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Science Fair Discrepant Event Lesson Plan

Teacher and Grade Level NOS

Miranda Ramsey Scientific knowledge is a product of both observations and
Natalie Dooley inferences
Grade: 5th
Title: Balloon Magic Trick
(Static Electricity)

Disciplinary Core Ideas NGSS Standard(s)

Physical Science 5-PS1-3. Make observations and measurements to identify
materials based on their properties.

Purpose: To understand some of the physical aspects that make a balloon stick to the wall.
Student Nave Conceptions
Misconceptions:
1. Static Electricity is caused by friction.
2. Static Electricity is electricity which
is static.
3. The wall has magnetic charge that
attracts the balloon.
Science:
Static Electricity is caused by a buildup of
electrical charges in an object. The
electricity is about the forces and charges
within static electricity. The wall is more
positively charged than the balloon
making it stick.
Scientific Background Knowledge for the Discrepant Event
All materials contain tiny particles, called protons and
electrons and they have electric charges. Protons have a
positive charge and electrons have a negative charge.
The two charges balance each other, but sometimes
when two surfaces rub together, some of the electrons
rub off one surface onto the other, which produces static
electricity.
Materials with like charges move away from each other
and those with opposite charges will attract each other.
When you rub a balloon on your head it causes a buildup
of positive and negative static electrical charges.
When you pull the balloon slowly away from your head,
you can see these two opposite static charges attracting
one another and making your hair stand up.
When you rub a balloon against your hair and it sticks to
the wall, you are adding electrons (negative charges) to
the surface of the balloon. The wall is now more
positively charged than the balloon.

Materials: Package of balloons, stickers, display board, stopwatch, paper, pencil, candy-kisses.
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Procedure:

One person does the DE, while other person greets the students in the line and will trade off duties every
other group. The presenter makes sure that the waiting students cant hear the results of why the balloon can
stick to the wall. Only the student(s) who are currently involved in the DE can see what is going on.

Welcome the students and introduce ourselves: Hi, I am Miranda Ramsey/Natalie Dooley.

Ask: What is your name and what grade are you in? (Use the students name during the process)

Pre-Assessment:
Ask: Have you ever tried to rub a balloon on your hair? What does it do?
Hook: When you rub a balloon on your head, your hair becomes crazy! Want to see what happens when you
stick the balloon to the wall after rubbing it on your hair?

Process:

Ask: What do you think is going to happen when you rub a balloon on your hair? Why do you think that?
(No need to ask the second potion-question to younger students.)

Ask: Is it going to make a difference on how long you rub the balloon to your head? Lets find out!

Miranda takes balloon and rubs on her head for a 5 second-Mississippi-count, while Natalie is rubbing a
balloon on her head for a 10 second-Mississippi-count. After each person is done rubbing the balloon on their
head, they immediately stick the balloon to the wall and see how long it sticks while using a stopwatch.

Students observe to see if rubbing the balloon on your head makes a difference as to how long the balloon
will stick on the wall.

Ask: What are you seeing? Which balloon seems to stick on the wall better/longer? The 5-second balloon or
the 10-second balloon?

Ask:Why do you think they stick to the wall?

Depending on the student (younger or older), make sure to reference to the diagrams of static electricity,
balloon, and hair on the display.
The particles on the balloon are attracted to the particles in your hair which creates static electricity.
Static electricity happens when two objects simply touch. Then by rubbing the two objects together,
the balloon to your hair, makes the static electricity stronger. Its like you are charging them!

Ask: Have you guys ever heard the saying, opposites attract?

Well in this case, that is exactly what is happening! The balloon and your hair have charges. The balloon has
a positive charge and your hair has a negative charge. Since they are opposite charges, they are attracted to
one another!
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Ask: Why do you think the balloon stuck to the wall?

Give students the opportunity to use what they have gathered from what they have seen/heard, to make a
conclusion.

Close/Evaluate:
If time is available, have student try this experiment by rubbing their own balloon on their head and stick it to
the wall.

After thanking them for stopping by and watching our DE.

Ask:What was one thing you learned about static electricity?

Ask: Are you able to do this experiment at home? (hand student a balloon)

Offer the student a sticker and a hershey kiss and walk back to the waiting line.
Citations:
Beaty, W. J. (1998). High voltage misconceptions: Static electricity. Retrieved March 20, 2016, from
http://amasci.com/emotor/stmiscon.html

Science Buddies Staff. (2015, May 4). Rubbing Up Against Static Electricity. Retrieved April 1, 2016 from
http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project_ideas/Elec_p017.shtml

Visual for board

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Rubric

Standards NOS, Disciplinary Core Idea, NGSS Standards /5

Nave Conceptions and listing applicable quality /5
Real Science
D.E. Science addresses all aspects of DE, correct science /5
Background
Procedure has all the parts, well scripted, with a beginning/middle/end /10
Questioning listing applicable quality /5
Explanation of DI age appropriate terms and linked to standards /5
Citations linked to misconceptions, science of the DE, and the main /5
sources using APA 6
Professional Writing paraphrased, clear, and organized /5
Professional Writing spelling, usage, and grammar /5
Total
/50