Toddler and Early Years STEM – An Experiment to Try
Sandra Beale, Founder of Toddler and Early Years STEAM
2nd April 2024
A Toddler and Early Years STEM Experiment to Try
I thought a fun experiment that you could try over Easter and Spring in your Early Years setting could be the Magnetic Suspension experiment. Its great fun and the children at my sessions love it!
Ask your preschoolers or Key Stage 1 children to gather around. They could either sit around the table or stand. I always find being flexible with seating arrangements makes for more enjoyable experiences for Children and their Care Givers.
Once they are settled you could maybe start by asking them if they know what a magnetic suspension is? Then explain that you are going to show them what magnetic suspension is.
For this experiment you will need a magnetic wand, 6 inches of thread, scissors, paperclips, a yellow or any coloured feather and cellotape.
You could then either hand out a magnetic wand to each child or use just one or two depending on how many you have. Attach the thread to one end of the paper clip and cellotape the other end to the table. Attach the feather to the paper clip, use the magnetic wand to lift the paper clip and then gently tug the paperclip downwards and lift the magnetic wand a bit higher up, the paper clip and feather will suspend almost in thin air, but it’s being pulled by the magnetic force of the magnetic wand.
About the Author
Sandra Beale has a background in psychology, she has worked in Advertising as a copywriter and has also made very short experimental films some of which have won awards and nominations.
Sandra is a mum of three and started Toddler and Early Years STEAM sessions when her middle son was 9 months old. He’s 9 years old now!
What started as entertainment solely for her baby soon grew after visiting friends were amazed at a 9-month-old doing science experiments and wanted their children to participate in the sessions.
Since then, the sessions have grown and have appeared several times on the BBC, BBC Tiny Happy People, BBC Radio, BBC Breakfast, Early Years TV, local and national newspapers and magazines and were nominated for a STEM Initiative of the Year Award at the Cambridge Science and Technology Awards in May 2023.
Sandra has also been participating in the BBC’s STEM season for the last 3 years with a workshop on her Toddler and Early Years STEAM sessions. She has also done sessions at the Cambridge Science Centre and Saffron Walden Museum as well as with local primary schools and nurseries and at a local French Restaurant in Saffron Walden. Sandra’s Toddler and Early Years STEM have been raising funds for BBC Children in Need since 2020.
The sessions are held every Monday morning at Sandra’s home at 9:30am for an hour throughout the year. An example of a typical Monday morning session is a small group of four or five young children aged between 2 and 4 years along with their mums around her dining table exploring various science concepts in a fun and playful environment.
The sessions are run with a bigger group and more varied ages during half term and holidays. There are various themed sessions also depending on the time of year.
The local MP for Saffron Walden Kemi Badenoch attended one of Sandra’s themed summer sessions in September 2023 and enjoyed participating in the 5 experiments.
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