Learn how magnets work: which materials they attract, what north and south poles do, and when magnets attract or repel, through hands-on lab experiments.
How Magnets Work is an interactive science game that teaches children aged 7–9 which materials magnets attract, what a magnet's north and south poles do, and when two magnets attract or repel. It follows the Year 3 forces and magnets topic in the KS2 science curriculum.
Guided by Maxi, a friendly bar magnet, players pull a paperclip across a gap to discover a non-contact force (a push or pull that works without touching) and use magic goggles to see the magnetic field. They predict, then test, everyday objects and find that an aluminium can and a gold ring are metal but not magnetic.
Later chapters show that the pull is strongest at the poles, that bigger magnets are not always stronger, and that only a magnet can repel another magnet. Players then drive a recycling crane, follow a compass and float a maglev train before an eight-question challenge.
A magnet pulls on certain metals, such as iron and steel, without touching them, using an invisible area of force called a magnetic field. Every magnet has a north pole and a south pole, and its pull is strongest at these two ends.
No, only a few metals are magnetic, mainly iron, steel, nickel and cobalt. Aluminium, gold and copper are metals but are not attracted to a magnet, which is why recycling centres can use magnets to pull steel tins away from aluminium cans.
Magnets attract when different poles face each other, north to south, and repel when the same poles face each other, north to north or south to south. Only another magnet can push a magnet away, so repelling is a good test for a hidden magnet.
It is designed for children aged 7 to 9 and matches the Year 3 forces and magnets topic in the KS2 science curriculum in England. Every instruction is read aloud and shown as a short caption, so less confident readers can play too.
It has five hands-on chapters and a final eight-question challenge, taking about 35 minutes in total. Children test objects, find poles, float a magnet that points north, drive a recycling crane and float a maglev train, choosing any chapter from the lab.
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