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The first problem the child has to solve is, which object actually has the magnetic field? It isn't automatic knowledge. You aren't born knowing that the little black doughnut which is made out of some material you don't recognize has the magnetic field. So present a group materials of similar shape to the magnets you as a teacher choose to use. The magnets can most easily be disks or cubes. They can also be horseshoes or ellipsoids but the matching material shapes are going to be hard to find.
Avoid just presenting a U shaped magnet with a basket of random shapes and materials. Its confusing in terms of both polarity and which object actually has a magnetic field. The idea is to isolate the fields and the materials. It is important that one of the materials combined with magnestism be in the second state of matter which is liquid. The child needs to know that magnetic fields permeate fluids as well as solids. This will help her understand that magnetic fields permeate her own body. The videos below show first,how to put ferro fluid in a primary classroom and second, what artists can do with it. |
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