Table Of Contents

• Introduction: The Magic of Magnets for Primary 3 Learners
• Experiment 1: Magnetic Field Visualization
• Experiment 2: Creating an Electromagnet
• Experiment 3: Magnetic Force Investigation
• Experiment 4: Floating Paper Clip Challenge
• Experiment 5: Magnetic Slime Adventure
• Learning Benefits Beyond the Experiments
• Conclusion: Nurturing Scientific Curiosity at Home

Experiment 1: Magnetic Field Visualization

Magnetic fields may seem abstract to young learners, but this experiment makes the invisible visible in a fascinating way that helps P3 students grasp this fundamental concept.

What You’ll Need:

A strong bar magnet, a sheet of white paper, iron filings (alternatively, you can use steel wool torn into tiny pieces or iron powder from craft stores), a shallow clear container, and protective gloves.

Safety First:

This experiment requires adult supervision. Iron filings can be messy and should not be ingested or come into contact with eyes. Have children wear protective gloves, and place the experiment on a surface that can be easily cleaned.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

Place the white paper inside the shallow clear container. This creates a contained space for the iron filings and makes cleanup easier. Position the bar magnet underneath the container, centered beneath the paper. Carefully sprinkle a thin layer of iron filings over the paper. Watch as the filings arrange themselves along the invisible magnetic field lines, creating a pattern that radiates from the poles of the magnet.

Gently tap the container to help the filings settle more clearly along the field lines. Ask your child what pattern they observe. Point out how the lines curve from one pole of the magnet to the other. Have your child draw the pattern they observe in their science journal.

The Science Behind It:

This visual representation helps children understand that magnetic force extends beyond the magnet itself, creating a field that can act on magnetic materials even without direct contact. The pattern formed by the iron filings reveals the shape of this invisible field – an important concept in the P3 science curriculum.

Extension Questions:

What happens when you move the magnet? Can you predict how the pattern will change if you use two magnets? What do you notice about the density of the filings near the poles versus the middle of the magnet? These questions encourage the critical thinking skills we nurture at Seashell Academy.

Experiment 2: Creating an Electromagnet

This experiment introduces P3 students to the fascinating relationship between electricity and magnetism, demonstrating how electrical current can create magnetic properties.

What You’ll Need:

A large iron nail (approximately 3-4 inches), insulated copper wire (about 1 meter), a D-cell battery, electrical tape, paper clips, and wire strippers (for adult use only).

Safety First:

Adult supervision is required. The wire may become warm during this experiment. Do not leave the wire connected to the battery for more than 1-2 minutes at a time to prevent overheating. Never use batteries stronger than the recommended D-cell.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

With adult help, remove about 2 cm of insulation from each end of the copper wire using wire strippers. Wrap the middle section of the wire tightly around the nail, making neat, close coils from one end to the other. Leave enough wire at each end to connect to the battery. Secure the wire coils with small pieces of electrical tape if needed to prevent them from unwinding.

Connect one end of the wire to the positive terminal of the battery and the other end to the negative terminal. Your electromagnet is now activated! Test its strength by seeing how many paper clips it can pick up. When you’re finished, disconnect the wire from the battery.

The Science Behind It:

When electricity flows through the wire, it creates a magnetic field around the wire. The iron nail becomes temporarily magnetized when it’s inside this field. Unlike permanent magnets, electromagnets can be turned on and off by controlling the electrical current – a concept that has numerous real-world applications from doorbells to magnetic cranes.

Extension Activity:

Experiment with different numbers of wire coils or try using different sized nails. Have your child keep a record of how these changes affect the strength of the electromagnet (measured by how many paper clips it can lift). This introduces the scientific method of changing one variable at a time and observing the results – a core skill we develop in our Mathematics Programme and science lessons at Seashell Academy.

Experiment 3: Magnetic Force Investigation

This experiment allows P3 students to explore the strength of magnetic forces and how they act through different materials – a perfect way to deepen understanding of magnetic properties.

What You’ll Need:

A strong magnet, several paper clips, various materials to test (cardboard, plastic, aluminum foil, wood, fabric, etc.), ruler, and a data recording sheet.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

Create a simple data recording sheet with columns for “Material,” “Thickness,” and “Does the Magnetic Force Work Through It?” Help your child place one paper clip on a flat surface. Put one test material (e.g., a piece of cardboard) over the paper clip. Hold the magnet above the test material and slowly lower it until you notice the paper clip moving or being attracted to the magnet through the material.

If the paper clip moves, record that the magnetic force works through this material. If possible, measure and record the maximum distance at which the magnetic force still affects the paper clip through each material. Repeat with different materials, keeping the thickness as consistent as possible across samples.

The Science Behind It:

Magnetic fields can pass through some materials (like paper or plastic) but are blocked or weakened by others (like thick metal). This experiment demonstrates that magnetic force can act at a distance and doesn’t require direct contact – a key concept in the P3 science curriculum.

Discussion Questions:

Which materials allowed the magnetic force to pass through? Did the thickness of the material seem to affect the strength of the magnetic force? Can you think of everyday examples where magnets work through materials? These discussions encourage the analytical thinking we foster in our Programme Philosophy at Seashell Academy.

Experiment 4: Floating Paper Clip Challenge

This experiment demonstrates the delicate balance between magnetic force and gravity, teaching P3 students about force fields in an engaging way.

What You’ll Need:

A strong magnet, several small paper clips, clear tape, a pencil, and a stable base (like a cup or small box).

