Experiment Based Learning – Little Goenkans Learn About Magnetic Force:
The aim of this activity was to explore how magnets work and to learn about magnetic forces by testing which objects are attracted to magnets. Various activities were conducted which helped the students to understand that magnets only attract certain materials, mostly metals like iron or steel. They also learned that magnets have invisible forces that can move objects without touching them.
Keeping this in view, an activity based on magnetic forces was organized for the students from little toddlers till grade 2 on 10th September’ 2024.
Students of Toddler, Nursery and LKG did an activity of magnetic pick up. Teacher kept a bunch of nails/all pins and some rubber bands in a box. She moved a piece of magnet over the box. The nails stick to the piece of magnet and the rubber bands remained in the box. The activity helped the students understand that magnets only attract things which have iron or steel in it.
For UKG students teacher made a zig zag track on half sun sheet. She placed a small paper clip at the starting point of the sun sheet. She kept a small magnet under the sun sheet and moved the paper clip. Then she replaced the paper clip with the rubber band and repeated the same process. This time the rubber band did not move. Teacher explained that magnets only attract things which have iron in it.
Grade I students dipped a paper clip/thumb pin/bobby pin in paint. A sheet of paper was kept on a tin plate. Students dipped iron objects on the sheet of paper. They then put a magnet under the tin plate and move it. The iron objects made a painting on its own. Teacher gave the explanation to the students that it happened because magnets only moved the things which has iron in it.
Grade II students did car racing in which teacher made a race track on a sun sheet. Students brought a small toy car. Students did car racing on the track with the magnets under the sun sheet.
Students enjoyed testing different objects and learning about the invisible force of magnets. It was surprising that not all metals are attracted to magnets, and they had fun experimenting with their classmates.
