What your child will discover
Help the child understand that magnets produce magnetic fields. Magnets have north-seeking and south-seeking poles, can attract or repel other magnets, and interact strongly with certain materials.
Lesson 251 of 300
What Are Magnets?
Explore magnetic fields, poles, attraction, repulsion, magnetic materials, Earth’s magnetism, and electromagnets while preventing ingestion hazards.
4–5 yearsScience, Technology & MediaAdult guided
Science, Technology & Media · KnowledgeForKids.com
Listen together · adult controls the audio
The spoken lesson
"A magnet creates an invisible magnetic field. Every ordinary magnet has two poles called north and south. Unlike poles attract, while matching poles repel. Magnets interact strongly with iron, nickel, cobalt, and certain alloys, but not every metal is strongly magnetic. Earth also has a magnetic field, and a compass aligns with it. Electric current through a coil can create an electromagnet. Small high-powered magnets are extremely dangerous when swallowed because they may attract through body tissue. Only large enclosed educational magnets belong in this lesson. Magnets create fields, unlike poles attract, like poles repel, and small powerful magnets stay away from children." DESIGN REQUIREMENTS: Use only oversized enclosed magnets and sealed samples. Avoid loose magnets, snapping effects, iron filings, ingestion simulation, or magnets near medical equipment.
Words to notice together
MAGNETMAGNETIC FIELDNORTH POLESOUTH POLEATTRACTREPELIRONCOMPASS
Make it real
Pause, point, name what you notice, and connect the idea to something familiar in your child's day. Repetition, a calm voice, shared attention and dependable care matter more than finishing quickly.