Download Static electricity - Ms. Chelsea Gaudet

Lesson 4 of 6
Science Unit: Invisible forces
Grade 3
(1) 50 min. class
Static electricity
NSES Content Standards (K-4):
NSES:
All students should develop an understanding of:
 Properties of objects and materials
 Position and motion of objects
 Light, heat, electricity, and magnetism
Outcomes:
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100-32: Investigate the polarity of a magnet, determine the
orientation of its poles, and demonstrate that opposite poles
attract and like poles repel
200-2: Provide opportunities for children to explore magnetic
force, learn about the force of gravity
Make and record relevant observations in investigations of
the conditions that affect the force of static electricity, and
draw simple conclusions that identify these conditions (10033, 201-5, 202-7)
Describe and demonstrate new ways to use everyday
materials to produce static electric charges, and describe how
charged materials interact (attract, repel) (101-8, 203-3)
Jordan Smith, Chelsea Gaudet, Joe
Ross, Kayla Brinston
Materials
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Balloons
A carpet
A doorknob
Science journals
Pencils
KWL Chart
Differentiation
Activities will take a hands-on
approach in order to accommodate
different learning styles and abilities.
Students will be grouped with those
in the class that they are known to
work and learn well with.
Engaging Question:
What is static electricity and how does it work?
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Engagement Activity
KWL
Have students discuss, and write in their science journals, what they
know about static electricity. Then students discuss and record what
they want to know about static electricity. The whole class then
regroups to make a class KWL. Students should be guided into
answering where we find static electricity, what it does, how it is
created and where they’ve seen it before.
Exploration
Creating a static charge on the carpet
Students are put in pairs and are asked to rub their sock feet on a
carpet for thirty seconds. After they have done this, one of the
partners touches a door-knob while the other watches the students
finger closely to see what happens. Student should make predictions
in their science journal before this experiment and should record
observations after the experiment.
Explanation
Static electricity is usually caused when certain materials are rubbed
against each other—like wool on plastic or the soles of your shoes on
the carpet. It is also caused when materials are pressed against each
other and pulled apart.
Expansion
Pairs of students will be given a balloon and an empty can. They
will be asked to rub the balloon against their hair for 30 seconds and
then to put the balloon close to the can.
Students, before this experiment, will write a prediction in their
science journal. After completing the experiment, students will then
record their observations. Did the can roll when you put the balloon
close to it? Did it role away from or towards the balloon? Why do
you think this happened?
Explanation
Teacher will facilitate a whole class discussion on the balloon
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experiment. It is important that students understand that:
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Static electricity created a charge, which makes the charged
object magnetic.
Students will then finish the KWL chart in their science journals
noting what they have learned about static electricity.
Evaluation
Hands on Assessment:
The teacher will formatively assess students during the first and
second experiments.
Reflective Assessment:
Students will each write the last part of the KWL in their science
journal. Students will reflect on what they have learned about static
electricity.
KWL Image:
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