KS2 Forces and Magnets | Curriculum Activities

Activity	Resources	Relation to National Curriculum
Activity 1 Investigating Forces Push Or Pull	Forces Investigation Sheet Pencil Variety of different objects: Elastic band Ball Toy car	Sc3/1.1 asking relevant questions and using different types of scientific enquiries to answer them Sc3/1.2 setting up simple practical enquiries, comparative and fair tests Sc3/1.8 identifying differences, similarities or changes related to simple scientific ideas and processes Sc3/4.2b notice that some forces need contact between 2 objects, but magnetic forces can act at a distance
Activity 2 Travelling On Different Surfaces Investigation	Travelling On Different Surfaces Investigation Sheet Pile of books Flat piece of wood / cardboard Toy car Tape measure Pencil	Ma3/3.1a measure, compare, add and subtract: lengths (m/cm/mm) Sc3/1 working scientifically Sc2/4.2a compare how things move on different surfaces
Activity 3 Magnetic Poles	Magnetic Poles Investigation Sheet Pencil 2 magnetic bars	Sc3/1.1 asking relevant questions and using different types of scientific enquiries to answer them Sc3/1.2 setting up simple practical enquiries, comparative and fair tests Sc3/1.4 gathering, recording, classifying and presenting data in a variety of ways to help in answering question Sc3/1.6 reporting on findings from enquiries, including oral and written explanations, displays or presentations of results and conclusions Sc3/1.8 identifying differences, similarities or changes related to simple scientific ideas and processes Sc3/1.9 using straightforward scientific evidence to answer questions or to support their findings Sc3/4.2c observe how magnets attract or repel each other and attract some materials and not others Sc3/4.2e describe magnets as having 2 poles Sc3/4.2f predict whether 2 magnets will attract or repel each other, depending on which poles are facing
Activity 4 Is It Magnetic Investigation	Is It Magnetic Investigation Sheet Magnet Variety of objects made from different materials.	Sc3/1.1 asking relevant questions and using different types of scientific enquiries to answer them Sc3/1.2 setting up simple practical enquiries, comparative and fair tests Sc3/1.4 gathering, recording, classifying and presenting data in a variety of ways to help in answering question Sc3/4.2c observe how magnets attract or repel each other and attract some materials and not others Sc3/4.2d compare and group together a variety of everyday materials on the basis of whether they are attracted to a magnet, and identify some magnetic materials
Activity 5 Make A Compass	Magnetic Poles Video Make A Compass Activity Sheet Container of water Sewing needle Small square of paper about 3 x 3 cm Magnet Compass	Ge2/1.4b use the 8 points of a compass Sc3/4.2c observe how magnets attract or repel each other and attract some materials and not others Sc3/4.2e describe magnets as having 2 poles
Activity 6 Magnet Maze	Magnet Maze Activity Sheet Magnet Maze Design Sheet Coin Magnet Paper and pencil	Sc3/4.2b notice that some forces need contact between 2 objects, but magnetic forces can act at a distance Sc3/4.2c observe how magnets attract or repel each other and attract some materials and not others

Covers:

Activity

Resources

Relation to National Curriculum

Downloads

Activity 1

Investigating Forces Push Or Pull

Forces Investigation Sheet
Pencil
Variety of different objects:
Elastic band
Ball
Toy car

Sc3/1.1 asking relevant questions and using different types of scientific enquiries to answer them
Sc3/1.2 setting up simple practical enquiries, comparative and fair tests
Sc3/1.8 identifying differences, similarities or changes related to simple scientific ideas and processes
Sc3/4.2b notice that some forces need contact between 2 objects, but magnetic forces can act at a distance

Activity 2

Travelling On Different Surfaces Investigation

Travelling On Different Surfaces Investigation Sheet
Pile of books
Flat piece of wood / cardboard
Toy car
Tape measure
Pencil

Ma3/3.1a measure, compare, add and subtract: lengths (m/cm/mm)
Sc3/1 working scientifically
Sc2/4.2a compare how things move on different surfaces

