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Magnets Stick or Not Sheet: Free Printable Worksheet for Reception
- ForReception
- StageEarly Years
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Magnets Stick or Not Sheet is a free printable science style worksheet for Reception (ages 4 to 5). Children look at everyday things, guess whether a magnet will pick each one up, test it, and write down what happened. It takes about 15 minutes, needs a pencil and one small magnet, and page 2 gives the grown-up notes, help ideas, a stretch idea and the answers.
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 your child and keep page 2 for yourself. Black and white printing works well.
What is on the sheet
Children fill in a table with three headings: Thing, I think and It did. For each thing, they first say what they expect the magnet to do. Then they test it with a real magnet and record the result. The things are everyday objects, so children can compare their guess with what happened and talk about anything that surprised them.
- Thing
- I think
- It did
Set up your magnet test
Gather everyday things
Collect a few safe objects from around the house or classroom. Choose things that are clean, dry and too big to be a worry for small mouths. Keep them in a tray or box.
Make two sorting places
Put two sheets of paper on the table. Label one Stuck and one Did not stick. Children place each thing on a sheet after testing it.
Protect screens and cards
Keep the magnet away from tablets, phones, televisions and bank cards. Work at a table with none of these nearby.
Keep the magnet in sight
An adult holds on to the small magnet between turns. Keep it away from mouths, and away from babies and toddlers.
Why test things with a magnet?
A magnet is an object that pulls some things towards it. The pull can work across a small gap, without touching. Magnets also have two ends called poles. Reception children do not need these words yet. What matters is noticing that a magnet does something to some things and nothing to others. That simple pattern is the start of sorting objects by what they can do.
Predicting first makes the testing matter. When a child says "I think it will stick", they have an idea to check. A wrong guess is useful, because it makes them think again. In the Early Years Foundation Stage, The Natural World strand is about exploring, noticing and talking about what you find. This sheet gives children a short, safe way to do that.
Adults should handle and store the magnet. Keep small magnets away from mouths, and away from babies and toddlers. Keep magnets away from screens and bank cards. Stop the activity if a child puts anything in their mouth.
Magnet facts for curious children
- A magnet can pull some things without touching them.
- Magnets have two ends called poles.
- A magnet can push another magnet away as well as pull it.
- A magnet does not pull on everything. Some things are not affected at all.
- A compass needle is a tiny magnet that points in a steady direction.
Skills and curriculum link
- Predicting
- Testing
- Recording
- Sorting
- Talking about what we notice
This sheet supports the area below. It is matched to the published England framework. Please check it against your own school plan.
| Framework | Subject or area | Strand | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early Years Foundation Stage | Understanding the World | The Natural World | Reception |
What children will be able to do
- I can guess what a magnet will pick up.
- I can test things with a magnet.
- I can say which things stuck and which did not.
Ideas for talking about magnets
- Guess firstAsk "What do you think will happen?" before every test. Accept any answer. The guess matters more than being right.
- One thing at a timeTest a single object, then stop and talk. Children remember the result better when it is not rushed.
- Use simple wordsSay "stuck" and "did not stick", or "pulled" and "nothing happened". Add the word magnet each time so children hear it often.
- Look for patternsAfter a few tests, ask what the things that behaved the same way have in common. Let children suggest ideas, even if they are not quite right yet.
Key words
- MagnetAn object that can pull some things towards it.
- PredictSay what you think will happen before you try.
- TestTry something to find out what happens.
- ResultWhat happened when you tested.
- PullWhen something moves closer to something else.
- RecordWrite or draw what you found out.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for your child. Keep page 2, which has the notes and answers.
- Read the headings together: Thing, I think and It did. Explain that they guess first, then test, then record.
- For each thing, ask your child to say their guess. Write it in the I think column, or let them draw or tick it.
- Test the thing with the magnet while you hold it. Say the result out loud, then fill in the It did column.
