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K–12 teaching and learning · from the UNC School of Education

Static electricity and lightning

http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/lessons.cfm?DocID=203

A lesson plan for grades 4 and 9–12 Science

Provider: American Association for the Advancement of Science


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In this lesson, students begin to understand concepts related to static electricity, based on a single example—lightning. The activities in this first of a four-part series on static electricity, help students to make connections between their day-to-day experiences with static electricity—such as lightning, receiving shocks after shuffling across a carpet, taking clothes that cling to each other out of the dryer, combing their hair in the wintertime. After discussing what students know about static electricity, the teacher challenges students to complete webquests that explore the concept. Each webquests provides specific instructions for collecting and processing information students obtain. This lesson offers opportunities for collaborative group work and class presentations. Science NetLinks provides details directions for the lesson and links to web resources from NOVA, Jeremy Smallwood’s site on static electricity, and the Boston Museum of Science website.

North Carolina Curriculum Alignment

Science (2005)

Grade 4

  • Goal 3: The learner will make observations and conduct investigations to build an understanding of magnetism and electricity.
    • Objective 3.09: Recognize lightning as an electrical discharge and show proper safety behavior when lightning occurs.

Grade 9–12 — Physical Science

  • Goal 4: The learner will construct an understanding of electricity and magnetism.
    • Objective 4.01: Investigate and analyze the nature of static electricity and the conservation of electrical charge:
      • Positive and negative charges.
      • Opposite charges attract and like charges repel.
      • Analyze the electrical charging of objects due to the transfer of charge.
    • Objective 4.03: Investigate and analyze magnetism and the practical applications of the characteristics of magnets.
      • Permanent magnets.
      • Electromagnetism.
      • Movement of electrical charges.