Metal detectors

Example activity

What will the children do?

Adults or children hide a selection of objects in the sand pit or under pieces of felt. Give the children chance to explore the area with the metal detector. Ask the children what happens as they move the detector over different objects. Encourage children to talk about the objects that are setting the metal detector off.

Areas of learning

• Knowledge and understanding of the world
• Communication, language and literacy
• Physical development

What do we want the children to learn?

• Find out about and identify the uses of everyday technology
• Investigate and observe objects and materials
• Handle tools with increasing control
• Know how to operate simple equipment

Resources

• Children’s metal detector, sand pit and spades or felt squares/pieces of material.

You will be able to obtain the resources used from the companies listed here.

Information and communications technology (ICT) levels of differentiation

• Able to use an on and off switch, recognising the power light.
• Recognises the connection between the detector and material and responds appropriately to the beeping sound.
• Able to change the volume of the beeping sound.

Children’s individual targets, that this activity could meet

• To investigate objects and materials.
• To ask questions about why things happen and how things work.
• To engage in language within a shared context

Adult input (including language to be introduced)

• Encourage discussion about how to move the metal detector.
• Adults will be needed to support the children in their use of ICT skills, to ensure safety, to encourage interactions and to follow the children’s interests
• switch, volume,

Areas & resources inside & out for spontaneous learning

• Making pirate maps to find treasure.
• Making ‘play’ metal detectors with used materials

Questions for assessment opportunities

• How do you know if the metal detector has found something?
• What did you find?
• Did all of the objects make the detector go beep?
• What kinds of materials/objects made the detector beep ?

Observation

• Do the children manage to hold and use the metal detector safely and appropriately?
• Are they interested in how the metal detector is working; does it increase their observation/investigation of the world around them?
• Are they curious/pleased with what they find?
• Do the children comment / talk about their findings?
• Do the children make any suggestions or draw conclusions about how the metal detector works?