Summer, fall, winter or spring, if you have young children with time on their hands you need to have some activities planned. Every child benefits from fun that is also educational, and 10 fun projects with magnets fill the bill nicely. This list is divided evenly between "experiments" (1 through 5) and "projects" (6 through 10) so you can keep the attention of your budding scientists as well as your future artists.

There are plenty of places to get your magnets, and don't forget the many different kinds available. They come in all sizes and shapes, colored and plain, and even in flexible sheets that can be cut into any shape.

For the following activities, you will need a variety of magnets and other supplies. Instead of making one materials list for you, however, it is suggested that you decide which activities you (and your kids) want to do, then assemble your supplies from the list in each activity description.

Note: The "you" in the following instructions can mean the parent or the child. Frankly, these activities are fun and interesting for all ages!

1. Make a compass

You will need the following items: - non-metallic bowl filled with water - metal pin - magnet - cork

This experiment will show how to make a compass that points true North.

Magnetize the pin by holding it in your hand and stroking it with the magnet in one direction only, from the base (head) to the point. Lift the magnet off at the point, then begin again at the base. Repeat this at least 25-30 times.

Now push the pin through the piece of cork so that the cork is in the middle of the pin, and put the cork/pin in the (non-metallic) water-filled bowl. The pin should have been made magnetic enough to point North.

You can also try seeing how strong your new pin magnet is by seeing if it will pick up small metal objects, such as paper clips.

2. Polar attraction/repulsion A

You will need the following items:

- two (2) bar magnets

Magnets, of course, have north and south magnetic sides. Depending upon which ends (or sides) that you force together, they will either attract strongly or not at all. If you put north and south magnetic poles together, they will attract. If you put two similar sides together, north or south, they will either not attract or they will actually repel one another.

With this experiment, you and your children will discover the force of the attraction or the repulsion of the magnet.

Place two opposite ends together and you will notice that they instantly attract to one another. Lesson: north and south poles on the magnet attract one another, at different strengths depending on the magnets and the conditions.

Now try to force the two north sides of the magnets together. You will be able to feel as the poles repel one another. You can do the same thing with the south sides and will notice the same effect. You can measure the force by holding the same poles together and slowly releasing your hold on the magnets.

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