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Science lesson plan · 3rd grade (Year 4 in England) · 45 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 · 5 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 north pole of one faces the north 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. A ring magnet floats above another on a pencil. Why doesn't it fall down? (The pencil is magnetic. / There is no gravity on a pencil. / The top magnet is very light air. / The facing poles are the same, so they push apart.) → The facing poles are the same, so they push apart.Prompt: Something is pushing it up, balancing gravity.
  3. True or false? Magnets can only attract, never repel. (True / False) → FalsePrompt: Same poles: what happens? Different poles: what happens?

Hook · 5 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 · 10 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 · 10 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. You rub a balloon on your hair and hold it near your head. Your hair lifts towards it. Why? (The balloon is sticky. / The balloon is a magnet. / Rubbing gave the balloon and hair opposite electric charges, which attract. / Wind from the balloon pulls the hair.) → Rubbing gave the balloon and hair opposite electric charges, which attract.Prompt: Rubbing moves tiny charged particles (electrons) from one material to the other.
  2. Do these attract or repel: two negative charges? (attract / repel) → repelPrompt: Are the charges the same or opposite?

You do: independent practice · 10 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 8 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 5 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. Do these attract or repel: a charged balloon and your hair? (attract / repel) → attractPrompt: Are the charges the same or opposite?
  2. A comb rubbed on dry hair can pick up small bits of paper. Why? (The comb is wet. / The paper is magnetic. / The paper is alive. / The charged comb attracts the paper.) → The charged comb attracts the paper.Prompt: Was the comb charged?

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/ 8

  1. Question 1

    Two balloons are both rubbed on a jumper (sweater) and hung side by side. What happens?

    • A. They pop.
    • B. Nothing happens.
    • C. They stick together.
    • D. They push away from each other.

  2. Question 2

    True or false? Lightning is a huge discharge of static electricity.

    • A. True
    • B. False

  3. Question 3

    Do these attract or repel: two positive charges?

    • A. attract
    • B. repel

  4. Question 4

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

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

  5. Question 5

    True or false? Rubbing two materials together can give them static charges.

    • A. True
    • B. False

  6. Question 6

    Do these attract or repel: two balloons both rubbed on the same jumper (sweater)?

    • A. attract
    • B. repel

  7. Question 7

    True or false? Two balloons rubbed on the same jumper attract each other.

    • A. True
    • B. False

  8. Question 8

    Do these attract or repel: a charged balloon and your hair?

    • A. attract
    • B. repel

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Answer key: Static electricity: charged objects attract and repel

  1. 1. D. They push away from each other.

  2. 2. A. True

  3. 3. B. repel

  4. 4. D. in storm clouds, as ice and water drops rub and bump

  5. 5. A. True

  6. 6. B. repel

  7. 7. B. False

  8. 8. A. attract