Magnet Treasure Hunt
Which things stick? The answer is never what they expect.
- Ages
- 3–9 yrs
- Play
- 10–25 min
- Prep
- 2 min
- Mess
- barely any
- Energy
- lively
- Where
- anywhere
You’ll need
Things you probably have at home.
- a magnetGet it on Amazon
Optional
- paper clipsGet it on Amazon
- two trays for sortingGet it on Amazon
- a bin of rice to hide things inGet it on Amazon
How to play
Before you start: Set out two trays and label them 'sticks' and 'does not stick'.
Give them the magnet and send them round the room testing things.
Every object goes onto one of the two trays.
When the trays are full, look at the 'sticks' pile together — what do those things have in common?
Test the tricky ones: a soda can, a coin, a key, a fridge, a radiator.
Bury paper clips in a tub of rice and let them fish them out with the magnet.
What it helps with
Keep it safe
- Small strong magnets are seriously dangerous if swallowed — use large ones and count them back in.
- Keep magnets away from phones, cards and hearing aids.
Make it different next time
- Drag the magnet under a paper plate with clips on top to make them move by themselves.
- See how many paper clips can hang in a chain off one magnet.
Cleanup: Everything goes back to where it was found.
