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KS2 Science: Magnetic forces

Video Summary

Mwaksy and Greg observe how magnets attract or repel each other and attract some materials and not others. They explore the behaviour and everyday uses of magnets and create and design a game using magnets and magnetic materials.

This short film looks at magnets, where they come from, and where magnetic materials can be found. Greg tells us about magnetic attraction and repulsion and investigates how to find the magnetic material in cereal. After finding out where we can see magnets in our daily lives, Mwaksy and Greg race each other to see who can use a magnet to fish more ferrous metal out of their rubbish - ready to be recycled.

Forces and electricity is a series of short films and teacher resources for primary schools, following presenters Mwaksy Mudenda and Greg Foot as they use demonstrations, experiments and animations to learn about forces and electricity.

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Teacher Notes

Before watching the film:

Prior to this lesson you may wish to introduce students to other relevant topics, for example:

During the film:

Depending on your lesson’s focus, you may wish to pause the video at certain points to check for understanding, asking questions such as:

  • Have you seen a magnet before? Where was it, and what was it used for?
  • How could you find out whether your cereal is magnetic? Could the box give us any clues?
  • What other materials could Greg and Mwaksy fish out using their magnets?
  • Which materials aren’t magnetic?

Final question:

How could you design a game using magnets?

Discussion points for the final question:

  • What are magnets good for? What are their useful properties? For a cross-curricular link, think about designing clothes with magnets, including backpacks and watch straps.
  • What sort of games do you like to play?
  • How many people could play your game? How would they win or lose?
  • What other materials would you need to make your game work?
  • Will your game use attraction, or repulsion, or both?

Following on from the film:

  • If you have access to magnets, try seeing what materials in the classroom are magnetic.
  • Before they start, ask your students to make predictions about what materials will be attracted to (or repelled by) the magnet. Can they find anything they would expect to be magnetic, that isn’t?
  • You could also try making your own floating compasses using a needle or paperclip.

Please follow appropriate safety guidance if using magnets. has information about magnet safety.

This short film is suitable for teaching science at KS2 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and 2nd Level in Scotland.

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Mwaksy and Greg learn about what gravity is using bottles and air rockets.

What is gravity?

Mwaksy and Greg learn about friction, air resistance and water resistance, and see them in action.

What is friction?

Mwaksy and Greg learn what levers are, what the different parts are called, and how they work.

What are levers?
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