This month, the Infants have been exploring magnets. It started with small foam magnets in the shape of food. They tried sticking them to various toys in the classroom and on the radiator. They even tried sticking them to their bodies!
To expand the work on this interest, educator Lorie provided bigger square and rectangle foam magnets. She started by placing them on the radiator. As the infants arrived for the day, they noticed the magnets right away and came over to explore. They took turns pulling the magnets off of the metal radiator and pushing them back on. Lorie then brought out large metal boards. The educators held the boards up and also lay them on the ground to provide different perspectives as the infants worked. During this work you could hear some of the infants trying to count the magnets as they put them back into the basket. They also attempted to say "square" and "rectangle". Through trial and error, the children found that the magnets did not stick to the cupboard doors, the bathroom door, the floor or their heads! But, the magnets did stick to the fridge and metal door frames. The infants expressed excitement and surprise through their facial expressions. They also celebrated by clapping when a magnet successfully stuck to a surface.
To continue this learning we may test the magnets on other surfaces throughout the centre and playground. We wonder if there is anything outside that they might stick to?
