Preschool Magnet Exploration Activity
Hands-on Physical Science Experiment Using Muffin Tins and Jar Lids
Oct 7, 2008
Preschoolers love to explore with magnets and it’s simple to set up a science experiment with only magnets, muffin tins and jar lids. Collect plastic and metal lids of different colors and sizes, find your muffin tins and gather one or more child safe magnets.
One great aspect of this science activity is that adults set up the magnet exploration tools then let preschoolers take over to learn simple physical science concepts. Preschoolers will use this hands-on activity to explore magnets, learn cause and effect and arrive at their own science conclusions. It’s how preschoolers learn science best – through science play.
Magnet Activity Materials
- A Magnet - You need at least one magnet that is safe for preschoolers to use, but set out as many age appropriate, safe magnets as are available. Safe magnets for preschoolers are large and do not pose a choking hazard. Examples of safe magnets for preschoolers are magnet wands and large horseshoe shaped magnets.
- Jar Lids - Recycle both metal and plastic jar lids from grocery items such as juice container lids, nut canister lids, chip canister lids, pickle jar lids, yogurt container lids, sour cream lids, peanut butter jar lids, etc. Keep safety in mind and only use lids that are not a choking hazard to preschoolers.
- Muffin Tins – Use both regular sized muffin tins and mini muffin tins if available.
- Jar and Chip Canisters (optional) – Save the bottoms of cylinder shaped (tall, round) containers as well. Some of the jar lids will stack nicely in these types of containers.
Preschool Magnet Exploration Activity Set Up
Simply choose a space and set out magnets, muffin tins and jar lids. Adults, your only job is to find a space and set out the materials. Most preschoolers will explore with magnets and start their own science experiments as soon as they can.
If Preschoolers Ask, “What Do I Do?”
When preschoolers ask what they are “supposed” to do with the materials, say they can do whatever they like. Instead of “explaining” the science of magnets or what the exploration activity is about, keep it simple. Tell preschoolers that they can “do science experiments” or “see what happens” with the materials.
What Preschoolers Can Learn from Exploring with Magnets
Preschoolers will learn plenty of simple physical science concepts while playing with magnets and experimenting on their own. There’s no limit to what preschoolers might discover during hand-on magnet explorations.
Some concepts this physical science activity might reveal are:
- Magnet Science Concepts - Metal lids attract magnets; plastic lids do not. Metal muffin tins attract magnets; silicon muffin pans do not. Some magnetic attractions are strong enough to attract through plastic jars, jar lids or cardboard canisters.
- Sorting - Preschoolers may choose to sort the lids according to color or size or according to whether the jar lids attract to the magnet.
- One to One Correspondence – Preschoolers might decide to place lids into the muffin tin cups.
- Patterns - Preschoolers may decide to place the jar lids into muffin tins in a particular pattern that makes sense to them.
Preschool Magnet Exploration Activity Tips
- Morning Science Experiments– For parents at home with preschoolers, either full time or on the weekend, this is a great hands-on activity to set up the night before after preschoolers have gone to bed. When preschoolers wake up to find a science activity, they will be more likely to spend the morning learning about science rather than watching television, video games or playing computer games.
- Great for Outdoors – Set up this science activity on a preschool sized table outside.
- Rainy Day Activity – Bring out this magnet exploration activity on a rainy day as a way to keep preschoolers engaged in learning through play.
- Play Group Activity – Gather enough magnets so that each preschooler will have at least one and use this hands-on science activity as a small group learning opportunity.
This hands-on science activity can be set up over and over again. Preschoolers can learn a variety of physical science concepts by doing science experiments several times. Preschoolers usually deepen their knowledge and perform more in depth science experiments each time they explore with the same materials.
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