Magnetism is an essential science lesson, and you can make teaching about it loads of fun with some creative tools. For a beginner, learning about the complex world of magnetism can seem a bit daunting. However, if you start with the basics and this creative experiment, it should be easier to move onto some more advanced concepts. One of the most basic magnet lessons is figuring out what is and what is not magnetic. In other words, what do magnets attract (besides other magnets)? A fun way to do this is with a magnetic test experiment.

Supplies

  • Recyclable plastic bottle
  • Sand (optional)
  • A few everyday items (nails, Legos, other small items)
  • Neodymium magnets

Steps

  1. Empty out your clear plastic bottle from any liquid.
  2. Put in small items. You can choose what items to use as long as they are small enough to fit inside the bottle and are a mix of magnetic and non-magnetic substances.
  3. Pour in the sand. This just serves as a filler between the items and looks a bit cooler. However, you can perform the experiment without it.
  4. Close the bottle tightly to make sure no items or sand gets out.
  5. Lay the bottle on its side so that all the items are on the bottom.
  6. Take your magnet and place it on the top side of the bottle and see what items it attracts.
After you’ve moved the magnet around the top of the bottle and have noted what items were attracted, discuss the observations. Every item that was attracted is magnetic, and those that stayed on the bottom were not magnetic. Next, explain that some materials like iron and other metals are magnetic and why. Photo by Jimmie