Activity 3

Magnetic Poles

Magnetic Poles Investigation Sheet
Pencil
2 magnetic bars

Sc3/1.1 asking relevant questions and using different types of scientific enquiries to answer them
Sc3/1.2 setting up simple practical enquiries, comparative and fair tests
Sc3/1.4 gathering, recording, classifying and presenting data in a variety of ways to help in answering question
Sc3/1.6 reporting on findings from enquiries, including oral and written explanations, displays or presentations of results and conclusions
Sc3/1.8 identifying differences, similarities or changes related to simple scientific ideas and processes
Sc3/1.9 using straightforward scientific evidence to answer questions or to support their findings
Sc3/4.2c observe how magnets attract or repel each other and attract some materials and not others
Sc3/4.2e describe magnets as having 2 poles
Sc3/4.2f predict whether 2 magnets will attract or repel each other, depending on which poles are facing

Activity 4

Is It Magnetic Investigation

Is It Magnetic Investigation Sheet
Magnet
Variety of objects made from different materials.

Sc3/1.1 asking relevant questions and using different types of scientific enquiries to answer them
Sc3/1.2 setting up simple practical enquiries, comparative and fair tests
Sc3/1.4 gathering, recording, classifying and presenting data in a variety of ways to help in answering question
Sc3/4.2c observe how magnets attract or repel each other and attract some materials and not others
Sc3/4.2d compare and group together a variety of everyday materials on the basis of whether they are attracted to a magnet, and identify some magnetic materials

Activity 5

Make A Compass

Magnetic Poles Video
Make A Compass Activity Sheet
Container of water
Sewing needle
Small square of paper about 3 x 3 cm
Magnet
Compass

Ge2/1.4b use the 8 points of a compass
Sc3/4.2c observe how magnets attract or repel each other and attract some materials and not others
Sc3/4.2e describe magnets as having 2 poles

Activity 6

Magnet Maze

Magnet Maze Activity Sheet
Magnet Maze Design Sheet
Coin
Magnet
Paper and pencil

Sc3/4.2b notice that some forces need contact between 2 objects, but magnetic forces can act at a distance
Sc3/4.2c observe how magnets attract or repel each other and attract some materials and not others

Hands-On Education's Forces and Magnets Topic

Hands-On Education’s key stage two Forces and Magnets is a fun and effective way to teach kids about science. This topic is especially exciting for year three and year four students learning at home or in school! We offer six fun activities that can help kids investigate the concepts of forces, push and pull, magnets and much more.

One great activity is investigating forces through push or pull. Students can use toy cars or other small objects to experiment with how different amounts of force affect how far the objects travel. They can also investigate the effects of friction by trying to push or pull the objects across different surfaces, such as carpet, tile, or concrete.

Magnetism is a fascinating topic that has been studied for centuries. It is the force that attracts or repels certain materials, such as iron and steel.

Another investigation is exploring magnetic poles. Pupils can use bar magnets to test attraction and repulsion. They can even try to make their own compasses by rubbing a needle against a magnet and floating it in water.

We offer a great magnet mazes activity. In this students will use magnet bars to guide a small ball or other object through a maze of obstacles. This is a very simple but engaging and versatile activity. By engaging in these hands-on lessons, your child or student can learn about the fascinating world of forces and magnets in a fun and engaging way.

Take a look at our forces and magnets activities.

Take an in-depth look at our forces and magnets activities.

A Breakdown of Our KS2 Forces and Magnets Activities

Magnetism is a fascinating topic that has been studied for centuries. It is the force that attracts or repels certain materials, such as iron and steel. There are many different ways to explore magnetism and its effects, and we have provided six activities to get you started.

Welcome to our six Forces and Magnets activities! These activities are designed to help students learn about forces and magnets in a fun and interactive way. Each activity comes complete with worksheets and related videos to help reinforce the concepts being taught.

Hands-On Education's Forces and Magnets activity one.

First Activity

Our first activity is investigating forces push or pull. Students will learn about the difference between a push and a pull, and how this affects the motion of objects. They will also explore how different forces can change the speed and direction of an object.

