Fridge Magnets - Carol Sayles, Science Engineering Ambassador

I run an after school Technology Club for Year 2 pupils at St Peter at Gowts CofE Primary School in Lincoln. I have used the Fridge Magnets activity in a number of situations and have found it to be very flexible in terms of numbers of pupils participating and the age range (mixed groups from year 2 to year 6 inclusive)

We start by looking at example of fridge magnets and discussing their characteristics - what they look like, their shape, size, colour etc. I then introduce the activity using a couple of examples showing the layers, finished article and planning sheet. We discuss the use of colour, shape and texture. Using corrugated paper allows the finished magnets to be much more interesting but isn't essential. A corrugating machine can be used as well but there can be a queue.

The children then design and make their fridge magnets. The picture below shows the work produced by a group of Year 2 pupils. It helps to have somewhere to display the magnets once completed and I've found a white magnetic board to be ideal.

Click on thumbnails below to see examples.