More about Science of Forces and Magnets
Forces and Magnets Workshop
Our forces and magnets workshop gives students a hands-on way to learn how pushes, pulls, and magnets work. Children try simple magnet experiments, sort materials, explore Newton's third law, and race balloon-powered cars. We recommend it for ages 6 and up, from primary to secondary school.
We bring the workshop to your classroom. It fits neatly into a lesson on forces and magnets or a wider science unit. Sessions last 45 minutes to 1.5 hours. Call 03301131136 or ask for a quote to check your date. You can also download our free activity sheet below.
What Are Forces and Magnets?
A force is a push or a pull. A force can change an object's movement: it can start it, stop it, speed it up or slow it down. It can also change the object's direction or shape.
Some forces need contact. Pushing a door is one example. Friction is another, because it slows things down when two surfaces rub together. That is why a toy car stops rolling on carpet.
Other forces act at a distance, without any touching. Gravity pulls objects towards the Earth. Magnetic forces can pull or push objects across a gap. These different forces are the heart of our workshop.
Forces and magnetism go together, because every magnet creates a force. That is why this topic often sits in one science unit.
How Do Magnets Work?
A magnet is an object that attracts magnetic materials. A bar magnet has two ends. Every magnet has two poles, called the north pole and the south pole. The two poles are where the magnet pulls most strongly, near the two ends. Magnetism is the force that makes this pull and push possible.
Magnetic Fields and Magnetic Forces
Magnets work through a magnetic field. A magnet creates this field around itself. It is the space where the magnet exerts a force on magnetic materials. Sprinkling iron filings around a magnet shows the shape of its magnetic field.
Magnetic forces work at a distance. A magnet can pull a paper clip across a gap without touching it. The force gets weaker as the distance grows, and a stronger magnet has a stronger pull. Children explore this for themselves and join in a class discussion about what they notice.
Magnetic and Non-Magnetic Materials: Which Things Are Magnetic?
Magnetic materials are the materials that a magnet can attract. Iron, steel, nickel and cobalt are all magnetic. Steel is mostly iron, so a steel paper clip is magnetic.
A magnet attracts some metals and not others. This is why not all metals stick to a fridge magnet. Not all metals are magnetic: aluminium, copper and gold are not. Plastic, wood, glass and paper are not magnetic either. Some rocks, such as lodestone, are naturally magnetic. Magnetic materials are found in many everyday objects, from paper clips to steel cans.
In the workshop, we give the class different objects and everyday materials. We provide the magnets and other equipment. Students explore different materials, predict which ones are magnetic, then test their ideas. This follows the scientific method: predict, test and explain. We ask questions such as "What happened?" and "Why?" Along the way, children identify which materials are magnetic and which are not.
How Do Magnets Attract and Repel?
Two magnets can attract or repel each other. Opposite poles attract, so a north pole and a south pole pull together. Two like poles repel, which means they push apart. That is where the saying "opposites attract" comes from.
When magnets repel, you can feel a gentle push in the space between them. Students bring two magnets together and feel the attraction and repulsion for themselves. They then explain what they notice, using scientific vocabulary such as pole, attract and repel.
Magnetism also explains how a compass works. The needle of a compass is a small magnet. It lines up with Earth's magnetic field and points towards north.
Forces and Magnets Activities in Our Workshop
Each session is an engaging, interactive learning experience. Learning through play makes science fun. These activities cover push and pull forces, magnetic forces, and Newton's third law. Children explore forces with their own hands, and our expert guides the discussion.
Newton's Cradle
A Newton's cradle is a row of hanging metal balls. Pull back one ball and let it go. It hits the next ball, and the ball at the far end swings up to nearly the same height. This shows how energy and momentum pass along the row. Children explore it and try to explain what is happening.
Balloon Car Race
Time to race! It is a friendly challenge that shows how a force makes things move. Air rushes out of the balloon in one direction, and the car moves the opposite way. This is Isaac Newton's third law of motion: every action has an equal and opposite reaction.
