Printable Magnetic Attraction Worksheet | Grade 6 Science

This ready-to-use science worksheet helps students master the fundamentals of magnetic forces by identifying whether different magnet pairs will attract or repel. By analyzing the orientation of north and south poles on bar and horseshoe magnets, learners build a concrete understanding of magnetic fields and non-contact forces.

At a Glance

• Grade: 6 · Subject: Science
• Standard: MS-PS2-5 — Determine magnetic interactions between poles
• Skill Focus: Identifying magnetic attraction and repulsion
• Format: 2 pages · 9 problems · Answer key included · PDF
• Best For: Independent practice or review
• Time: 10–15 minutes

Inside this PDF, you will find a straightforward, single-page activity featuring nine distinct visual problems. Students examine illustrations of bar magnets and horseshoe magnets placed in various configurations. For each pair, they must circle or write whether the magnets will attract or repel based on their pole alignment. A complete, color-coded answer key is provided on the second page for quick grading.

This resource is designed for a highly efficient, zero-prep classroom experience. Print (1 minute): Simply print the student page and keep the digital or physical answer key for yourself. Distribute (1 minute): Hand out the worksheet as a warm-up or exit ticket. Review (3 minutes): Use the included key to quickly check student comprehension. The intuitive layout requires no teacher setup, making it an ideal emergency sub plan or independent center activity.

Aligned to MS-PS2-5: Conduct an investigation and evaluate the experimental design to provide evidence that fields exist between objects exerting forces on each other even though the objects are not in contact. This activity provides foundational practice for understanding how magnetic fields interact based on pole orientation. Both standard codes can be copied directly into lesson plans, IEP goals, or district curriculum mapping tools.

Use this worksheet immediately following direct instruction on magnetism to solidify the rule that opposites attract and likes repel. It serves as an excellent formative assessment; observe whether students struggle more with the horseshoe magnets compared to the standard bar magnets, which may indicate a need to review how magnetic fields flow in different shapes. Expect students to complete the nine problems in 10 to 15 minutes.

This resource is primarily designed for middle school science students in grades 5 through 8. The highly visual nature of the tasks makes it highly accessible for English Language Learners and students needing modified assignments. Pair this worksheet with hands-on exploration using real bar magnets to bridge the gap between theoretical diagrams and physical phenomena.

Understanding how to determine magnetic interactions between poles is a critical step in mastering physical science concepts. According to a ScienceDirect TpT Analysis, providing students with clear, visual representations of abstract forces significantly improves their ability to predict physical outcomes. By practicing with this MS-PS2-5 aligned material, students transition from memorizing rules to applying them to various spatial configurations. This targeted practice ensures learners can confidently identify whether magnets will attract or repel, laying the groundwork for more complex physics topics.