LESSON DESCRIPTION:
Students learn about thunder, lightning, and electrons. Students learn some of the rules that all electrons follow. Students discover how to ‘bend water’ and how to separate a mixture of salt and pepper. As well, students discover that encountering static electricity can be hair-raising experience---literally!!!!

TIME REQUIRED: 30-60 minutes

OBJECTIVES:
Students learn what electrons are and some of their basic properties. Students learn what lightning is and safety tips for what to do and not to do during an electrical storm. Students learn various ways of generating static electricity.

FACILITIES REQUIREMENTS:
IIndoors only. Requires table space for all participants and access to an electrical outlet. The “indoor lightning” is best viewed in a room that can be darkened. Some salt and vermiculite (a substance similar in consistency to pepper) may spill on the floor during this experiment.

SAFETY:
To create the “porcupine hair effect” volunteers stand on top of a 16 inch bucket and put their hand on the static electricity generator (Van de Graaff generator). The static electricity is completely safe to touch.

CALIFORNIA SCIENCE STANDARDS ALIGNMENT

Kindergarden: 1st Grade: 2nd Grade:   3rd Grade:   4rth Grade: 5th Grade: 6th Grade: