This is a program that works for children ages  3 years and up. You can have younger but they may have a hard time drawing a track.  Children will leave understanding the basics of how a magnet works.  The craft is a lot of fun because it is functional and can be played with!  The word I choose to teach the children was “Magnetic”.

Materials for Craft

• Metal Matchbox cars
• Blank paper
• Cardboard about (2 feet by 2 feet) You can also use a plastic tray.
• Crayons
• Tape
• Magnet (amazon sells JA-RU Mega Magnetic Toy. It worked great)
• Optional: Tiny trees and people

Books

• “Magnets Push, Magnets Pull”  by David A. Adler

1. Start with your favorite Hello song!
2. Read the book Magnets Push, Magnets Pull
3. If you have access to a SmartBoard or computer, Sci Show Kids has a fantastic lesson on magnets https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s236Q1nuWXg&t=2s
4. Have a handful of items to show children what is and isnt magnetic. (this is also where you introduce the new word “magnetic”.  Paper clips, a stapler, vs a shoe, a lego for example.
5. Now the craft! The children will get large paper to draw a racetrack on.  Have there adults encourage them to be creative.  (maybe give them props like train table people or trees)
6. Tape their track to cardboard.
7. The child’s adult will hold the board steady as the child drags the magnet (with a Matchbox car on top of the track) on the underside of the cardboard.