Friction also slows each car, because its wheels rub against the floor. Students observe the distance and speed of each car. They ask a simple question: did the bigger or smaller balloons go faster or further? Your class can create a fair test and measure how far each car travels.
Who Was Isaac Newton?
Isaac Newton was an English scientist. His work on motion and gravity is still very important in physics today.
A Hands-On Magnets Lesson for Your Magnets Unit
Forces and magnets are a Year 3 topic in the KS2 science curriculum. Pupils compare how things move on different surfaces. They also learn that some forces need contact and that magnetic forces can act at a distance. In addition, they identify magnetic materials and describe how magnets attract and repel.
Our workshop supports these ideas through play. Teachers can use it to start a magnets unit, to finish one, or as a revision day. It builds their knowledge and understanding and helps children create their own explanations. It also supports their scientific development, and it works well as a follow-up lesson in any science unit.
Free Forces and Magnets Activity Sheet
Download our free forces and magnets activity sheet to use before or after the workshop. Teachers can also find more free teaching resources on our docs to download page. These resources sit alongside your usual lesson plan and other resources, ready for the classroom.
Ages, Session Length and Group Size
We recommend the workshop for children aged 6 and up. The ideas can be tricky for younger children. Of course, younger pupils are still welcome, and we adapt the workshop for KS1 and other needs.
We suggest sessions of 45 minutes to 1.5 hours. If you would like to explore the topic in more depth, we can extend the time. A full day made up of six 1-hour sessions is also available, which suits students of all ages.
Standard groups are up to 30 students. We can host larger groups with extra support. We also support pupils with special educational needs and other requirements.
More School Science Ideas From Our Blog
Want to try magnets first? Our magnet experiments for kids give nine easy ideas for home or class. Looking for more school resources and lesson ideas? Our blog explains how science workshops for schools work. You can also read how science workshops inspire young minds.
For more physics, see our sound and flight workshops, which cover forces such as lift and drag. Our guide to the three states of matter is another good follow-up.
Safe, Insured and Trusted by Schools
All our staff are DBS checked. We hold public liability insurance of at least £5 million. Wild Science is rated 4.5 of 5 from 43 votes on Google.
What Do Groups Say About Wild Science?
These reviews are from other Wild Science sessions.
Rose Hill Junior Youth Club have had animal experiences and science workshops delivered by Wild Science, and they have been fantastic. Very responsive booking system, allowing us to easily organise experiences for our children. The presenters have all been wonderful, patient and knowledgeable, delivering a unique experience each time for our youth clubs. They genuinely care about the animals and providing safe handling for different age ranges. We look forward to booking more science and animal sessions with them in the future.
Aimee Winkfield
We were delighted to welcome Wild Science to our disability youth club yesterday for their Bubble Art workshop. The session was engaging, creative, and thoroughly enjoyed by all of our young people.
A special mention goes to Rufus, who was absolutely fantastic throughout the workshop. He was patient, enthusiastic, and made sure that every young person was included and able to participate, regardless of their individual needs. His ability to engage with everyone and create a fun, supportive atmosphere was truly impressive.
Our members had a wonderful time exploring the bubble art activities, and it was wonderful to see so many smiles, creativity, and confidence on display. We would highly recommend Wild Science to any group looking for an inclusive, interactive, and memorable experience.
Thank you, Rufus and the Wild Science team, for such a brilliant session! We look forward to welcoming you back in the future.
Sarah Attawia
Harriet visited our school a few weeks back to deliver a life cycles workshop. She delivered an engaging workshop. We are a SEN group and she was patient, slow paced and adjusted her language and responses. She bought a great selection of animals that the children were allowed to handle including a snake! Not just your usual tadpole to frog cut and stick activity! Would highly recommend.
Katie Bloor
Ready to Book Your Forces and Magnets Workshop?
Do not hesitate to contact us. Call 03301131136, Monday to Friday 9:00 to 16:30 or Saturday 9:00 to 15:00. You can also email [email protected].
Prefer to book online? Fill in our contact form and choose "Get my quote". We will reply to confirm the details. For more information, read about what to expect at a session. You can also explore our experiments workshops, our states of matter workshop, and our other school workshops.
