Marvelous Magnetic Mazes

Background Information
Students have been studying how magnets affect other magnets and common objects. This activity is
going to apply their knowledge of magnet behavior.
Background knowledge builder for teachers: http://www.howmagnetswork.com/
Background knowledge builders for students:
http://www.brainpopjr.com/science/forces/magnets/grownups.weml
http://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/ks2/science/physical_processes/magnets/play/ (interactive game)

Design Challenge
You have been working hard for the Hasbro Game Company for about a year now. They have decided
youre ready to create your very own game! They want you to create a magnetic maze for children ages
5-7.

Criteria

Your game must use a magnet to move a game piece through the maze using attraction or

repulsion
The magnet must be separated from the game piece by some kind of material so that a player

cannot touch the magnet and game piece together

Your game must have a clear start and finish
Your game must have at least 2 paths that do not lead to the finish
Your game board cannot be larger than 20 inches long and 20 inches wide
Your maze path must be at least 25 inches
Your game must look professional- you may choose a theme or way to decorate it so that other
children will want to play

Materials/Tools

Student journals
Magnets
Magnetic materials to use for game pieces
Cardboard building materials
Tape and/or glue
Popsicle sticks
scissors

Plastic building materials

Clear plastic or plastic wrap
Decorative materials (markers,

construction paper, glue, etc.)

Rulers
Student may request additional materials
for construction

Standards
Science:
S3P2. Students will investigate magnets and how they affect other magnets and common objects.
a. Investigate to find common objects that are attracted to magnets.
b. Investigate how magnets attract and repel each other.
Math:

MCC3.MD.4 Generate measurement data by measuring lengths using rulers marked with halves and
fourths of an inch. Show the data by making a line plot, where the horizontal scale is marked off in
appropriate units whole numbers, halves, or quarters.

Assessments/Rubric

Teacher Observation/anecdotal notes

Completion of student journal
1 Point

Magnet Use

Size

Construction
Quality

3 Points
My magnet only partially

5 Points
My magnet moves the

moves the game piece

game piece through the

My game is either too

through the maze.

My game is either too

entire maze board.

My game is the

large or too small AND my

large or too small OR my

appropriate size. My path

path distance is not

path distance is not

distance is both correctly

calculated or shorter than

calculated or shorter than

calculated and at least 25

25 inches.

25 inches.
Some effort was made to

inches.

My magnet does not move

my game piece.

My game looks unfinished

or undecorated. It would
be hard to convince
someone to buy it.

make my game look nice.

There may be parts that
look unfinished or

My game looks
professional! Any 5-7 year
old would be interested in

incomplete.

playing it!

Supplemental Resources
Literature Connections:
Rosinsky, M. Magnets: Pulling Together, Pushing Apart
Branley, Franklin What Makes a Magnet?
Extension:
Students may graph the path distances of different game boards using a line plot.
Students may create more than one path that leads to the finish line.
Remediation:
Provide students with yarn to measure their 25+ inch path BEFORE construction. They can then use
that yarn to check their path length.

Marvelous Magnetic Mazes

Student Journal
Name_______________________________________

Date___________________

1. What is the problem?

Re-state the problem in your own words.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
OR draw a picture of the problem with labels

2. Brainstorm Possibilities

What do you already know that will help you solve this problem?
Think about the constraints of this challenge.
Sketch or describe some possible solutions.
Be sure to add labels to your design.

3. Collaborate and Construct

Collaborate with your group and construct the solution that you think is best. Share your ideas with your group and decide which
design is the best possible solution to the problem.
Write down your design plans step-by-step. Number each step.

_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
List ALL the materials that you will need to complete your design.

4. Draw
Draw and label your teams final solution. Explain how your design changed during construction.

5. Evaluate
Evaluate your solution!
a. Record your results
b. Did your design solve the problem?
c. Did your design meet the constraints of this challenge?

Does your game must use a magnet to move

a game piece through the maze using
attraction or repulsion?

__Yes __ No

Is the magnet separated from the game piece

by some kind of material so that a player cannot
touch the magnet and game piece together?
__Yes __ No

_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
Does your game must have a clear start
and finish?
__Yes __ No
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
Does your game must have at least 2 paths
that do not lead to the finish?
__Yes __ No
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
Is your game board smaller than 20 inches
long and 20 inches wide?
__Yes __ No
_______________________________________________________________
Is your maze path at least 25 inches?
__Yes __ No
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
Does your game must look professional?
__Yes __ No
d. Does your design need to be improved? If so, what could you do differently next time?

_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________