REPEL each other. (The same will happen to 2 negatively charged objects.)
• When a positively charged object is brought close to a negatively charged object they will ATTRACT each other.

This can be demonstrated with 2 balloons each tied to a piece of string.

Try rubbing a balloon(s) with a piece of wool. This will remove negative charges from the wool and add them to the balloon(s) making the balloon(s) negatively charged.

Give the kids time to experiment and work with the balloons as they try to make the balloons attract and repel each other.


After the activity, children can sketch and label pictures of the balloons attracting and repelling in their science notebooks. 

Older students can write a summary explaining what causes the balloons to attract or repel.

Static Electricity - Attract

Static Electricity - Repel

You can download a free ELECTRICITY WORD SEARCH PUZZLE at my website.

Click HERE

ELECTRICITY WORKSHEET

Have fun with science!!!