What Makes a Science Teacher?

What Makes a Magnet? 

Published by: HarperCollins

Written by: Dr. Franklyn M. Branley

Illustrated by: True Kelley

This text is a combination of story-like experiments.  It follows a young girl who is curious about magnets, how they work, how they are made, and what they attract.  She starts out by going “fishing” with a magnet on a string for a couple common household objects.  The illustrations are simple, but very kid friendly and engaging.  Readers are exposed to a sampling of results and demonstrations through True Kelley’s illustrations.  This text even demonstrates higher-level science ideas like creating a magnet, polarization, natural magnets, and magnetism in relation to the universe. It also briefly discusses the history of compasses and many of their practical uses in today’s world.

What Makes a Magnet? directly addresses Virginia SOLs for Kindergarten through fourth grade and can be used for inspiration when creating hands-on science activities.  The books whimsical illustrations show the unnamed protagonist gathering materials, preparing, and executing a variety of experiments.  She fishes with magnets, creates her own magnet using a needle, and uses her magnetic needle to create a homemade compass!  This book is a great teaching tool that could be used as both a read aloud and as an instructional text. 

You can browse the contents of this text at the HarperCollins site to see if it's ideas apply to your instructional strategy or, you can look through the other titles that are part of the Let's Read and Find Out Science series.