Session 4: Magnet Mayhem

Magnet Mayhem was a joyful day of wondering and exploring how magnets work. We asked questions, made discoveries, and followed our curiosity every step of the way. Kids kicked off Magnet Mayhem by using magnet wands to send magnetic balls skittering across the floor. 

Magnetic table legs!

Soon after, they noticed something unexpected: the balls were being pulled toward the outer edges of the tabletops and, instead of falling off, were rolling along the rim. At first, our facilitators modeled our own uncertainty—we were genuinely puzzled, too! We all shared a gap in our knowledge. Later, we discovered that the table legs were magnetic, and that hidden metal rods along the tabletop edges were attracting the balls. It was a perfect, natural moment for curiosity to unfold as we filled in the information gap together. 

Chips on the magnetic wands!

One of our favorite parts about hosting Curiosity Club at the Virginia Discovery Museum is the range of ages that join in. Curiosity truly is for everyone, and our littlest learners especially loved the magnet wands and chips. They practiced fine motor skills by picking chips off the wand, then used the magnets to pop them back on again. 

Another highlight came from a curious kid who sparked a brand-new challenge: she asked our research assistants to spell out our names using magnetic chips, then only pick up certain colors! Watching the collaboration between kids and adults as they tested ideas, ran into obstacles (like running out of chips or picking up too many at once), and worked through them together was fantastic. 

Our Project and Outreach Manager's name in magnet chips!

Here’s the researched backed curiosity promotion methods that Magnet Mayhem utilized: 

1. Comfort with uncertainty--> Facilitators modeled our own wonder and uncertainty of the science of magnets, showing kids that it’s okay to now have all of the answers! 

2. Alternative ideas--> Kids were tasked with figuring out the different ways to move items and sort magnets without touching them. Generating alternative ideas encourages creative thinking and curiosity! 

3. Free exploration--> Kids had time to explore with the materials, coming up with their own questions and solutions. Free exploration gives time for kids’ curiosity to blossom. 

You can continue to cultivate curiosity at home by giving children time and space to explore with any kind of materials, especially magnets. Give them a problem to solve, and kids are great at letting the creativity and curiosity shine. 

Missed this week at the Discovery Museum? Check out our parent handout below. We’re headed to Northside Library on Monday, January 12^th to host more Curiosity Club fun there. We hope to see you there!