Through hands-on experiments and demonstrations, students will have the opportunity to experience the effects of forces themselves. They can learn about Newton's Laws of Motion (not actually covered in the lesson plan) and how they apply to real-world situations. By the end of the activity, students will have a deeper understanding of how forces play a critical role in our everyday lives, from the simple act of walking to the complex workings of machinery and technology. This activity will provide a strong foundation for future learning in physics and engineering, and will help students develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Hands-On Education's Forces and Magnets activity two.

Second Activity

The second activity is travelling on different surfaces investigation. Students will investigate how different surfaces affect the movement of objects. They will explore how friction, gravity and other forces can affect the speed and direction of an object.

Through this investigation, students will gain an understanding of how different surfaces can impact the way an object moves. They will learn about the concept of friction and how it can either slow down or speed up an object's motion. By experimenting with various surfaces, students will also learn about the role of gravity in determining an object's speed and direction. This activity will provide students with a hands-on learning experience that will deepen their understanding of the physical world around them. It also encourages critical thinking and problem-solving as students analyse the results of their experiments and draw conclusions about the relationship between different surfaces and the movement of objects.

Hands-On Education's Forces and Magnets activity three.

Third Activity

Our third activity is magnetic poles. Students will learn about the north and south magnetic poles, and how these affect the behaviour of magnets. They will explore the properties of magnets and how they can be used in everyday life.

In this activity, students will have the opportunity to experiment with different types of magnets and observe how they interact with each other. They will also learn about the Earth's magnetic field and how it affects compasses and navigation. By the end of the activity, students will have a greater understanding of the basic principles of magnetism and how it can be applied in a variety of real-world situations. This activity is not only fun and engaging, but also provides valuable knowledge that can be used throughout their academic and professional careers.

Hands-On Education's Forces and Magnets activity four.

Fourth Activity

The fourth activity is is it magnetic investigation. Students will investigate which materials are magnetic and which are not. They will explore the properties of different materials and learn how to identify magnetic materials.

During the investigation, students will be provided with a range of materials such as paper clips, coins, pencils, and magnets. They will test each material to determine whether it is magnetic or not. The students will also learn about the properties of magnets and how they attract or repel certain materials.

To identify magnetic materials, students will use a magnet and see if the material is attracted to it. They will also test the strength of the magnetic force by seeing how many paper clips the magnet can pick up. Through this investigation, students will develop a deeper understanding of the properties of magnetic materials and how they can be used in everyday life.

This activity can be extended by having students explore magnetic fields and how they work. They can also learn about the different types of magnets and their uses. By engaging in hands-on activities, students will gain a better understanding of the science behind magnets and the important role they play in our world.

Hands-On Education's Forces and Magnets activity five.

Fifth Activity

The fifth activity is make a compass. Students will learn about the Earth's magnetic field and how it can be used to navigate. They will explore how to make a compass and how to use it to find directions.

Making a compass is a fun and educational activity that can be done with simple materials. Students will need a magnet, a needle, a piece of cork, and a bowl of water. First, they will rub the magnet against the needle to magnetize it. Then, they will stick the needle through the cork and float it in the bowl of water. The needle will align itself with the Earth's magnetic field, pointing north-south. Students can then use this homemade compass to find directions by observing the direction in which the needle points. This activity not only teaches students about the science of magnetism and navigation, but also encourages problem-solving and hands-on learning.

Hands-On Education's Forces and Magnets activity six.

Sixth Activity

The final activity is magnet mazes. Students will have the opportunity to design their own mazes using magnets and explore how different magnets can affect the movement of objects.

Magnet mazes can be a fun and engaging way for students to learn about magnetism and how it works. By designing and building their own mazes, students are able to explore the properties of magnets and how they can be used to manipulate the movement of objects. They can experiment with different shapes and sizes of magnets, as well as different materials for the maze walls, to see how they affect the behaviour of the magnet and the object it is attracting or repelling. This activity can also help students develop their problem-solving skills as they work to create a maze that is challenging but not impossible to navigate. Overall, magnet mazes are a great way to incorporate hands-on learning and creativity into a lesson on magnetism.

Final Thoughts on Year 3 Forces and Magnets

All of our Hands-On Education activities meet the standards set out in the national curriculum for England, ensuring that students are learning important concepts in a way that is engaging and effective. We hope you enjoy these activities and that they inspire a love of science and learning in your students!