Magnet Mission Board Game: Free Printable Game for Year 3

Magnet Mission Board Game is a free printable science game for Year 3 (ages 7 to 8). Children race along a track with magnet power. Special squares on the track bring magnet ideas, and children say the reason out loud each time they land on one. It needs only paper and a pencil, and page 2 gives the grown-up notes, help ideas and a stretch task.

It comes from the Mini Minds Hub, the free library of printables from Jaques of London, the British games and toy company that has been making games for families since 1795. Print both pages, give page 1 to the children and keep page 2 for yourself. Black and white printing works well.

What is on the sheet

Page 1 is a board game. Children move along a track and meet special squares that bring up ideas from Year 3 forces and magnets. These cover magnetic materials, how poles behave and the fact that not every material is magnetic. Each time they land on a special square, they say the reason out loud. The game is about explaining as well as getting to the end first. It works well with a grown-up, a friend or a brother or sister.

Why play a game to learn about magnets?

Use only a fridge magnet or a classroom magnet for the home testing idea. Small, strong magnets can be dangerous if swallowed, so keep them away from mouths and from younger children. An adult should look after any magnets that are not for play.

Magnet facts to wonder about

• A compass needle is a small magnet. It helps people find their direction.
• The Earth itself acts like a giant magnet.
• Many fridge doors have a magnetic strip that helps keep them shut.
• Some scrap yards use very strong magnets on cranes to lift heavy pieces of metal.

Skills and curriculum link

• Magnetic materials
• Poles
• Recall
• Scientific vocabulary
• Explaining reasons
• Taking turns

Ideas to help you talk about magnets

• ForcesA force is a push or a pull. Magnets are a good way to feel forces at work, because you can notice the effect without any complicated equipment.
• PolesEvery magnet has ends called poles. Ask your child to point out the ends of a magnet and say what they notice when two magnets meet.
• MaterialsA material is what an object is made from, such as plastic, glass, wood or metal. Testing is how we find out how each one behaves near a magnet.
• TestingA fair test changes only one thing at a time. Using the same magnet for every object is a simple way to keep a test fair.

Key words

• MagnetAn object that can pull some materials towards it.
• ForceA push or a pull.
• PoleOne of the two ends of a magnet, where the pull is strongest.
• AttractTo pull towards.
• RepelTo push away.
• Magnetic materialA material that a magnet can pull towards itself.

How to use it

1. Print both pages. Page 1 is the game for the children. Keep page 2, which has the notes for the grown-up.
2. Read the rules out loud together before you start, so everyone plays the same game.
3. Play the first game together and talk about each choice. Each time you land on a special square, say the reason out loud.
4. Check ideas against the notes on page 2. Ask, "How do you know?" The reasoning matters as much as the move.
5. Come back to the game another day. Repeating a familiar activity builds confidence.

Help, stretch and game ideas

Talk about it

• What do you already know about magnets?
• Which objects at home do you think a magnet would pick up? Why?
• What do you notice when you bring two magnets close together?
• Where have you seen magnets used at home, at school or out and about?
• How could we test your idea so that it is fair?
• Did anything surprise you in the game today?

Take it off the page

Who it is for

Where this fits in science

Before this, children in Key Stage 1 learn about everyday materials and what they are used for. That gives them the words they need to describe the objects they test with a magnet.

After this, children go on to meet other forces later in Key Stage 2, such as friction and gravity. The habit of making a prediction, testing it and giving a reason carries on through all of their science.

Questions parents and teachers ask

What age is Magnet Mission Board Game for?

It is written for Year 3 (ages 7 to 8), in Key Stage 2. Younger children can join in with a grown-up reading each square, and older children can use it as a quick recap.

What will children practise?

They practise recalling ideas about magnetic materials and poles, and that not every material is magnetic. This fits Year 3 science on forces and magnets. They also practise explaining a reason out loud.

How do I use it?

Print both pages and give page 1 to the players. Read the rules together, then play. Each time you land on a special square, say the reason out loud. Use the notes on page 2 to check your ideas.

What if it feels too hard?

Play with a grown-up and read each special square together. Let your child say what they already know in their own words. Keep rounds short and come back to the game another day.

Is it free?

Yes. It is free to print for home and classroom use. You can print it again for brothers, sisters, other groups or revision whenever you like.

Can teachers use it in class?

Yes. Teachers can use it as a starter, plenary, early finisher task, homework or table activity. It needs no preparation beyond printing, and page 2 has support and stretch ideas.

Can I use it for home education?

Yes. Home educators and tutors can use it on its own or as part of a wider science plan. It pairs well with testing real objects at home using a fridge magnet.