Static & MagnetismGrade 3 Science for Kids

Static electricity, compasses and making a magnet with electricity.

Static & Magnetism lets third graders make a balloon pick things up with static, build a floating compass and turn a nail into an electromagnet. Exciting experiments about electric and magnetic forces.

  • Grade 3 · Ages 8–9
  • 3 lessons
  • 3 experiments
  • 12 practice questions
  • About 25 min
Start Learning Free Open the Course
  • Static Electricity
  • Balloon Pick-Up
  • Make a Compass
  • Floating Compass
  • Electromagnets
  • Coil Power

Science lab course · Grade 3

Static & Magnetism · Learning goals

What Your Child Will Learn

Make a balloon pick things up with static, build a floating compass, and turn a nail into an electromagnet that lifts paper clips.

  • Rubbing can build up static electricity, which pulls on light objects.
  • A magnetized needle that can turn freely points north, because Earth is a giant magnet.
  • Electricity can make a magnet. More wraps of wire make a stronger electromagnet.

Why it matters

Why This Matters for Kids

  • Invisible forces

    Static and magnetism show kids that forces can act at a distance.

  • How compasses work

    A compass connects magnetism to navigation and Earth itself.

  • Technology

    Electromagnets are used in motors, speakers and cranes, linking science to engineering.

Inside Static & Magnetism

How the Course Works

Each level has a short read-aloud lesson, an interactive experiment and a mini quiz.

  1. Step 1 · Lesson

    Static Electricity

    Everything is made of tiny bits with electric charges.

  2. Step 2 · Experiment

    Balloon Pick-Up

    Let's rub a balloon on a wool sweater and hold it near different things. What will it pick up?

  3. Step 3 · Lesson

    Make a Compass

    The Earth is like a giant magnet!

  4. Step 4 · Experiment

    Floating Compass

    We can build our own compass with a needle, a magnet and a bowl of water. Put the steps in order.

  5. Step 5 · Lesson

    Electromagnets

    Electricity flowing in a wire makes a magnetic field around it.

  6. Step 6 · Experiment

    Coil Power

    Let's wrap wire around a nail, connect a battery, and count how many paper clips it can lift.

Lesson preview

A Peek Inside the Lesson

This is the real lesson text your child hears, read aloud by a friendly voice.

Static Electricity

Everything is made of tiny bits with electric charges.

Rubbing a balloon on your hair moves tiny charges onto the balloon.

The charged balloon can pull light things without touching them: that's static electricity!

Lightning is a giant spark of static electricity.

Make a Compass

The Earth is like a giant magnet!

A compass has a magnetic needle that turns to point north.

Explorers and sailors used compasses to find their way.

Electromagnets

Electricity flowing in a wire makes a magnetic field around it.

Wrap the wire around an iron nail and you make an electromagnet!

Electromagnets can be switched on and off. Big ones lift cars at scrapyards!

For parents

Try It at Home

Learning sticks best when kids use it in real life. Here are simple ideas from this course.

Parent Tip

Rub a balloon on your hair and use it to pick up small bits of paper. Talk about what makes them jump.

Balloon Pick-Up

  1. Blow up a balloon and rub it on your hair.
  2. Hold it over tiny pieces of paper.
  3. Then hold it near a thin stream of tap water. It bends!

Rubbing can build up static electricity, which pulls on light objects.

Floating Compass

  1. With a grown-up, stroke a sewing needle 30 times with a magnet, one way only.
  2. Lay it on a floating leaf or cork in water.
  3. Watch it turn. Check with a phone compass!

A magnetized needle that can turn freely points north, because Earth is a giant magnet.

Coil Power

  1. With a grown-up, wrap coated wire around a big iron nail.
  2. Touch the ends to a battery for a few seconds only.
  3. Pick up paper clips, then let go: they drop!

Electricity can make a magnet. More wraps of wire make a stronger electromagnet.

Practice

Grade 3 Science Practice Questions

Real questions from Static & Magnetism. Try them with your child, then tap to see the answer.

  1. Question 1

    How can you make static electricity?

    • A.Rub a balloon on your hair
    • B.Freeze a balloon
    • C.Pop a balloon
    Show answer

    Rub a balloon on your hair

  2. Question 2

    Which way does a compass needle point?

    • A.Down
    • B.North
    • C.At the sun
    Show answer

    North

  3. Question 3

    What makes an electromagnet work?

    • A.Water
    • B.Sunlight
    • C.Electricity in a wire
    Show answer

    Electricity in a wire

The full course has 12 questions with instant feedback, stars and rewards. Create a free account to play them all.

Static & Magnetism · Questions from parents

Frequently Asked Questions

What age is this course for?

Static & Magnetism is a grade 3 science course for kids ages 8–9. That is Year 4 science in the UK and Year 3 in Australia. It also works well for review in the next grade, or as a challenge for a confident younger learner.

What will my child learn?

Make a balloon pick things up with static, build a floating compass, and turn a nail into an electromagnet that lifts paper clips. Along the way they practice: Rubbing can build up static electricity, which pulls on light objects; A magnetized needle that can turn freely points north, because Earth is a giant magnet; Electricity can make a magnet. More wraps of wire make a stronger electromagnet.

How long does the course take?

About 25 minutes in total, split into 3 short levels. Most kids finish it over two or three sessions. Progress is saved, so they can stop any time and pick up where they left off.

Is this course free?

Static & Magnetism is part of SkillBloom Premium, which unlocks every course in every subject. Each subject also has free courses, so your child can try SkillBloom before you decide.

Does my child need to read well to use it?

No. Every lesson has a friendly read-aloud voice, questions are read aloud too, and the pictures help kids follow along. Confident readers can turn the voice off.

Can we use it for homeschool?

Yes. SkillBloom is built for homeschooling families. Kids work through lessons, games and quizzes on their own, and the parent dashboard shows what they finished and which skills need more practice. It works on phones, tablets and laptops.

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