Brittany Basile

Static Electricity
Grade: 3rd Standards:
P.5.B.4. Students know electrically charged particles can attract or repel other electricallycharged material (e.g., static electricity). N.5.B.3. Students know the benefits of working with a team and sharing findings.

Materials:
*All materials can be obtained at Wal-Mart, Target or the Dollar Store
1.

Rice Krispies Cereal 2. Wool cloth 3. Experiment Summary worksheet (See last page)

4. 5.

Balloons Paper plates

Procedures:
Engage (2-3 minutes): Ask students: How many of you know what rice krispies are? Has
anyone ever seen rice krispies jump before? Raise your hand if you even think that is possible? Raise your hand if that is the craziest think you have heard? Well, today Im going to show you a way to make rice krispies jump. Explore (10-15 minutes): Have the students come to the back table as I model the experiment they will be doing. The experiment will go as follows: 1. Spread some rice krispies on the paper plate. 2. Blow up the balloon and tie it off. 3. Charge the balloon with static electricity by rubbing the wool against it. (For a little laugh, I might also use a students head/hair) 4. Place the balloon about 1 inch over the top of the rice krispies.
5. Watch as the static electricity in the balloon attracts the rice krispies. Be

amazed as they jump from the paper plate and stick to the side of the balloon.

Explain (5-10 minutes):When we rub the balloon with the piece of wool, electrons jump
from the wool to the balloon. This gives the balloon a negative charge. The rice krispies on the table are positively charged. When we hold the balloon over the rice krispies the opposite charges attract, meaning the negatively charged balloon attracts the positive charge of the rice krispies. As a result the rice krispies defy gravity and jump to the balloon. Elaborate (15-20 minutes): Teacher will send students back to their desk and say: Now it is your turn to experiment with static electricity. Students will now have the opportunity to elaborate on what they just learned by conducting the experiment on their own as follows: Pass out a handful of rice krispies to each student and pass out 1 piece of cloth to each group. The students will take turns sharing the cloth to make static electricity on their balloon. Students should rub the cloth about 10 times, and then pass the cloth. Each student gets a chance to make their own rice krispies jump. Evaluate (5-10 minutes): Students will complete the experiment summary worksheet (see last page) after the experiment has been conducted and all materials are put away.

Teaching Method: During the modeling of the experiment portion of the lesson students will engage in cooperative learning and direct-instruction.

Safety precautions:

Do not throw the rice krispies Do not put the rice krispies in your mouth. Do not hit anyone with your balloon Do not suck the air out of your balloon

Teacher Information:
When we rub the balloon with the piece of wool, electrons jump from the wool to the balloon. This gives the balloon a negative charge. The rice krispies on the table are positively charged. When we hold the balloon over the rice krispies the opposite charges attract, meaning the negatively charged balloon attracts the positive charge of the rice krispies. As a result the rice krispies defy gravity and jump to the balloon.

Integration:

Writing: Students will write about what their favorite part of the experiment was on the Static Electricity Experiment worksheet. They will also draw a picture of what they saw in the experiment on the same worksheet. Technology: http://brainpop.com/science/energy/staticelectricity/preview.weml Students play a game where they have to conquer all the ghosts with static electricity before they can get near. They will see that the more they rub the cloth over the ball (using the mouse) the more static electricity they will have to fire at the ghosts with.

Extend:
Students will experiment by mixing and matching some of the following items to create static electricity: Glass, nylon, wool, fur, silk, paper, cotton, polyester, styrofoam peanuts, salt sugar, ripped-up paper, rubber-soled shoes Students will make a list of the objects that they were able to use to successfully to create static electricity. They will record which object was the positive charge and which object was the negative charge.