Special Features

Printable Version for your convenience!

Students will apply knowledge of which materials magnets attract and what materials magnets can work through.

For each pair of students:
• 1 plastic cup filled half way with water
  
• 1 paperclip
  
• 1 wand magnet
  
• 2 data sheets

Have children pair up with an experiment partner. Give each pair a plastic cup with water, a wand magnet and a paperclip. Give the class the following problem:



How can you get the paper clip out of the plastic cup filled with water, without touching the clip with your hands?

Each pair will talk about it with their partner and figure out a way to remove the clip. The pair will try their way and see if it works. The pair will record their solution on their data sheet. The pairs will figure out that they could just stick the wand magnet into the water and pull out the clip. The students realize that a magnet can attract a clip because of the metal it is made of.

The next part of the experiment is another challenge. Tell the pairs to put the clip back in the cup. Tell the class the next following problem:



How can you get the paperclip out of the plastic cup filled with water without touching the clip with your hands, AND without getting the magnet wet?


Let the pairs discuss the problem and try to solve it. Give them several minutes to figure it out. Have them record their solution on the data sheet.

The solution is to place the magnet under the cup and pull the clip up the side of the cup and out of the water.

By completing this experiment and discussing it, children confirm their understanding that magnets can attract certain objects and can work through materials such as water and plastic.

E-Mail Jennifer DeVico!