Magnets naturally push and pull things. Allow children to experience the force created by magnets with this activity. Set out a pile of magnets. Explain to students that magnets have both positive and negative poles. Tell them that when a positive and negative side are placed next to each other, they will pull together and that when two positive sides or two negative sides are placed next to one another, the magnets will push away from one another. Let children manipulate the magnets, trying to get them to pull toward or push away from one another, experiencing natural forces of movement at work.
Students test how different objects move--either by pushing or pulling--in this "How Does It Move?" activity. Bring your class outside to your school's playground, where there is different equipment that can be pushed or pulled--or both--for instance, swings and see-saws. In addition to the playground equipment, set out different objects that can be pushed, pulled or both--such as balls, bikes and wheelbarrows. Tell students that they are going to experiment with each of the objects, to decide which type of force will move each of the objects.
Present students with this enjoyable game that tests their knowledge of pushing and pulling. From Clip Art, print out a variety of pictures that display objects that need to be pushed or pulled--or both--to be moved. Some examples include kites, sleds, balls, wheelbarrows and wagons. Tell players you are going to show them pictures of objects that can be moved by either being pushed or pulled, or both pushed and pulled. If the player thinks he knows the force that is needed to move the object, he raises his hand and states the force. If he is correct, he earns a point. The player to earn the most points wins the game.