magnet experiments for 1st grade

20 Cool Magnet Science Experiments That Kids Will Love

Welcome to our list of the most interesting magnetic science experiments, specially curated to electrify the curiosity of future physicists!

Magnets offer a tangible and captivating way to explore the principles of physics.

Our diverse selection of the top magnet science experiments caters to learners of all ages, and these hands-on, educational activities promise not only to enhance your understanding of magnetism but also to spark a lifelong fascination with physics.

So, grab your magnets and join us on this thrilling journey of magnetic exploration!

1. Levitron

Imagine a world where objects levitate and spin with mesmerizing grace. With this hands-on experiment, you’ll learn how to create your very own Levitron from scratch, harnessing the power of magnetism to make the impossible possible.

2. Icy Magnets

Don’t miss out on the chance to unleash your scientific curiosity and witness the awe-inspiring fusion of ice and magnetism! Grab your gloves, embrace the chill, and join us on this frosty expedition of icy magnets.

Learn more: Icy Magnets

3. Is it Magnetic or Not-Magnetic Experiment

Prepare to unravel the mysteries of magnetism with the captivating experiment, “Is It Magnetic or Not Magnetic?” Embark on a journey where you’ll test the magnetic properties of various objects, challenging your scientific instincts.

4. Magnetic Treasure Hunt

This hands-on experiment will not only ignite your sense of exploration but also deepen your understanding of magnetic fields and their effects. Join us as we combine the thrill of a scavenger hunt with the wonders of magnetism.

Learn more: Magnetic Treasure Hunt

5. Spinning Pen

Imagine the thrill of defying gravity as you witness a humble pen transform into a gravity-defying acrobat, twirling and spinning in mid-air. This hands-on adventure will not only ignite your passion for science but also unlock endless possibilities.

6. Magnetic Pendulum

Science meets art, where a simple pendulum becomes an extraordinary conductor of magnetic forces.

7. Magnetic Levitation

Feel the exhilaration as you control the magnetic forces and guide your pencil through the air. It’s a mind-bending experience that will leave you on the edge of your seat, eager to explore the wonders of magnetism.

Learn more: Magnetic Levitation

8. Magnetic Slime

Get ready to unleash the ultimate magnetic gooeyness with our magnetic slime experiment! Whether you’re a budding scientist or just a slime enthusiast, this magnetic slime experiment will leave you magnetized with excitement and wonder.

9. DIY Magnetic Sensory Bottles

Dive into the magical realm of DIY Magnetic Sensory Bottles and let your curiosity flow. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to create your own magnetic masterpiece and unlock scientific marvels!

10. Magnet Maze

As you navigate the maze, you’ll witness the captivating interactions between magnets and magnetic objects, unraveling the secrets of magnetism along the way. So, gather your wits, embrace the challenge, and join us on this thrilling journey through the Magnet Maze.

11. Magnet Powered Car

This hands-on adventure will ignite your curiosity and fuel your understanding of magnetic forces. Discover the principles of magnetism in action as you witness the thrilling movement of your very own magnet-powered vehicle.

12. Make a Compass

By constructing your own compass using a magnet, you will gain invaluable insight into the principles of magnetism and its role in navigation. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to engage in a timeless experiment and navigate the path to scientific knowledge with your very own compass creation.

Learn more: Make a Compass

13. DIY Magnetic Water

This hands-on experiment not only deepens your understanding of magnetic forces but also offers a unique opportunity to explore the potential benefits of magnetized water.

14. Magnet Trampoline

Engage in this extraordinary exploration to unlock the secrets of magnetism while experiencing the sheer joy of defying gravity. Embrace the challenge, and let the magnetic trampoline launch you into a world of scientific wonder.

Learn more: Magnet Trampoline

15. Magic Pipe Cleaners

Prepare to witness the captivating powers of magnetism as you explore the extraordinary ability to lift objects using a magnet and a clear canister.

16. Make an Electromagnet

In this hands-on experiment, you will unravel the intricate relationship between electric currents and magnetic fields, witnessing the transformative power of electromagnetism.

Learn more: Make an Electromagnetic

17. Magnet Painting

By incorporating magnets into your artistic process, you will witness the enchanting interactions between magnetic fields and paint, resulting in unique and dynamic compositions.

Learn more: Magnet Painting

18. Magnetic Doddles

By using magnetic materials and drawing tools, you will witness the captivating interactions between magnets and metallic particles, resulting in vibrant and dynamic doodles.

This hands-on experiment not only deepens your understanding of magnetic forces but also nurtures artistic expression, fine motor skills, and innovative thinking.

Learn more: Magnetic Doddles

19. Spinning Magnetic Coin

Prepare to witness the captivating interaction of magnets and a simple coin as it defies gravity and spins in a spellbinding manner.

20. The Christmas Bell Game

Embrace this opportunity to merge scientific inquiry with the joyous atmosphere of the holidays, as you unravel the secrets of magnetism while immersed in the enchanting realm of the Christmas Bell Game.

