Introduction and Static Electricity
Fourth grade Physics lesson
Liaison:
Date:
Group Members: Michel Di Capua, Nick Grandy
School: Tobin
Teacher: Ms. Hill
Materials:
balloon
comb
spoon
(running water)
kid's hair
Procedure:
We will introduce ourselves and then split off into two groups, one of which will start
decorating their "science folders," the others of which will watch simple static
electricity demonstrations:
charging a balloon, charging a comb, the effect on hair, the effect of charged objects on
non-conductors, the effect of charged objects on conductors....
try to use the scientific method in "is water a conductor?" and then watch how a charged
spoon causes running stream of water to diverge
This might be over their heads... the notion of conductors and the notion, too, of charges,
so we'll see whether it's even appropriate to introduce these principles.
But it's the sparking (no pun intended) of curiosity that we seek in this lesson, along
with introductions.
With this group, we'll then ask them to go around, introduce themselves, and along with their
name, to ask a scientific question.
We'll show them the way by giving examples of scientific questions (i.e. why is the sky blue?)
And what we aim to show is how non-creative you need to be to ask a scientific question.
Anything counts! Why do old people have wrinkles? How does the schoolbus I took work?
How does a pencil leave a mark on paper?
We will then let this group decorate the folders, and do the same with the other group.
Evaluation:
Could the kids really provide examples of scientific questions?
How receptive were they to demonstration?
How receptive were they to introduction of scientific principles?
Does "charge" as a concept make sense to them?
What about
Comments:
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