Good News in Schools

Scientific Discovery at River’s Edge Science Days

“Oooo, look at the moon!” exclaimed excited first graders from Ms. Rupert’s class as they entered the Science Lab for the first time. Generally, the science lab is reserved for third through fifth graders, but this day during Science Days at River’s Edge, first graders were being treated to a lesson on magnetism. “All first graders must know about magnets,” said Julia Montgomery, science lab instructor after a brief introduction to the aquatic turtles and lab rules. First graders have been studying magnetism this semester in their classrooms.

The students listened intently and raised their hands to answer questions about magnets. Montgomery introduced the students to the several kinds of magnets: bar, donut, magnet on a post, and the horseshoe magnet. She explained that magnets have two poles, a North Pole, the red end, and a South Pole, the blue end. Then she reviewed attract and repel, two vocabulary words for the students.

“Sometimes, magnets just don’t like each other,” said Montgomery as she proceeded to show the students what happens when two red ends of the magnets are placed together. “The pushing away that you feel is the force between the magnets,” Montgomery added.

The interest of the students was clear on their faces and blossomed more as they discovered that the red end stuck to the blue end! Ms. Montgomery answered the students’ questions and led them into the discovery of different items to which magnets stick or don’t stick. Judging by the fun the students were having, this science lesson will stick with them.