Adult asks the children what they notice about the magnets. Remind the children that magnets often get their names from their shape. Adult or children give proper names to magnets. Adult puts paper with 2 circles on table and two index cards that are labeled Horseshoe Magnet-Not a Horseshoe Magnet. Students sort magnets.
Students continue to sort magnets with adult supervision.
Students may think of other ways to sort and classify. If children are still interested in activity, let the students continue exploring with the magnets. Have students trace around each magnet and if possible label each magnet. Have student name a magnet or have child point to magnet that adult names. Scientist know how a magnet reacts, but can not explain the actual cause of this phenomena.