The Blue Dragon
Programme 10: Magic Metal?
This programme aims to develop children's understanding of magnetism, the
properties of materials and magnetism as a force.
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In this programme we find the characters on a deserted beach where they find a spoon
in the sand. They then find a horseshoe magnet and discover that it attracts the
spoon and other objects. The characters wonder if they have found 'Dragon's
Treasure'. When a nest falls off the cliff-face onto the beach we are introduced
to Jilly the Jackdaw, whose nest it is. The nest is stuffed with nuts, bolts, silver
paper, paper clips and other objects.
The friends leave the beach and walk up to the top of the cliff where they come
to a gate, but they cannot reach the key. They come up with the idea of using the
magnet to get the key but Jilly steals it from them.
The friends decide to trick Jilly into thinking that they have a magic car by using
a magnet inside a box to mysteriously move the car on top. Jilly exchanges the key
for the magic car and the friends open the gate to another place.
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The programme explores:
- different kinds of magnets;
- exploring magnets;
- materials that are magnetic and non-magnetic;
- problem-solving using magnets.
There are many curriculum links that can be made, for example:
- Design and Technology – create a magnet game.
- ICT – take a digital photograph of your game being played and use it to make a leaflet with simple instructions for playing your game.
- Mathematics – carry out a survey of favourite jacket potato fillings.
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Magnets come in different shapes and sizes and vary in strength. Sometimes the smaller
magnets are in fact the strongest and are able to attract quite large objects. There
are magnet marbles, magnets that are horseshoe or bar-shaped, and magnets that have
a hole in the middle. Around the home there are magnets on handbags, kitchen cupboard
doors, screwdrivers (to pick up screws) and also in children's toys and
games.
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Engage children in a simple fair-test investigation where children have to find
out 'Which magnet is the strongest?' Children could find out:
- Which magnet holds the most paper clips?
- Which magnet pulls the heaviest load?
- Which magnet works from the furthest distance?
Ask children to bring fridge magnets from home (with permission from parents, of
course) and create a display on a board. Challenge children to design and make their
own fridge magnets, which they could take home at the end of the topic. The fridge
magnets could be made from a range of different materials, including clay.
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