Sorting: Magnets

If you have a magnet around the house, this is the easiest activity to throw together.
Materials:  Magnet (mine is the one used in canning), Dollar Tree Cookie tray, optional labels saying “Magnetic” and “Not Magnetic” (got mine here), a pencil box or bread pan, and crap from your junk drawer.  HA!
How To:
1.  Call child over and show him the box.
2.  Lay the two signs on a mat like so:
3.  Begin pulling items from the box and testing them, placing in the correct column.
4.  After two or three, say “I’m done testing now” and put them back in the box.

Note:  Once child has determined which items are magnetic a few times, objects generally have to be switched for new items from your junk drawer to keep interest.  I keep the same items out for a week, then if I’m going to re-use the activity the next week, I change out all the items.