Check it! - Magnets and Forces - Year 3

The concept of 'force' is an integral part of the Year 3 science curriculum, focusing on magnets and forces. Educators are encouraged to create regular opportunities for children to review and consolidate their understanding of what a force is. A variety of interactive ideas are suggested to aid this learning process, including creative activities like a 'brain dump', where children can freely express everything they know about the topic, or 'Give me FIVE!', where they might list five uses for magnets or five facts about forces.

Further methods to deepen the students' grasp of forces and magnets include 'Expand and Elaborate', where they can discuss the properties of magnets, such as attraction and repulsion, or the mechanical advantage provided by pulleys. To stimulate critical thinking, children may be asked to identify the two poles of a magnet, consider whether the North or South Pole is magnetic, name toys that incorporate magnets, define 'friction', explain how pulleys function, and explore historical uses of magnets by sailors. The 'Pyramid Check' activity is designed to assess comprehension, with the expectation that all pupils will be able to answer the foundational questions, while the higher-level questions challenge their deeper understanding of the subject matter.