Magnet Through the Table
Three related teacher demonstrations: Magnet Through the Table, Hovering Ring Magnets, Magnetic Field Lines in a Bag.
Teaching & key ideas
1. Magnet Through the Table
Materials: Large magnet; paper clip/washer; thin tabletop/cardboard
What you do: Move magnet underneath while the metal object moves above.
What students see: The object moves with no visible contact.
Question: Can a magnet pull through something?
2. Hovering Ring Magnets
Materials: Large ring magnets; guide dowel
What you do: Stack like poles facing so upper rings float apart.
What students see: Magnets appear to hover.
Question: What is holding the magnet up?
3. Magnetic Field Lines in a Bag
Materials: Iron filings sealed in clear bag; bar magnet
What you do: Move magnet beneath sealed filings.
What students see: Filings form curved patterns.
Question: Can we see an invisible magnetic field?
Lesson flow
Predict → observe three demonstrations → compare what changed → choose independent activity station → cleanup/share.
Guiding questions:
Question: Can a magnet pull through something?
Question: What is holding the magnet up?
Question: Can we see an invisible magnetic field?