Introducing static electricity
http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/lessons.cfm?DocID=202
A lesson plan for Grades 7–12 Physics and Physical Science
In this lesson from Science NetLinks, students will perform simple experiments creating static electricity. They will demonstrate how opposite charges attract each other and like charges repel each other. Then students will explore a website that further explains these concepts. This lesson plan provides student handouts and links to helpful web resources.
North Carolina Curriculum Alignment
Science (2005)
Grade 7
- Goal 1: The learner will design and conduct investigations to demonstrate an understanding of scientific inquiry.
- Objective 1.01: Identify and create questions and hypotheses that can be answered through scientific investigations.
- Objective 1.02: Develop appropriate experimental procedures for:
- Given questions.
- Student generated questions.
- Objective 1.05: Analyze evidence to:
- Explain observations.
- Make inferences and predictions.
- Develop the relationship between evidence and explanation.
- Objective 1.06: Use mathematics to gather, organize, and present quantitative data resulting from scientific investigations:
- Measurement.
- Analysis of data.
- Graphing.
- Prediction models.
- Objective 1.07: Prepare models and/or computer simulations to:
- Test hypotheses.
- Evaluate how data fit.
- Objective 1.08: Use oral and written language to:
- Communicate findings.
- Defend conclusions of scientific investigations.
- Objective 1.09: Use technologies and information systems to:
- Research.
- Gather and analyze data.
- Visualize data.
- Disseminate findings to others.
- Objective 1.10: Analyze and evaluate information from a scientifically literate viewpoint by reading, hearing, and/or viewing:
- Scientific text.
- Articles.
- Events in the popular press.
Grade 8
- Goal 1: The learner will design and conduct investigations to demonstrate an understanding of scientific inquiry.
- Objective 1.01: Identify and create questions and hypotheses that can be answered through scientific investigations.
- Objective 1.02: Develop appropriate experimental procedures for:
- Given questions.
- Student generated questions.
- Objective 1.05: Analyze evidence to:
- explain observations.
- make inferences and predictions.
- develop the relationship between evidence and explanation.
- Objective 1.06: Use mathematics to gather, organize, and present quantitative data resulting from scientific investigations:
- Measurement.
- Analysis of data.
- Graphing.
- Prediction models.
- Objective 1.07: Prepare models and/or computer simulations to:
- Test hypotheses.
- Evaluate how data fit.
- Objective 1.09: Use technologies and information systems to:
- Research.
- Gather and analyze data.
- Visualize data.
- Disseminate findings to others.
- Objective 1.10: Analyze and evaluate information from a scientifically literate viewpoint by reading, hearing, and/or viewing:
- Scientific text.
- Articles.
- Events in the popular press.
Grades 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 4.01: Investigate and analyze the nature of static electricity and the conservation of electrical charge:
Grades 9–12 — Physics
- Goal 8: The learner will build an understanding of static electricity and direct current electrical circuits.
- Objective 8.01: Analyze the nature of electrical charges.
- Investigate the electrical charging of objects due to transfer of charge.
- Investigate the conservation of electric charge.
- Analyze the relationship among force, charge and distance summarized in Coulomb's law.
- Objective 8.01: Analyze the nature of electrical charges.



