My name is Catherine and I will be teaching 1st/2nd class this year.
My interesting fact is that 95% of the universe is invisible!
Teaching an enquiry based lesson on electricity is enjoyable for all.
Introduction/Prompt: Picture book on a stormy day/night when the house loses its electricity.
Wonder/Explore: Elicit prior knowledge on the sources of electricity in the house, what uses electricity & the importance of electricity. Explain that electricity is everywhere!
Investigate- How we can create electricity!
Predict: Can we create electricity with a balloon and various items. Show Magnets and how they have positive & negative ends (North & south poles)
Experiment:
Rub an inflated balloon on your head for about 10 seconds.
Slowly move it away – what happens?
What happens when you hold the balloon near small pieces of paper, an empty drink/soda can, or a thin stream of water running from a tap?
If you do it right you can even place the balloon on a wall or door and leave it stuck there!
Explanation:
When you rub the balloon on your hair you are giving it a small electric charge. What’s actually happening is you are rubbing tiny particles called electrons from your hair and onto the balloon. This gives the balloon a slightly negative charge and you and your hair a slightly positive charge, and opposite charges attract each other and try to stick to each other. This is why when you move the balloon away from your hair, your hair stands on end and tries to go with it!
You might notice that your hair carries on standing up after you take the balloon away – that’s because you’ve left each hair with a positive charge!
Explain to the children that this electric charge is very small and eventually the electrons will balance out again and the balloon loses its magical sticky powers. But if the air is dry enough you can leave the balloon on a wall and it can stay there for days!
Discuss the experiment & their predictions.
Conclusion: What if questions?
What would happen if you:
Had wet hair?
Rubbed the balloon on a woolly jumper instead of your hair?
Rubbed two balloons on your hair and then brought them together?