3. Polar attraction/repulsion B

Using the same bar magnets, place them down on a table. Take one magnet with north side pointing forward and push it close to the other magnet's north side. The magnet you are not holding will move away from the one you are, and even try to turn itself around.

This shows that the south side is attracting your magnet's north side. You can determine the magnet strength by seeing how far away you can be and still have these effects.

4. Polar attraction/repulsion B Again using the same kind of magnets, but three to five of them, experiment with pushing the magnets in a kind of "magnet train." Line magnets up with south sides facing south and north sides facing north, then push the first magnet and watch the other magnets jump forward.

Keep lining up magnets this way and see how many you can get to work together in your "train."

5. The floating magnets

You will need the following items:

- five (5) to eight (8) "donut" magnets (the ones with the holes in the middle) - one (1`) wooden rod that will fit through magnet holes - base for rod (wood or modeling clay)

If you cannot buy or construct a base for the rod, you can stand it up in a wad of modeling clay. It won't be bearing much weight, so it doesn't have to be "over prepared."

First, determine the magnetic forces of the donut magnets and which side is north or south.

Remember, of course, that polar opposites attract. Now put three or four magnets along the bottom of the wooden rod as it is standing. The positioning of the magnets is important: Place all of the magnets with south at the bottom, so when you stack up the three or four magnets, the north (top) part of the bottom magnet will attract the bottom (south) side that you place on top of it. Thus, at the very top of the pile, you will have a north side.

Place the next magnet with the north end down. It will not attract to the north side below it, so it will "hover" over the other magnets. You can continue the hovering demonstration by placing another magnet, south side down this time, on the rod. This new magnet will also hover, as will any others you position on the rod (remembering to alternate the north/south orientation).

6. Sheet magnet fun A: Refrigerator magnets

You will need the following items:

- several letter-size sheets of flexible magnetic material, white on one side - family photos or kids' artwork - glue or paste, scissors

Have the kids decide whether they want to make their refrigerator magnet with a drawing or a photo. It could be great fun for each child to make his or her own photo magnet.

Cut the drawing or photo out and trim it nicely. Place it on the magnetic sheet and trace the shape with a pencil, then cut the shape out of the magnetic sheet. Glue the drawing or picture to the magnetic material.

7. Sheet magnet fun B: Word magnets

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