Magnetic tablets can only be used for "fighting"? It is a ready-made STEM teaching aid.

When we get the magnetic piece, it is easy to fall into the idea of ​​​​using it to "make something look like". But don’t forget, magnetic sheets are not just building blocks, they have their own properties – they are magnetic.

Do you still remember how we liked to play with a few small black magnets when we were children? The phenomenon of magnetism is very attractive to children. Using magnetic sheets, we can guide children to observe some basic magnetic properties and turn them into ready-made STEM teaching aids. Children aged 2+ can start playing.

Understanding magnetism

Let the children look for things at home that can "make friends" with the magnetic tablets, from paper clips and spoons to refrigerators, iron cabinets, etc.

Many children initially thought that magnetic sheets could absorb all metals, so they took the magnetic sheets and tried all kinds of metal products at home. Later they discovered that metals such as aluminum, copper, gold, and silver cannot be absorbed.

In this way, she had a basic understanding of magnetism, and by the way, she also learned what "ferromagnetic" metals are.

The conduction of magnetism

Let the children try first to see if the paper clips can attract each other. (Of course it’s not possible)

Then tell the child, let’s do a magic trick.

Under the action of the magnetic sheet, the paper clips can be connected one by one. This process is called "magnetization". For children of a younger age, we can explain it this way: magnets are magical and can transfer their magnetism to paper clips.

Retrieve objects from the air

This little game is a favorite of many children. When a child plays with it for the first time, it will feel like magic.

Parents can simply explain to their children: Magnetism is not blocked by glass and water.

Next, you can let your children experiment. Will paper cups, porcelain cups and other containers block magnetism?

Magnetic barrier

Get some paper plates, paper clips, and magnets.

Before the experiment, let the children predict: Will paper plates block magnetism? How many paper plates does it take to block magnetism?

Let’s do some experimental verification together. My experiment with my kids ended up with 5 plates.

This process of “prediction-experiment-conclusion-reflection” is the essence of STEM.

Feel the magnetic field

Prepare a basin, a paper plate and magnetic sheets.

Fill the basin with water, place the paper plate on the water, and then place a magnetic piece in the middle of the paper plate.

Put several magnetic pieces together, hold them in your hand, place them on top of the paper plate, rotate them, and pull the paper plate to rotate.

This game allows children to intuitively feel what a magnetic field is.

Magnetic sheet maze

Prepare white cardboard, magnetic sheets and paper clips.

Draw a maze on cardboard and let the child use the magnetic piece to manipulate the paper clip through the maze. This game can exercise your child's hand-eye coordination.

Homemade fishing game

Preparation tools: colored cardboard, paper clips, chopsticks, rope, magnetic sheets.

Cut out the shapes of small fish from colored cardboard, and pin a paper clip on each small fish. One end of the rope is tied to the magnetic piece, and the other end is tied to the chopsticks to make a fishing rod. In this way, a homemade fishing toy is completed. When Jingyi was asked to experiment, she and her daughter built a fishing rod out of Lego bricks, which was very creative.

When playing, you can let your children catch different colors and numbers of small fish according to instructions, such as: 2 small yellow fish, 1 red and 3 blue small fish, etc. In this way, children can not only learn numbers and colors, but also train children to listen to instructions. It is a good concentration game.

With open-ended toys like magnetic tablets, we can develop more ways to play with our children instead of constantly filling their time with new toys. This not only saves money, but also helps cultivate children’s concentration and habits of thinking and research. It’s also more beneficial.