Learn more: The Christmas Bell Game

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• Top 50 Fun Food Science Experiments

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10 Fantastic Magnet Experiments for Kids

July 14, 2015 By Emma Vanstone 7 Comments

Our magnet wands are one of our most used pieces of science kit and are perfect for all kinds of magnet experiments and investigations. When my children were little, they wandered around the house “testing” things to see if they were magnetic, and then we went through a phase of magnet-powered cars , boats and anything else we could make move.

Magnets are great for experiments and investigative activities as children can feel the force between them but can’t see it, which can feel almost magical!

If you like these, don’t forget we’ve got 100s more free science experiments and activities to try.

Magnet Experiments for Preschoolers

Magnet maze.

Magnet mazes are fantastic as they are super easy to make and can be themed to the child’s interest. We’ve had lots of fun with mini magnet mazes over the years, but there’s nothing to stop you from making a giant version!

LEGO magnet mazes are great fun too!

Crazy Pipe Cleaner Hair

Draw a head of a person and give them a new hairstyle using a magnet wand and some pipe cleaners.

Magnet Scavenger Hunt

We love this magnetic scavenger hunt from Inspiration Laboratories.

Another idea is to hide magnetic items and add clues or codes for children to break, leading them to the next thing.

Magnet Sensory Bottle

Sensory bottles are great fun for little ones, and these magnet sensory bottles are extra special. Move the magnet wand up and down, and the objects that are attracted to the magnet also move up and down!

How strong is a magnet?

Find out how strong your magnet is using felt squares. Investigate how many felt squares it takes to stop two magnet wands from being attracted to each other.

Another idea is to set up an investigation using different types of magnets and materials.

Ice and Magnet Experiments

This ice and magnet activity from Little Bins for Little Hands looks great fun.

Car Track Magnet Game

This car track magnet game is brilliant fun for young children. Print the track and cut out the cars to make it super easy, or draw your own track.

Find a story to recreate

We recently watched an episode of The Clangers where the Iron Chicken gets trapped in a pile of space rubbish. Straight away, my little girls disappeared to recreate the scene with our magnets and a stash of toys.

They created a magnet fishing rod using a stick and some string. Used plastic toys for space rubbish and made an ‘Iron chicken’ using kitchen foil with a magnet inside. It wasn’t entirely accurate to the story, but they did very well with the resources they had.

During the episode, Small and Tiny first use nets to clear the space junk to free the Iron Chicken, but their nets break. We used the opportunity to discuss materials that might have strengthened the nets. Major Clanger then uses a magnet to collect the space rubbish. The girls predicted correctly that the space rubbish would weigh down the flying music boat!

Magnet Experiments for Older Children

This magnetic slime and electromagnetic train Frugal Fun for Boys looks AMAZING!!

Extract iron from breakfast cereal . Remember to be very careful using strong magnets.

Babble Dabble Do has some incredible magnet tricks that are like magic!

Did you know you can use magnets to defy gravity ? Can you see how the cardboard and paperclip seem to be floating?

If you’re looking for a great magnet set, this one from Learning Resources is our absolute favourite!

Can you think of any more magnet experiments for us?

Last Updated on October 17, 2023 by Emma Vanstone

Safety Notice

Science Sparks ( Wild Sparks Enterprises Ltd ) are not liable for the actions of activity of any person who uses the information in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources. Science Sparks assume no liability with regard to injuries or damage to property that may occur as a result of using the information and carrying out the practical activities contained in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources.

These activities are designed to be carried out by children working with a parent, guardian or other appropriate adult. The adult involved is fully responsible for ensuring that the activities are carried out safely.

Reader Interactions

July 15, 2015 at 9:22 am

Great set of ideas for magnetism – do you have any recommendations of where to get good magnets for kids from that allow open-ended exploration?

July 18, 2015 at 10:43 am

Wow! I just discovered your site…so much great science stuff! My 3yo says that he is a science kid (like Sid!) so thank you for all of the great ideas even for the little ones!

July 23, 2015 at 6:17 am

I read your tips to learning about magnetism is very helpful to connect two magnetism each other Also read your baby picture made so cute in television

October 29, 2015 at 2:10 am

😀 that idea of moving picture is nice. Amazing article. Enjoyed reading.

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20 Fun Magnet Activities, Ideas, and Experiments for Kids

April 20, 2023 //  by  Sophie Hurford

For many kids, their first encounter with magnetism comes in the form of fridge magnets. It often sparks their curiosity and provides you with a perfect opportunity to kickstart learning about magnetism. Magnets and their uses are fascinating, and for students the learning opportunities are vast.

So, to help you navigate your way through a topic on magnets, we have put together a list of magnet activities, ideas, and experiments guaranteed to magnetize young minds. Whatever age or stage your students, the list is sure to include activities that will attract their attention and repel any magnetic misconceptions.

1. Magnetic Treasure Hunt

Armed with a magnetic wand, send your students out to the sand tray and see what treasures they can find buried in the sand. You can hide various metal objects such as toy cars, coins, or even magnetic letters and numbers.

