Magnetism

Many years ago, I picked up a Magnet Experiment kit for cheap. My kids have been playing with that one kit more than many of the other science related kits we've bought or borrowed.
Jax & Jem received one of those Young Scientist kits for Christmas, and though a couple of the experiments were interesting, my boys made it known to me that I should never buy them any more Young Scientist kits. Jax said "They're lame!" hehe

I have to agree, though. We were so excited to try out the Young Scientist kits because we'd heard such accolades about them. But they were mostly a big dissapointment. The kits are expensive for what they give you and the parts are mostly common items you have around the house, like string, a straw, plastic bags, dryer sheet, cereal, balloons, etc...or can buy for cheap.
And the experiments can be found in any elementary workbook or off the internet. Many of the experiments failed to work even though we followed the instructions exactly.

Jeremiah kind of liked the charts and stuff because he enjoys organizing items and being very methodical in keeping records, just like a real scientist. But the kits themselves are really boring. The books were not bright or fun to read.
So, we won't be using them ever again, except maybe to take apart and use for other things. hehe

We can make a terrific suggestion for a kid-friendly, scientific, fun Science Kit series.
They are called Smart Lab. The kits are colorful, useful for many years and come with educational, kid-friendly books to use with and separate from the Lab Kits. We bought a couple Smart Lab kits at Target recently. Jax and Jem are using the Smart Lab kits and having fun, too.

But back to the cheap magnet kit I bought years ago.....The kids are always trying countless different combinations of experiments on their own and with the magnet experiment cards that came with the kit. I snapped some pics of them today.

Jax built a Magnetic Battery Robot

Then the Battery Robot morphed into a Battery Operated Rocket Ship with Directional Compass Locater

In their room this morning just quietly creating magnetic creations. They also used some of their Magnetix sets, too.


Jenna enjoyed making the magnets move across the pan with the magnetic wand.



Apparently our window frames are made of metal. Thank you Jackson for discovering this fascinating fact.

Jax built a special magnetic box using Magnetix, plastic and magnetic Lodestone shavings

If you look at this picture in just the right way, it reminds me of a M.C Escher drawing. Which way is up...or down?