- Check with page 2 and talk about any surprises. Come back another day to repeat the test with new things.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Test one thing at a time and say the result out loud. Hold the magnet yourself and let your child watch closely. Try a few things first and come back to the rest later. Point to the magnet and the object together as you talk.
To stretch confident children
Find two more things at home that stick and two that do not. Draw them on the back of the sheet or make a new table. Before testing, ask your child to explain why they chose each one.
Make it a game
Go on a magnet hunt around the room. An adult holds the magnet. The child picks an object, says their guess, then the adult tests it. Keep a tally of things that stuck and things that did not.
Mistakes to watch for
Watch forA child guesses from colour or size alone and is puzzled by the result.
Try thisTalk about what surprised them. Say "Let us test and find out" and treat each guess as a good idea to check.
Watch forA child holds the magnet near the object but not touching it, then says nothing happened.
Try thisShow how to bring the magnet right up to the object and hold it there for a moment. Try again slowly.
Watch forA child fills in the table before testing.
Try thisCover the It did column until the test is done. Say the result out loud first, then write it.
Talk about it
- What made you think that would stick?
- What did the magnet do when you brought it close?
- What surprised you?
- Can you find something in this room that you think will not stick?
- What do the things that stuck have in common?
- Why do you think we test instead of only guessing?
Take it off the page
Magnet hunt
Take turns choosing objects around the room. Say your guess, then let an adult test with the magnet. Cheer for guesses and surprises alike.
Sorting hoops
Place two hoops or sheets of paper on the floor. Sort tested objects into one for stuck and one for did not stick. Count how many are in each.
Draw your results
Fold a piece of paper in half. Draw things that stuck on one side and things that did not on the other. Add a label for each picture.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit with your child for the first go and let them lead. Hold the magnet yourself. About 15 minutes is plenty. Praise their thinking, not only the right guesses.
Teachers
Use it as a starter, a plenary, an early finisher task or a table activity with adult support. It needs one small magnet per group and no other preparation. Keep magnets away from screens and bank cards.
Home educators
Pair it with a walk around the house to collect objects to test. Home educators can repeat it with new things for brothers and sisters, or return to it later to see whether children can explain their results.
Where this fits in learning
Before this sheet, children explore objects with their hands, talk about how things look and feel, and sort things into groups. Those early habits of noticing and comparing make a magnet test much easier to follow.
After this, children meet everyday materials in Year 1 science and describe what things are made from. Forces and magnets are studied in Year 3, where children compare how things move and learn how magnets attract and repel.
Check it worked
Ask these when the sheet is finished. Listen for the reasoning, not just the answer.
- What made you think the spoon would stick?
- What do the things that stuck have in common?
- What surprised you when you tested?
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age is Magnets Stick or Not Sheet for?
It is written for Reception, ages 4 to 5, in the Early Years Foundation Stage. Younger children can join in with an adult holding the magnet. Older children can use the stretch idea on page 2.
- What will children practise?
Children practise predicting, testing and recording. They guess which everyday things a magnet will pick up, test each one, and write down what happened. They also practise talking about what they notice.
- How long does it take?
It takes about 15 minutes with a grown-up. You can stop after a few things and come back later. The notes on page 2 help you make it shorter or longer.
- What do I need besides the sheet?
You need a pencil and one small magnet. Gather a few everyday objects to test. Keep the magnet away from screens and bank cards, and away from mouths.
- Is it safe for young children?
Yes, with an adult in charge of the magnet. Keep small magnets away from mouths and from babies and toddlers. Keep them away from screens and bank cards too. Adults store the magnet when the activity ends.
- Can teachers use it in class?
Yes. Teachers can use it as a starter, plenary, early finisher task or table activity. It needs no preparation beyond printing and finding a magnet. It supports the Natural World strand of Understanding the World.
- Do I need to print in colour?
No. It prints well in black and white on plain A4 paper. Print both pages, give page 1 to your child and keep page 2 for the notes and answers.
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Made by Jaques of London, making games for families since 1795. A printable supports classroom learning and does not replace a teacher.