Page 26 - FOUNDATIONS FOR LIFE; EXPLORING GOD’S UNIVERSE

Science Y6 – Forces and Motion – week 1

THE FORCE OF MAGNETISM

Truth to Teach (Source)

Colossians 1:16-17 For by him all things were created; things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible …
all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things and in him all
things hold together.’

 Forces are an invisible part of God’s creation but they have considerable effects on our lives.

 By understanding more about forces, we will be better equipped to care for God’s world.

 There are forces of attraction and repulsion between magnets.

 To make a floating compass

 Testing ideas with evidence from observations.

Way to Work (Means)

Equipment: Magnets, bowls of water, large needles, corks, compass, globe, variety of metals

1. Read the above verse and discuss the fact that God made visible and invisible things. There are laws which God has put
in place in the universe, eg law of gravity, all of which are invisible and yet have considerable affects. Talk briefly
about other forces – friction, air, water, gravity, magnetism. Remind them of the passage in Acts 2 when the Holy
Spirit came as a rushing wind, invisible and yet having great effect.

2. Give the children a short quiz on magnets after explaining that one invisible force is magnetism.

More information can be gathered from web-sites eg ‘Creative Kids at Home - Magnets’. In today’s world, magnets can
be found everywhere. Wherever there is an electric motor such as in a fan, or an electric generator you will find
magnets. Every wire that has electricity running through it will also have its own magnetic field around it.

Magnets are sometimes used to keep high-speed trains on the track. The train and track have powerful magnets which
only work when electricity is passed through them. The north poles of the magnets on the track face upwards and the
magnets on the train face downwards. The two north poles repel each other so the train is lifted clear of the track so it
hovers above the rail. It can then travel much faster than an ordinary train.

3. Hand out various kinds of magnets for the children to ascertain what kind of metals the magnets attract. Ensure that
they know that magnets are made of iron or steel, some are bars, some horseshoes. ‘Keepers’ are used to stop
horseshoe magnets losing their magnetism.

4. Show the children a globe. Discuss the fact that the earth has a true north and south as well as a magnetic north and
south. The poles are not in the same place on the earth.

5. Talk about compasses and how they work. (The compass needle is a magnet so it will turn to the magnetic north if
allowed to turn freely.)

Experiment 1
a) Tie one magnet to a length of string and allow it to turn freely. Bring the north end of a second magnet near to the
north of the suspended magnet.
Let the children discuss in groups what happens and why. (Ensure that everyone is familiar with the words ‘repel’
and ‘attract’.)

b) Repeat the experiment with the south ends of the magnets.

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