Why Should You Do Science Experiments With Young Children?

September 1st, 2015 | 1 min. read

Easy science experiments for children are a great way to stimulate activity in the preschool classroom. Science experiments offer crucial development for children across many domains such as math and social-emotional learning.

Inspired by the increased focus on STEM lessons, Florida educator and center director Beth Rosenthal Davis wrote Hands-On Science and Math: Fun, Fascinating Activities for Young Children. Below is just one activity from her book. Visit the book's page to read an excerpt and purchase it!

Map the Magnetic Poles

In this activity, children will learn about the concepts of attract and repel. They will use a compass to find the north and south poles of the magnet and will investigate to find out that like poles repel and opposite poles attract.

Materials

Bar or horseshoe magnet for each child
Several compasses to share
Masking tape or colored sticky dots
Pencils
Globe

Discussion

While holding the globe, point out the north and south poles. Explain that the earth has magnetic properties and that a compass aligns itself on the north and south poles of the earth's magnet. Show the compass, and point out the letters N, S, E, and W, explaining that those letters stand for north, south, east, and west. Walk outside, and change your direction as you walk so the children can see the needle on the compass moving. When you are back inside, show a magnet. Explain that the magnet also has a north and south pole.

Activity

Hold one side of the magnet to the compass, and see in which direction the needle on the compass is pointing. Then, try the other side of the magnet, so the children can see the needle move.
Write S and N on pieces of masking tape or on sticky dots, and let the children stick them on the appropriate poles of their magnets. Some magnets may have the poles already marked.
Once they have marked both poles of the magnets, explain that like poles will repel, or push away from, each other. Write the word repel on the board, and discuss that it starts with the letter r. This means a south pole of one magnet will push away a south pole of another magnet. Poles that are different or opposite will attract or some together. Write the word attract and point out the first letter of the word.
Give the children a chance to practice making their magnets attract and repel. To make it very visual, put one magnet on the table and push it away using the like pole of another magnet.

Find much more in Hands-On Science and Math!

Jenna Roby

A graduate of High Point University, Jenna Roby served as marketing specialist for Gryphon House from 2013-2015.

Topics:

Science

Article

Why Should You Do Science Experiments With Young Children?

Map the Magnetic Poles

Materials

Discussion

Activity

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