Step-by-Step Instructions:

Tape the magnet to the end of the pencil. Secure the pencil to your base so it stands vertically with the magnet at the top. Take a paper clip and bring it close to the magnet until it attaches. Slowly pull the paper clip away slightly until it floats in mid-air beneath the magnet, neither touching the magnet nor falling to the table.

Once you’ve achieved this floating effect, see if you can connect a second paper clip to the bottom of the first one. How many paper clips can you add before the magnetic force can no longer overcome gravity? Have your child draw the setup and explain what forces are at work.

The Science Behind It:

This experiment beautifully demonstrates the balance of forces. The magnetic attraction pulls upward on the paper clip, while gravity pulls downward. When these forces are perfectly balanced, the paper clip appears to float in mid-air. This illustrates important concepts about force and equilibrium that align with the P3 science curriculum.

Learning Extension:

Try this experiment with different types or sizes of magnets. Does the strength of the magnet affect how many paper clips you can suspend? This type of inquiry-based learning helps develop the scientific thinking we emphasize at Seashell Academy, where students are encouraged to form hypotheses and test them through observation.

Experiment 5: Magnetic Slime Adventure

This mesmerizing experiment combines sensory play with scientific discovery, perfect for engaging P3 students who learn best through hands-on experiences.

What You’ll Need:

Liquid school glue (120ml), iron oxide powder (available at craft stores or online, 2-3 tablespoons), liquid starch (60ml), mixing bowl, measuring cups, spoon for stirring, strong neodymium magnet, and disposable gloves.

Safety First:

Adult supervision required. Iron oxide powder can stain clothing and surfaces. Wear gloves during preparation and play. The slime is not edible and should be kept away from very young children. Always wash hands after playing with the slime.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

Pour the liquid glue into the mixing bowl. Add the iron oxide powder to the glue and mix thoroughly until evenly distributed. The mixture should be a dark gray or black color. Slowly add the liquid starch while stirring continuously. Continue stirring until the mixture forms a slime-like consistency that pulls away from the sides of the bowl.

Knead the slime with your hands (wearing gloves) until it’s no longer sticky. If it remains too sticky, add a little more starch. If it’s too firm, add a small amount of water. Once your magnetic slime is ready, place it on a plastic surface and bring the neodymium magnet near it (without touching). Observe how the slime moves toward the magnet!

The Science Behind It:

The iron oxide particles suspended in the slime are attracted to the magnet. This creates the fascinating effect of the slime moving on its own when the magnet is nearby. This experiment demonstrates how materials with magnetic properties can be incorporated into other substances – showing that magnetism works at the particle level.

Observation Activities:

Have your child observe and describe how the slime behaves with and without the magnet nearby. Can they make the slime climb up a vertical surface by moving the magnet? What happens if they place the magnet beneath a thin book and put the slime on top? These explorations reinforce scientific observation skills we cultivate at Seashell Academy.

Learning Benefits Beyond the Experiments

While these magnetic experiments are undoubtedly fun, they also provide substantial educational benefits that align perfectly with our educational philosophy at Seashell Academy by Suntown Education Centre:

Developing Scientific Inquiry Skills

These hands-on activities encourage children to ask questions, make predictions, observe carefully, and draw conclusions – the cornerstone skills of scientific thinking. When children engage with magnetic phenomena directly, they develop a much deeper understanding than they would from simply reading about magnets in a textbook.

Building Vocabulary and Communication

As children describe what they observe during these experiments, they naturally incorporate scientific terminology like “attraction,” “repulsion,” “magnetic field,” and “poles.” This vocabulary development supports both science learning and language arts skills, creating connections across different subjects. This cross-disciplinary approach mirrors how we integrate learning in our P4 Chinese Programme, P5 Chinese Programme, and P6 Chinese Programme.

Fostering Curiosity and Love of Learning

When children experience the “wow” moments these magnetic experiments provide, they develop intrinsic motivation to learn more. This natural curiosity is what we nurture at Seashell Academy – we believe sustainable academic growth stems from genuine interest rather than external pressure.

Connecting Classroom Concepts to Real Life

These experiments help children see how the scientific principles they learn in school apply to the world around them. After completing these activities, students might start noticing electromagnets in doorbells, magnetic cabinet latches in the kitchen, or magnetic closures on their pencil cases – creating those valuable real-world connections.

Conclusion: Nurturing Scientific Curiosity at Home

These five magnetic experiments offer P3 students much more than just entertainment – they provide meaningful engagement with scientific concepts that build foundational understanding and spark curiosity. By engaging in these hands-on activities, children develop both knowledge and confidence as they see themselves successfully interacting with scientific principles.

At Seashell Academy by Suntown Education Centre, we believe that the most powerful learning happens when children are actively engaged, emotionally connected to the material, and supported in their explorations. These at-home experiments complement our classroom approach, where we use gamified learning and structured exploration to make education both effective and enjoyable.

We encourage parents to use these experiments as starting points for deeper conversations about how magnetism works in our daily lives. By asking open-ended questions and allowing children to form their own hypotheses, you’re fostering the same critical thinking skills we nurture in our programmes. The wonder of magnets can be a gateway to a lifelong love of science – exactly the sustainable, joy-filled learning journey we strive to create for every student at Seashell Academy.

Would you like to learn more about our holistic approach to primary education? Discover how Seashell Academy by Suntown Education Centre can nurture your child’s academic growth while building confidence and a genuine love of learning. Contact us today to schedule a consultation with our experienced educators.