Children are very inquisitive and, being surprised at something, are ready to find out the reasons for a miracle. Parents should take advantage of these features to start introducing the child, including the restless one, to science. Especially for kids, experiments and experiments are a success. Remember that children are always interested in developing activities in the form of a game, and every parent can draw up a scenario plan.
The article has prepared a selection of the simplest, but informative experiments with a minimum of necessary props: you need a magnet and a few more things that can be found in absolutely any apartment. Experiments with a magnet for preschoolers can be done at home or demonstrated in nature.
At what age will a child understand magnet experiments?
In general, teachers do not make restrictions: the properties of a magnet are shown both in kindergarten and at school. Toddlers perceive magnetism as real magic, older children, through experiments with a magnet, gain a deeper knowledge of phenomena,taking place in the environment. During experimental studies, curiosity develops and the mental activity of the child is activated. Therefore, it is unnecessary to worry that the child will not understand the essence of the experiment. The development of cognitive interests is also a good goal of the magnet experience. And when the baby grows up to new knowledge, you can repeat the lesson and explain the reasons for the phenomena.
Experiment 1: what attracts a magnet
Experimenting with a magnet is easy to organize. You will need some experimental materials - easy and familiar to the baby. For example:
- handkerchief;
- paper napkin;
- pencil;
- nut;
- penny;
- piece of Styrofoam;
- pencil, etc.
And, of course, a magnet. Invite your child to hold a magnet to each exhibit and observe.
This experience can be extended with a variety of metals: aluminium, gold, silver, nickel and iron. By experimenting, you can explain the characteristics of metals by showing how iron differs from others.
Be sure to analyze the results of the experiment with the magnet. Children absorb knowledge like a sponge, so do not be afraid to "load" the baby with unnecessary information. It is at this age that the ability to learn and the desire to learn new things are laid.
Experience 2: "Find treasure in the desert"
Very easy magnet experience for kids in the form of a game. Put paper clips or other small iron objects in the container, cover them with flour or semolina. Suggestchild, think about how you can get the treasure. Sift? To the touch? Or is it more convenient with a magnet?
This experiment will help children understand that magnetism acts on iron objects and through other materials such as paper and glass.
Pour paper clips on a cardboard or wooden sheet and, moving a magnet under the material, demonstrate the movement of iron parts. The same experiment can also be done with a sheet of glass. For example, put a few iron objects on a regular coffee table with a glass top and move the magnet from below.
Conclusion: a magnet can magnetize iron through paper of different density, a thin board or glass.
By the way, the experience can be turned into another game. Make an application on a sheet of paper, for example, a flower meadow. Cut out a butterfly from colored paper, fasten a paperclip on it and, moving a magnet from the back side, “transplant” the butterfly from one flower to another.
Experiment 3: magnet, water and magnetic field
Wonderful children seem to experiment with water. Take a cup made of transparent plastic or glass, lower the paper clips there and start driving the magnet along the wall of the glass. Objects from the water will "crawl" up with the movement of the magnet.
Another experiment - the effect of a magnet at a distance. Draw lines on a sheet of paper at various distances. Place a paperclip on each. Ask the child to analyze how far the magnet acts by bringing it closer to the experimental materials.
Magnet shows its strength only on a certaindistance from the subject. When the distance between the object and the magnet is significant, the object is out of range. In this way, it is possible to reduce the magnetic force or even neutralize it altogether.
This phenomenon can be shown with a coin. Tie it with a thread, glue the thread to the cardboard and put it on the table. Bring the magnet to the coin at a distance of one meter. Move the magnet closer to the coin until the coin begins to move. Measure the distance with a ruler. Bring the magnet even closer so that the coin is attracted to it. Measure again. When the magnet is within the line, it will attract the coin. But when the magnet is out of line, the coin stays in place.
Thus, you can explain the concept of a magnetic field and its properties, and then show. Normally the magnetic field is invisible, but with metal shavings you can demonstrate its limits. Pour metal filings on a sheet of paper or glass, bring a magnet from the back side - the chips will gather into a three-dimensional pattern. This is the influence of the magnetic field, which can be noticed by applying a magnet also from the bottom of the sheet under the area occupied by sawdust on the sheet. The chips will be located along the lines of the field.
Magnetic field "silences" the sand
Another experiment on this property with sand. Dip the needle into the glass and pour some sand into it. Bring the magnet to the walls of the glass - the needle does not react to the magnet. Now place the needle in a glass of water and do the same with the magnet. The needle will follow the magnet to the edgesglass.
Explain that the magnetic field penetrates through water. If the walls of the glass consisted of some magnetic material, then the needle would still be attracted to the magnet, but not with such force. The magnetic field would be weakened by the walls of the glass.
Experiment 4: magnet conductor
A magnet can transmit the properties of attraction through iron. For this experiment, you will need a strong magnet. Actions are best done vertically. Hang a paper clip from the magnet, and the next one to it. Ask your child to help you by attaching the "links" to the magnetic chain.
An almost similar experiment can show that it is easy to create a magnetic field artificially. Remove the magnet from the chain of paper clips, if you then bring them to each other, they will begin to attract, as if a magnet were working. This happens because the atoms in an iron object under the influence of a magnetic field line up in the same row as in a magnet, temporarily acquiring its properties.
Experiment 5: compass
You can demonstrate the effect of the Earth's magnetic field. To do this, you need a compass, a needle and a transparent plate. Explain all the stages of the experiment with the magnet.
Hold the needle for a few minutes on the magnet, then apply oil on it and lower it into a plate of water. The needle will begin to move until it freezes in one position. Bring the compass to the plate, if the device is working, its arrow will show the same direction as the magnetized needle.
Tell your child that the Earth is also a magnet. And the magnetic fieldof the planet points the magnetic compass needle north.
Experiment with a compass can be done in nature - so exciting and even more informative. Of course, it will not be very convenient to determine the direction in this way, but it will be interesting. Thus, you will demonstrate an example of the "magic" properties of familiar objects that can replace a compass on a hike.
Wonder Magnet
Not only the experiments with the magnet are interesting, but also a short story about it. Show your child that there are magnets in many things: phones, computers, cabinets, etc. Magnets are used in cars, electric motors, musical instruments, toys, etc. Tell your child:
- The origin of the magnet.
- About magnets in the solar system.
- About natural and artificial magnets.
Informative session can be held before the experiments, during the experiments or after revealing all the secrets. We will help you a little, however, our material is easy to supplement and expand.
What is a magnet?
This is a body that can attract iron and steel objects. Known for a long time, even the ancient Chinese knew about magnets more than two thousand years ago. Magnet - from the name of the region where the magnetic deposits were discovered - Magnesia. This is in Asia Minor.
We have already said that the Earth is a magnet, add also that a human also has a magnetic field. Tell us about people who are attracted to iron objects. There are many videos and photos with examples on the Internet. The magnetic field in a person makes visible his energyshell through special equipment.
If you told a child about the galaxy, then he will find it interesting that the planets in the solar system are also giant magnets.
Tell your child about the types of magnet. There are natural - deposits of magnetic ores - and artificial - created by man from hard magnetic materials or using electric current.
