DIY Magnetic Words Activity for Word Work

Magnetic Words make a great Word Work activity for intermediate students.  Some of the things they can do are:

• create poetry
• put words in alphabetical order
• practice Spelling rules, like changing the y to i and then add er or est
• change words into adverbs using -ly
• changing words from singular to plural
• sort words by parts of speech

This simple magnetic activity in inexpensive to make and is just the right size to sit on a child's lap anywhere in the room.  The sides on the pan minimize losing pieces.  You will need:

• a cheap metal pan (I used a $2 "brownie pan" from Wal-mart)
• GLAD Mini-Round containers (8 in a package)
• magnetic words (I bought two different-colored sets that were less than $1 each)
• duct tape (you can get creative here but I just used gray)
• scissors
• hot glue and glue gun (optional)
• Sharpie marker (optional)

     Either glue or tape the container in the corner of the pan.  Pull a strip of duct tape off the roll but don't cut it off yet.  While it's attached to the roll, cut it lengthwise down the middle.  Then cut it off the roll (way easier).  Take your cut piece and wrap it around 1/2 the container.  Place the container in the corner of the pan, taping it in place.

Separate your magnetic words and put them in the container.  I hot glued the last two rows (alphabet and numbers) to the top of the pan for decoration.  If you are a primary grade teacher adapting this activity, you will probably want to keep those letters and numbers in the container.  You may want to label the activity "Magnetic Words" with the Sharpie on the side of the pan so kids can see it when it is on a shelf.  You can also draw columns for word sorts with titles above.  I choose to leave my blank so students can use them for any purpose they want.
In this picture, I wanted to show how to store two activities.  Since nothing should fall out, they can be stored one on top of the other (the top one upside down), like shown.

If you want student directions for the activities that fit into the container click here.  Just copy, laminate, and roll to fit in the container.  
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