Science · Ages 4–5
Magnet or not?
Does your child say “a magnet picks up everything shiny”? That’s a logical idea, and a magnet lets them try it out. This free printable suggests questions instead of corrections, and three games to play together: a sort of objects, fishing for cardboard fish and a challenge. An adult stays right there for every try.
Download the printable (PDF, 2 pages)US Letter size. Print single-sided, at 100% (actual size). Black and white is fine.
Page 1, for you
- Why “a magnet picks up everything shiny” is a logical idea.
- The key idea, in a simple diagram: what a magnet picks up depends on what the object is made of, not on how shiny it is.
- Three questions to ask instead of correcting.
- Safety: an adult stays right there, a large magnet that is not too strong, never small magnets or magnetic balls.
- How to play the three games: the sort, the fishing game and the challenge.
- Notes to read after the try, and a cut-out slip to play again a few days later.
Page 2, for your child
- A page with no text: pictures to circle, no reading needed.
- Before the try, a picture under the question mark; after it, a picture under the eye.
- Three games: the sort of five objects, the two cardboard fish, the challenge with the paper clip, the ball of foil and the cork.
- A big frame to draw what surprised them.
Our videos for parents
This printable goes with the “Magnet or not” episode of “Understand the concept,” our video series for parents. Find our videos on Ludip’s YouTube channel.
Visit Ludip’s YouTube channelLudip: Math & Science Stories
Ludip is a collection of math and science comic series for kids. Every episode tells a story around one concept to understand, then activities invite your child to explore it through play. Ludip is coming to iPhone, iPad and Android.
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