Static Electricity

Topic: Explaining how static electricity is present when you brush your hair

Objectives & Outcomes

• Students will be able to explain how static electricity is present when you brush your hair.

Materials

• Hairbrushes
• Handkerchiefs
• Rubber gloves
• Aluminum pie plates

Warm-up

• Ask students if they have ever felt a shock when touching a doorknob after rubbing their socks on the carpet. Ask them to explain what happened and how they felt the shock.
• Introduce the term "static electricity" and explain that it is present when certain materials are rubbed together and become charged with energy.

Direct Instruction

• Show students a comb and have them rub it on their hair several times. Ask them to observe the resulting static electricity on the comb.
• Explain that the static electricity is caused by the friction between the comb's tines and the hair.
• Demonstrate how to create static electricity by rubbing a balloon on a cloth or by rubbing a glass rod on a wool sweater.

Guided Practice

• Have students work in pairs. One student should hold the balloon while the other rubs the glass rod or the wool sweater on it.
• Have students observe the resulting static electricity on the balloon and explain how it is created.

Independent Practice

Project-Based:

Have students create a poster or a presentation about static electricity. They should include information about the different causes of static electricity, the effects it has on objects, and any safety precautions to take.

Closure

Review the main points of the lesson, including the different causes and effects of static electricity. Ask students to share any new insights or understandings they gained about static electricity.

Assessment

Observe students during the guided and independent practice activities to assess their understanding of static electricity. Evaluate their reports for their ability to provide accurate and detailed information about static electricity. Assess students' ability to conduct experiments and make observations about static electricity.