We think you’re going to be drawn to this week’s STEAM project when you and your children make magnet mazes together!
Before embarking on this project, have your children spend some time playing with a magnet to see what types of things they are attracted to. They can even make a chart of different items around the house, make prediction about whether the magnet will stick, and document the results.
Now, to explore how magnets work even further, you can combine science and art to make fun magnet mazes! Here’s what you’ll need for this simple STEAM activity:
- A thick paper plate or piece of cardboard
- A big magnet or a magnet wand
- A metal paper clip (safety first: when doing this activity with younger children, be very vigilant about them putting these items in their mouths)
- Pens, paper, or crayon
- A small piece of cardboard
First, draw your maze on your paper plate or piece of cardboard. Pick a fun theme, like the track of a bee or a rocket flying into space. This can be a traditional maze or it can simply be a squiggly line or a spiral. Next, use your small piece of cardboard to draw and cut out something to go through the maze. For instance, if your maze is the track of a bee, draw a bee. If it’s a rocket flying into space, draw a rocket. Get as creative as you want!
Now, clip your metal paperclip to your cardboard object. Place the object at the start of the maze with your magnet or magnet wand underneath it. The paperclip should be attracted to the magnet. Move your magnet along the maze, and your object should move through the path!
Check out the full project for younger children from Science Sparks HERE.
If you have an older elementary or middle school aged child, you can take this project one step further and have them design a much more elaborate maze for their magnet to go down. They can build a small cardboard city and lead a car through the streets. They can lead a pirate ship around stormy seas. They can have a horse walk around a field. Challenge them to think creatively and sketch out their idea, then use objects found around the house to build their maze.
Find more information on how to level this project up for older students from Science by Sinai HERE.
As always, get as creative as you want, and above all, have lots of fun learning together!
We’ll see you right back here next Saturday for another STEAM Saturday activity! Scroll through the rest of our website to learn how Critchlow Adkins is Building Brighter Futures for the children and families we serve!
