1. Static Electricity Essential Lab #6
This power point was developed for use with the Grade 5 Quarter 2 Essential Lab # 6. Preview the teacher copy and get necessary preparation for the lab done. Benchmarks are also part of the teacher edition.
Mary Tweedy, Curriculum Support Specialist – Science
Keisha Kidd, Curriculum Support Specialist – Science
Dr. Millard Lightburn, Instructional Supervisor

2. What Do You Know About Atoms?
All matter is made up of tiny particles called atoms.
Atoms contain protons, electrons and neutrons.
Protons have a positive charge, electrons a negative charge, and neutrons a neutral charge.
Engage: Click on What Do You Know About Atoms? (from Scholastic Study Jams) to review content on atoms.

3. Let’s Model the Parts of an Atom
Atoms
Let’s Model the Parts of an Atom
Need: 8 Volunteers (2 neutrons, 2 electrons, 2 protons, 1 nucleus, and 1 atom)
Here’s what to do:
Atom” person holds up the sign and stands near the outside of the circles.
The “Nucleus” stands inside the circle and hold his/her sign up
The 2 “Protons” go inside the center of the circle.
The 2 “Neutrons” go inside the circle
One “Electron” stands on each of the outer circles
“Both Electrons” walk quickly around their orbit
All: Draw a diagram of the model we just made in your journal.
Engage continued. See Essential Lab #6 Static Electricity Teacher’s version p. 15.

4. All matter is made up of tiny particles called atoms.
What are an atom’s
3 basic parts?
What are their
electrical charges?
Neutrons
Protons
Electrons
Neutral
Positive
Negative
Evaluate: This can be used as a quiz.

5. What do Atoms have to do with Static Electricity?
Check this out: Discovery Video: Static Electricity
Engage/explore: The first site is open to all -
Ask students the question. Discuss their ideas. Then play the video and compare their ideas to the facts.
If you have Discovery access, you can play the second video.

6. Now it’s Your Turn to Explore
Essential Lab #6 Static Electricity
Key Question:
How does static electricity cause objects to attract or repel?
Rotate through the 4 stations, follow the directions, and record your data in the chart.
Explore: See Essential Lab #6 Static Electricity teacher page for directions.

7. Key Question: How does static electricity cause objects to attract or repel?
Explain/Evaluate
a. How does what you observed at Station 1 provide evidence to answer your key question?
b. How does what you observed at Station 2 provide evidence to answer your key question?
c. How does what you observed at Station 3 provide evidence to answer your key question?
d. How does what you observed at Station 4 provide evidence to answer your key question?
Explain/Evaluate: See Essential Lab #6 Static Electricity teacher page for directions.

8. Let’s Take Another Look
The protons’ positive charges and their electrons’ negative charges are typically electrically balanced in an atom. Rubbing the balloon on one’s hair (friction) causes it to gain electrons and become negatively charged. This makes your hair stand on end by giving them all the same charge, making them repel one another.
- + +
Explain: Demo and discuss activity explanation.

9. Static Electricity
Rubbing the balloon on your hair, gives it a surplus of electrons. A wall will have an opposite charge, causing them to attract one another and allowing the balloon to stick to the wall.
Explain continued…
Extension: If you have Discovery, you can click on the link: Static Electricity

10. What Do You Know Now? What is static electricity?
When does a static charge build up on an object?
What happens when a static charge builds up on an object?
What is an example from nature of static electricity?
Evaluate: Students can answer these questions and make illustrations with their explanations in their journals.

11. What is Static Electricity?
Static electricity is a buildup of electrical charge in an object.
Friction can cause a static charge buildup.
Static charge causes objects to attract or repel.
Static charge can be released as a brief burst of electrical energy, sometimes visible as a spark, and felt as a shock.
Discovery Reading Passage: Don’t Move
Explain/Evaluate: Students can share their explanation.
Extend/Elaborate: Click on these Discovery sites if available: What is Static Electricity? And Discovery Reading Passage: Don’t Move

12. When Does a Static Charge Build Up on an Object?
There are forces that can change an object’s electrical charge. One such force is friction. Friction is produced by rubbing two objects together. For example, when you walk across the floor, your shoes rub against the carpet. This creates friction. The friction causes electrons to flow from the carpet to your body. Both your body and the carpet become electrically charged.
Explain/Evaluate: students can share their explanation.

13. What causes static electricity?
Explain/Elaborate: Click on the link to an explanation of what causes static electricity (high level). Students need to be familiar with conductors, insulators, electricity, neutralize, and electric field.

14. What Happens When a Static Charge Builds Up on an Object?
An electrically charged object can exert a force on other objects. A charged object will pull on uncharged objects and on objects that have an opposite charge. A charged object will push away another charged object that has the same charge. Static charge can also jump from a charged object to another object. The shock you might feel after rubbing your feet on the carpet is an example of this jump of electrical charge.
Explain/Evaluate: students can share their explanation.

15. What Is an Example from Nature?
Lightning is the release of a very large static charge. Friction causes static electricity to build up in the clouds. Sometimes, electrons jump from cloud to cloud, releasing a very large static charge. The sky lights up, and we see a flash of lightning. Sometimes electrons jump from the cloud to the ground. This creates another flash of lightning.
Explain/Evaluate: Students can share their explanation.

16. RESOURCES Study Jams - Atoms: Protons, Neutron and Electrons
Bill Nye
(Atom’s Family)
Study Jams- Electricity:
Resources
Any questions,