This lab walks grades 4 to 6 students through a focused investigation of magnetic polarity. Using a small compass, your student identifies the north and south pole of each bar magnet by watching which end the red compass needle points toward, labels both ends, then brings magnet pairs together to observe and record attraction and repulsion. The observations table on the sheet has columns for left-end and right-end pole identification plus three interaction columns per magnet, so results stay organized across all three trials. Four analysis questions push beyond data collection, asking your student to explain what happens when like poles meet versus unlike poles, and how a compass can reveal an unknown magnet’s polarity.

The magnetic polarity of different bar magnets concept sits naturally inside a unit study on magnetism, electricity, or force and motion for upper elementary. It works as a standalone one-session experiment or as an early lab in a longer magnetism sequence before introducing electromagnets. A Think Further prompt at the bottom asks whether all bar magnets share the same strength, opening a door to a follow-up paper-clip test that your homeschooler can design independently.