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Science lesson plan · 3rd grade (Year 4 in England) · 30 minutes

Static electricity: charged objects attract and repel

Electricity and magnetism

CCSS NGSS.3-PS2-3England: KS3 Physics: Electricity and electromagnetism (static electricity)

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Static electricity: charged objects attract and repel.

  • I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
  • I can explain each step and say why it works.
  • I can check my answer and spot a mistake.

Before and after

Needs first: Magnet poles: attract or repel?

Leads to: the next skill in this area.

Materials: Circuit kits (cells, wires, bulbs), Circuit symbol cards, Mini whiteboards, A diagram or short video clip of the idea, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 4 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Magnet poles: attract or repel?). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. You hold two ring magnets so that the south pole of one faces the south pole of the other. What happens? (attract (pull together) / repel (push apart)) → repel (push apart)Prompt: Are the two poles the same or different?
  2. Two magnets push each other away however you hold them closer. What can you say about the ends facing each other? (They are the same pole (both north or both south). / They are opposite poles. / They are both made of wood. / One is not a magnet.) → They are the same pole (both north or both south).Prompt: Which poles repel?
  3. True or false? A magnet's pull is strongest in the middle. (True / False) → FalsePrompt: Same poles: what happens? Different poles: what happens?

Hook · 3 min

  • Show a circuit with a gap and ask why the bulb doesn't light.
  • Share the objective: Static electricity: charged objects attract and repel. Read the success criteria together.

I do: model it · 7 min

  • Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
  • Example: You rub a balloon on your hair and hold it near your head. Your hair lifts towards it. Why?
  • Step 1: The balloon gains negative charge, the hair is left positive, and opposite charges attract.
  • Step 2: So the answer is: Rubbing gave the balloon and hair opposite electric charges, which attract.
  • Answer: Rubbing gave the balloon and hair opposite electric charges, which attract.
  • Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice · 6 min

  • Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
  • Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
  1. Lightning is a giant spark of static electricity. Where does the charge build up? (in the Moon / inside trees / in rainbows / in storm clouds, as ice and water drops rub and bump) → in storm clouds, as ice and water drops rub and bumpPrompt: Think of millions of tiny pieces of ice rubbing together.
  2. Do these attract or repel: two positive charges? (attract / repel) → repelPrompt: Are the charges the same or opposite?

You do: independent practice · 7 min

  • Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
  • Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.

The 6 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 3 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. Two balloons are both rubbed on a jumper (sweater) and hung side by side. What happens? (They push away from each other. / They pop. / They stick together. / Nothing happens.) → They push away from each other.Prompt: Both balloons got the same kind of charge.
  2. Do these attract or repel: a positive charge and a negative charge? (attract / repel) → attractPrompt: Are the charges the same or opposite?

Watch out for

  • Everyday meanings of words getting in the way of the science meaning: define key words explicitly.
  • Remembering facts without the reason: ask "why?" and "what is the evidence?"

Support and stretch

Support

  • Review first: Magnet poles: attract or repel?.
  • Use concrete materials: circuit kits (cells, wires, bulbs).
  • Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
  • Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.

Stretch

  • Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
  • Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.

Homework and more practice

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/science/grade-3.

Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder

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Static electricity: charged objects attract and repel

Name

Date

Score/ 6

  1. Question 1

    Do these attract or repel: two positive charges?

    • A. attract
    • B. repel

  2. Question 2

    True or false? Static electricity and magnetism are exactly the same thing.

    • A. True
    • B. False

  3. Question 3

    A comb rubbed on dry hair can pick up small bits of paper. Why?

    • A. The charged comb attracts the paper.
    • B. The paper is magnetic.
    • C. The paper is alive.
    • D. The comb is wet.

  4. Question 4

    Do these attract or repel: a positive charge and a negative charge?

    • A. attract
    • B. repel

  5. Question 5

    Lightning is a giant spark of static electricity. Where does the charge build up?

    • A. inside trees
    • B. in the Moon
    • C. in storm clouds, as ice and water drops rub and bump
    • D. in rainbows

  6. Question 6

    You rub a balloon on your hair and hold it near your head. Your hair lifts towards it. Why?

    • A. The balloon is a magnet.
    • B. Rubbing gave the balloon and hair opposite electric charges, which attract.
    • C. Wind from the balloon pulls the hair.
    • D. The balloon is sticky.

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Answer key: Static electricity: charged objects attract and repel

  1. 1. B. repel

  2. 2. B. False

  3. 3. A. The charged comb attracts the paper.

  4. 4. A. attract

  5. 5. C. in storm clouds, as ice and water drops rub and bump

  6. 6. B. Rubbing gave the balloon and hair opposite electric charges, which attract.