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Compass Lab

⏱ 0:54📘 Grade 1 Science · Term 2 · Lessons 10–12

Dr Cat and Bunny make a compass in the lab: gather the materials, guess what will happen (3-2-1!), rub a needle with a magnet, test it on paper clips, float it on water — and it points north and south.

The videos are narrated in Mandarin Chinese with on-screen subtitles.

📚 What you will learn

  • Materials: a sewing needle, a magnet, a piece of foam and a bowl of water.
  • Guess first, then test: does the needle become a magnet?
  • Rub the needle with one end of the magnet 20+ times in one direction — careful with the sharp tip!
  • The magnetised needle picks up paper clips; floating on foam it turns and points north–south.

🎙️ What the video says (in Chinese)

  1. 小兔:阴天没有太阳,我们怎么认方向呀?猫博士:欢迎来到小实验室!我们自己做一个指南针!
  2. 猫博士:准备材料:一根缝衣针、一块磁铁、一小块泡沫,还有一碗水。
  3. 猫博士:先来猜一猜:针在磁铁上摩擦以后,会变成什么呢?(3、2、1,想一想)小兔:我猜,它也会变成一块小磁铁!
  4. 猫博士:开始实验!用磁铁的一端,沿着同一个方向,摩擦二十多次。小兔:小心针尖,别扎到手!
  5. 猫博士:现在,拿针去碰一碰回形针。小兔:哇,吸起来了!我猜对啦!猫博士:针被磁化,变成了一根小磁针。
  6. 猫博士:把针放在泡沫上,轻轻放进水里。小兔:它转呀转,停下来,指着南北方向!
  7. 猫博士:实验结论:磁化的针能指南北,这就是一个指南针!一起说:实验成功!

✏️ Try it yourself

  1. How do you rub the needle with the magnet?

    Show answer

    With one end, in the same direction, 20+ times

  2. How can you check the needle became a magnet?

    Show answer

    See if it picks up paper clips

← All lesson videos