Static electricity and sparks
Explain static electricity as the build-up of electric charge through friction, describe how charged objects attract or repel each other, and relate static discharge to everyday phenomena such as lightning
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Static electricity and sparks means practising the idea at the table with a simple hands-on check. We will demo once, then your child tries.
Materials: A small toy car or ball; A ramp or book stack and a ruler. 1. Say the goal of Static electricity and sparks in plain words once. 2. Adult gives one gentle push and one stronger push, then compares how far the object travels. 3. Child tries three push or pull trials and records which force made a bigger change. 4. Fresh check: one fresh push/pull comparison. Record and stop. Done: three recorded trials with a clear force comparison. Proof: parent note of examples and results. Stop: End after the fresh check; keep optional challenge for another day.
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Learning resources
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PhET Interactive Simulations · Practice link — not the full lesson
Balloons and Static Electricity
Before you open · source notes
Balloons and Static Electricity supports hands-on exploration for Static electricity and sparks. Not every lab worksheet.
Free interactive page, no sign-in required for the tested path.
Before you openAsk the learner what they changed in the sim or page and what they observed.
Opening this link does not save learning or assess mastery.
Source, access and review notes
Public PhET Interactive Simulations page. An anonymous GET on 2026-11-12 returned HTTP 200 with no login or payment prompt for this URL. Opening the link does not save practice or assess mastery. An adult should preview and guide the learner.
PhET Interactive Simulations. “Balloons and Static Electricity.” External page; Gakuva does not copy, host, embed, or redistribute materials.
Unknown — link only
Check understanding
- Explains that rubbing transfers electrons from one material to another, creating opposite charges
- States that like charges repel and unlike charges attract
- Links the concept of static discharge to the formation of lightning as a large-scale electric spark
“Can your child explain why a balloon rubbed on hair sticks to the wall, and connect this to the science of how lightning forms during a thunderstorm?”
Curriculum record
- Type
- Conceptual
- Subject
- Science
- Domain
- Energy
- Age range
- Ages 11–12
Standards