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Indoor activity

Magnetic Fishing Game

Make a magnetic fishing rod and colourful cardboard fish, then see how many you can catch! Perfect for pretend play and counting practice.

Ages 4-7 0-1 hours Education 6/10

Materials

  • Colouring Pencils
  • Magnets
  • Markers
  • Paper
  • Paper Clips
  • Scissors
  • Straws
  • String

Illustrated Steps

1

Draw and Cut Your Fish

Draw 8–12 palm-sized fish on paper, colour them and number each one 1–12, then cut them out.

2

Clip on the Paperclips

Thread a paper clip through the nose of each fish and flatten it so it grips firmly.

3

Build Your Fishing Rod

Tie string to a straw tip with a double knot, then tie a magnet to the other end so it dangles freely.

4

Set Up the Pond

Spread fish face-up on the floor and lower your magnet toward each paper clip to catch them.

What You’ll Create

Get ready to cast a line! 🎣 You’ll draw and colour a whole shoal of paper fish, clip a shiny paper clip to each one, then build a magnetic fishing rod from a straw, string, and a magnet. Spread the fish on the floor as your pond and take turns fishing — can you name the fish you catch? With numbers on each fish, it becomes a counting game too!

How to Set It Up

Step 1: Draw and Cut Your Fish

On a sheet of paper, use a marker to draw 8–12 fish shapes — each about the size of your palm. Make them different: some fat, some thin, some with spots, some with stripes. ⚠️ Adult Helper Needed — use scissors to cut them out, as the curves can be tricky for small hands. Colour each fish with colouring pencils and write a number on each one from 1 to 12.

Step 2: Clip on the Paperclips

Pinch open a paper clip and thread the pointed end through the nose (front) of each fish, so the clip sticks out like a little beak. Squeeze it back flat against the paper. Test by holding the fish upside down — the clip should stay on firmly. Repeat for every fish.

Step 3: Build Your Fishing Rod

Take a straw and cut a piece of string about 50 cm long. Tie one end of the string securely to the tip of the straw with a double knot — wrap it around twice and pull tight. Then tie the other end of the string to a small magnet with another double knot. Tug the string gently to test — the magnet should dangle freely below the rod tip.

Step 4: Set Up the Pond

Spread all the fish face-up on the floor in a rough circle — that’s your pond! Stand back about an arm’s length and lower the magnet toward a fish’s paper clip. When the magnet snaps onto the clip, slowly lift the rod — you’ve made a catch! 🐟 Take turns, count how many each player catches, and add up the numbers on the fish for a bonus score.

Have fun!

  • 🔢 Add the numbers on all your caught fish together — whose total score is highest?
  • 🏅 Give different fish different point values (big fish = 5 points, small fish = 1 point).
  • ⏱️ Set a 30-second timer and see how many fish you can catch in one go.
  • 🦈 Draw a shark card — if you catch it, you lose a point!

Why It’s Amazing

  • Counting and Maths: Adding up the numbers on caught fish builds number fluency in a genuinely fun context. 🔢
  • Fine Motor Skills: Guiding the magnet to the paper clip develops hand-eye coordination and precision. 🎯
  • Science Concepts: Children experience magnetism first-hand — discovering that magnets attract metal but not paper. 🧲
  • Social Skills: Taking turns, counting scores, and following game rules builds patience and fair play. 🤝

Pro Tips

For ages 4–5: Focus on catching and counting — skip the scoring. Use big fish for easier targets.

For ages 5–7: Add the numbers on the fish they catch for a running total. Challenge them to reach 20 before switching turns.

Tip: Use a stronger magnet (a fridge magnet works well) if the paper clips are slipping off. Sticky-taping the paper clip flat to each fish also helps them stay attached during lifting.