Magnets - Presentation

The presentation on magnets introduces students to fundamental concepts of magnetism and the forces of push and pull. Initially, students are encouraged to articulate what constitutes a push and a pull in the context of magnets. They explore the idea that magnets exert these forces, which can cause objects to move. Through practical methods, such as moving a chair away from oneself (push) and then towards oneself (pull), the students experience these forces firsthand. The presentation aims to help students understand that only certain metals, such as iron, nickel, and steel, are attracted to magnets, while non-metal materials are not.

Further interactive activities, such as using two magnets to demonstrate attraction and repulsion, solidify the concepts of magnetic forces. Students are asked to observe what happens when different poles of magnets are brought close together and to identify whether the resulting interaction is a push or a pull. Additionally, the lesson includes a creative 'Magnet Fishing' activity where students attach paper clips to paper fish to understand that the more magnetic material present, the stronger the attraction to the magnet. The session concludes by assessing students' understanding of how magnets pull objects towards them, the nature of magnetic repulsion, and the types of materials that are magnetically attractive. This structured approach ensures that students can confidently answer key questions about the properties and behaviours of magnets.