March 2025
Exploring Magnetism: A Month of Discovery and Creativity
This month, we embarked on an exciting journey into the world of magnetism, sparking curiosity and wonder among the children as they engaged in hands-on exploration. Our focus was to ignite their interest in magnetic tiles and blocks, guiding them to better understand how magnets work and why they attract certain materials. Through interactive activities, the children were given magnets and challenged to identify objects in the daycare that were magnetic. The enthusiasm was palpable as they eagerly tested various items, hoping to uncover hidden magnetic properties.
The children's excitement was contagious as one child enthusiastically suggested, “Let’s try this door handle!” while another child explored the other side, exclaiming, “This is a magnet too!” A third child offered an insightful observation, saying, “All metals attract magnets". This sparked a difference of opinion since another child responded, “Not every metal attracts a magnet. Look at the bottom of the bench.” More comments followed: “That’s because it’s not made of metal, even though it looks like it.” The children started to expand on the exploration, testing kitchen pots and pans to discover which items were magnetic. These real-world observations allowed the children to deepen their understanding of the concept of magnetism.
To build on their newfound interest, we introduced an engaging challenge where the children worked together to extract magnetic chips from a bottle filled with rice using only magnets. In pairs, they brainstormed strategies, fostering critical thinking, problem-solving, communication, and teamwork. After the activity, the educators shared fascinating facts about magnets, sparking an animated discussion during snack time.
In addition to the magnetism activities, the magnetic tiles became a favorite medium for building imaginative structures. The children created everything from towers and houses to rockets, each project showcasing their creativity and problem-solving skills. It’s been an inspiring month filled with exploration, learning, and lots of fun as the children discovered the magic of magnets and put their ideas into action.
Gagandeep Kaur, Educator
B Phys Honours, BEd, MEd, specializing in environment and sustainability
Marlene Salmonson, Early Childhood Educator
RECE