Learn More: Happy Toddler Playtime

2. Magnetic Materials in the Environment

Explore magnetic materials around your learning environment. With a magnetic wand in hand, students can investigate which surfaces their magnets stick to. It provides hours of fun, and it’s a great way to highlight common misconceptions. Will your students discover any metallic surfaces to which their magnet is not attracted too?

Learn More: Arbor Scientific

3. Mystery Magnets

Create a mystery box filled with magnetic objects. Students can lower their magnet into the box, and pull out a magnetic object. They might be surprised by the objects that appear. Once some items have been revealed, can your students spot any properties that they have in common?

4. Magical Magnetics

This activity explores the magic of magnets and illustrates how they are used in the entertainment industry. Don your magician’s cloak and perform a magnetic magic trick for your students. It could be a classic such as jumping beans or an object mysteriously moving across a surface unaided. Once you’ve divulged your secrets, your students can then have a turn at creating their own incredible magnet tricks.

Learn More: YouTube

5. Magnetic or Not

Important scientific skills include prediction and investigation. This activity practices both. Give your students a selection of objects and ask them to predict which they think are magnetic or not. Their investigation might throw up a few surprises.

Learn More: Inventors of Tomorrow

6. Environmental Clear-up  

If you’re lucky enough to live close to a beach or a river, why not team up with a local environmental charity. Take part in beachcombing or riverbed clearance. Metal detectors and large magnets are used to retrieve metal waste from these environments. And seeing this in action gives students a real-life application of magnets and a purpose for learning.

7. Wire up your own Electromagnet

This activity is great for older students who are learning about electromagnets. They can build their own electromagnet and explore different variables that affect their magnetic field and the orientation of its poles.

Learn More: Science Bob

8. Make your own Fridge Magnet

Making your own fridge magnets is a great introduction to the topic, and they’ll look great too! Once your students have decorated their kitchen appliances, encourage them to think of other ways in which magnets are used and start to explore how they work.

Learn More: Fabulessly Frugal

9. Compass Navigation

Lose yourselves in a compass navigation activity. Explore the science behind how a compass works and use it to navigate out in the wild. It’s great fun and your students can learn a life skill along the way.

Learn More: Tinkergarten

10. Lego Magnet Mazes

All you’ll need for this activity is some Lego, some magnet marbles, and a magnet wand. Build a magnet maze using the Lego and challenge your students to guide the magnetic marbles around the maze. This type of activity is great for developing motor skills in young children. You can build a mini magnet maze, for fine motor development, or a large maze to encourage gross movements.

Learn More: Little Bins for Little Hands

11. Magnetic Fishing

For this activity, you will need to make your own magnet fishing rod, and a ‘fishing lake’ (or classroom tray) filled with your choice of magnetic items. Magnet letters or numbers are a fun place to start. Get your kids to lower their magnetic rods into the lake and pull out to reveal their catch.

Learn More: Busy Toddler

12. DIY Compass

Another fun way to learn about compasses and magnetism is to make your own compass. This activity walks you through the steps to ensure you don’t get lost.

Learn More: British Broadcasting Corporation

13. Magnet Mark Making

Mark making is an important activity for children as they’re learning to draw, write and hold a pen . This magnet painting activity introduces the concept of magnetism and encourages mark-making.

Learn More: Left Brain, Craft Brain

14. Magnet Marble Painting 

Here’s another fun magnet painting activity to tap into your kids’ creative sides whilst learning about science. Get your hands on a magnetic marble, a piece of paper, a few drops of paint and a magnet, and you’ll be ready to go!

Learn More: Kitchen Floor Crafts

15. Iron Filing Art

Iron filings are often used in science lessons to illustrate magnet fields. When a magnet is placed amongst the iron filings, patterns will form showing where the magnetic forces are at work. Different types of magnets will create different patterns, and strong magnets will produce more vivid effects. Have a go at creating a piece of art and explore the properties of magnets at the same time.

Learn More: Babble Dabble Do

16. Sensory Bottles

Sensory bottles are a common tool in classrooms to help calm students . You can create a magnet sensory bottles to use for mindfulness activities and that also teaches children about magnetism. Simply fill a plastic bottle with some magnetic objects and follow these instructions. Kids can then use a magnet to attract different objects that are hiding in the bottle.

Learn More: Twinkl

17. More Magnetic Magic

This activity will keep kids entertained for hours. Show them how to set it up and provide them with a set of magnets that vary in strength. They can then experiment to see how many paper clips they can levitate.

Learn More: Mom Brite

18. Magnetics Sculptures

Another magnet craft activity that teaches science and taps into kids’ creativity. Use a magnet as the base and build upwards. It’s a fun activity that you can use to introduce a lesson on magnetism.

19. Magnet Cars

Spark your little brainiacs’ curiosity with this activity that’s based on the principle of attraction and repulsion. Challenge them to build and customize toy cars with a few bar magnets before encouraging them to test out their designs by racing them around a homemade track.

20. A Magical Spinning Pencil 

This is a great STEAM project. Engineering the set-up of this project is a challenge of its own. Your kids will be forced to use a wide range of thinking skills and then apply their knowledge of magnetism to get the pencil spinning.

Learn More: Frugal Fun for Boys and Girls