Kids love learning about magnetism! Building a magnetic car is simple and packs a big punch with science learning. Plus children have a great time! Magnets? Cars? Sign me up! This post includes steps on how to build a magnetic car.

Materials Needed for Magnetic Car

• Two magnets (you can use two bar magnets, or in our case, we used a round magnet and a magnetic wand)
• Small box
• Straw or Dowel
• Clay
• Tape
• Toothpicks (not needed if you use a wooden dowel)
• Wheels (we used lego wheels but you can use cardstock cut into circles, too)

How to Make a Magnetic Car

• Tape a magnet inside the small box
• Cut the straw or the dowel into two pieces to match the size of the box
• Tape down to the outside of the box
• If you are using cardstock to create the wheels, cut out four circles at this point, then push the toothpicks through the straw and attach the cardstock wheels onto the ends
• We used lego wheels so we attached the wheels to the dowel
• Place the car onto a flat surface and use your second magnet to pull and push the car

My sons were enamored with this car! They had a blast making it go backward and forwards, creating a road, obstacles, and experimenting with the magnets. We placed magnets in different spots and used different sized magnets varying in strength, too. Lots of science learning!

What is Magnetism in Simple Terms?

Magnetism is defined as “a physical phenomenon produced by the motion of electric charge, resulting in attractive and repulsive forces between objects.”  

How a Magnet Works:

1. A magnet has two ends called poles, a north pole or north-seeking pole and a south pole or south-seeking pole.
2. The north pole of one magnet attracts the south pole of a second magnet, while the north pole of one magnet repels the other magnet's north pole. So we have the common saying: like poles repel, unlike poles attract.
3. A magnet creates an invisible area of magnetism all around it called a magnetic field.
4. The north pole of a magnet points roughly toward Earth's north pole and vice-versa. That's because Earth itself contains magnetic materials and behaves like a gigantic magnet.
5. If you cut a bar magnet in half, it's a bit like cutting an earthworm in half! You get two brand new, smaller magnets, each with its own north and south pole. (This is, of course, a joke. You don't get two worms if you cut a worm in half. But you do get two magnets.)
6. If you run a magnet a few times over an unmagnetized piece of a magnetic material (such as an iron nail), you can convert it into a magnet as well. 

{Source: Explain That Stuff}

Additional Resources on Magnetism

A great way to introduce this science concept is with a traditional Montessori magnetic/non-magnetic work.  I created these Magnetic/Non-Magnetic worksheets to supplement the hands-on sorting and experimenting activities! Montessori Services has a prepared magnetic/non-magnetic work with everything you'd need for the lesson. I tried to use objects easily accessible at home or in a classroom. 

My sons are obsessed with science experiments right now. I figure what better time to do a little experimenting with light than around Groundhog Day, right? Light is one of eight forms of energy. The other forms are heat, sound, chemical energy, magnetic, nuclear, electromagnetic, and mechanical. Light energy activities are fun and easy to do! Here are a few light energy experiments for kids that you will enjoy! 

What is Light Energy?

According to Solar Schools, light energy is “a form of electromagnetic radiation. Light consists of photons, which are produced when an object's atoms heat up. The light energy travels in light waves and is the only form of energy visible to the human eye.”

Light energy is the only form of energy that we can actually see directly. It is formed through chemical, radiation, and mechanical means. Light energy can also be converted into other forms of energy. It is nature's way of transferring energy through space.

Youtube also provides great little tutorials for kids explaining light energy such as this one below:

Examples of Light Energy

Light Energy Activities with Kids

Trace Shadows

This activity is one of my favorites. Grab a few pieces of chalk on a reasonably sunny day. Go out to your driveway or sidewalk. Have the child stand still and have his shadow traced by you or another friend. Do this activity a few times throughout the day and make observations. You should see the shadow keep the same shape but change the size. The size depends on the angle of the sun.

Dancing Shadows

All you need is a lamp, a piece of white card stock, and a small object. We used a small figurine. Hold the figurine between the lamp and the piece of yardstick. Move it. Observe the shadow. The shadow changes when the object moves.

Moving Light

Grab your magnifying glass and a piece of blank white paper. Move the magnifying glass close to the paper and away from the paper. Note what happens on the paper. The light on the paper should change sizes.

Light Experiments Your Kids Will Love

Upside Down Light

This activity is classic. You need light and a big spoon. The light on the inside of the spoon is concave. The light on the other side of the spoon is convex. Note your observations. The reflection on the concave side of the spoon should be upside down.

Up High Light

You need a bowl of water. Use a tray to catch the water that may spill over the sides of the bowl. Place the bowl in the sun's light. What do you see on the ceiling? The light reflects on the ceiling and appears to dan cease the water moves in the bowl.

Make a Rainbow 

Having a prism is worth it purely for educational purposes. For example, simply hold the prism to the sunlight and move it around. Subsequently, a rainbow should appear and move with the prism.

The white light is separated into the spectrum of colors (red, orange, yellow, blue, green, purple). Rain acts as a prism in nature as it reflects the sunlight. You can make a rainbow by using a pan of water in bright sunlight and a small mirror. Then, place the mirror on the inside of the pan of water and over it until you see a rainbow nearby. Call this your DIY prism.

Bending Pencil 

One of my all-time favorite activities to show children. Grab a glass of water (filled halfway) and a pencil. Place the pencil in the water and watch it appear to bend.

Periscope

This experiment is on my “to-do” list. You need a quart sized milk carton, 2 small mirrors, tape, and scissors. Cut the side of the milk carton so it is still attached on one side and fold it back like a door. Take the two small mirrors inside slanting facing each other. Cut two small holes in the carton. Tape the flap/door back to hold its place. Look through the small holes. What do you see? Amazing results with this experiment. You can see around corners. Light travels in a straight line. It reflects off the mirrors, which enables you to see around corners.

That is a good start for a study of Light Energy for Kids! How do you study light energy with kids? Which light experiments do you enjoy? Are their light activities I left off this list? 

I added a few more amazing light energy experiments for kids! 

Marnie