teacher’s guide for: static electricity - rock-it...

Contents:

Quick Reference Sheets:• Intro/Demos:Electrons & Static Electricity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .page2• Experiment:Using Static Electricity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .page3• EquipmentList: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .page3• Story,Part1:Jack and Jill and the Lightning Storm . . . . . . . . . . . . .page4• Story,Ending . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .page5

Video Transcript:• Intro/Demos:Electrons & Static Electricity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .page6• Story,Part1:Jack and Jill and the Lightning Storm . . . . . . . . . . . .page10• Experiment:Using Static Electricity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .page14• StoryEnding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .page15

Teacher’s Guide for:

Static ElectricityNote: All activities in this document should be performed with adult supervision. Likewise, common sense and care are essential to the conduct of any and all activities, whether described in this document or otherwise. Parents or guardians should supervise children. Rock-it Science assumes no responsibility for any injuries or damages arising from any activities.

Note: All activities in this document should be performed with adult supervision. Likewise, common sense and care are essential to the conduct of any and all activities, whether described in this document or otherwise. Parents or guardians should supervise children. Rock-it Science assumes no responsibility for any injuries or damages arising from any activities.

StaticElectricityARock-itScienceLessonFilmedJune,2009

Title Page of Video

NOTE: This is the transcript of a lesson that was videotaped during an actual Rock-it Science class with real students, not actors. The students’ brainstorming comments are included on the video but are not transcribed here because they’re not part of the lesson presentation.

Rock-it Science2110 Walsh Ave, Unit FSanta Clara, CA 95050www.rockitscience.org

(c) 2012 Rock-it Science Educationally Useful Programs. All Rights Reserved

http://www.rockitscience.com/

Rock-it Science Teacher’s Guide Static Electricity --

Intro Quick Recap:

• Whathappenswhenyouslidedownaplasticslide?Static .• Rubaballoononhairtoshowhowthestaticmakesitpuffup .• ExplainhowaVandeGraafgeneratorworks,withthebeltmov-ingandelectronsjumpingonatthebottomandoffatthetop .

• Showhowyoucanmakedryicefogdisappearbypointingatit .(NOTE:Thefogisoptionalforthislesson .Seethelessonenti-tled“FogandStaticElectricity”foramorecompletedescriptionofthiseffectandhowtosetitup .)

• HavesomeonestandonthestepstoolandputtheirhandontopoftheVandeGraafball,holdinganaluminumpietin .Seetheirhairpuffup .

• ThreeRulesofElectrons:1)Theyhateeachother;2)TheyhaveESP;3)Theyhavestickyfeet .

• ShowhowastackofaluminumpietinswillflyoffthetopoftheVandeGraaf .

• StickathumbtackorT-pinontheballwiththepointupward .• LetstudentsfeelthesparkfromtheVandeGraaf,andletthemfeelthe“air”thatseemstocomeoffthepin .

• HaveastudentattheVandeGraafpointtoasecondstudent,andhavethesecondstudentpointatathirdone .Thenhavethethirdstu-denttouchthesecondone’sfinger,whichgivesthesecondstudentasmallshock .

• DemonstratelargeVandeGraaf .Showhowsparkscanbelongorshort,andhowthecolorchanges .(ThelargeVandeGraafgeneratorwasspeciallybuiltbyMr .Mac .andisnotnecessaryforthelesson .)

Lesson Intro/Demos: Electrons & Static Electricity

Making Dry Ice Fog Disappear

Feeling the Sparks

Three-way Spark Transfer Aluminum Pans Fly


Equipment List: “Static Electricity”Items needed for Instructor:

• SmallVandeGraaf• ClearPlasticSquareTub• AluminumFoil• Insulatedcablewithalligatorclips• DryIce(smallamount)• Water• Balloon(sizenotimportant)• Stepstool• 6”AluminumPieTins(about10-15)• Thumbtackwithmetalbase• ScotchTape• Mirror(largeenoughtoseeone’shairpuffedout)• GiantVanDeGraafgenerator(specialRock-itScienceitem)• FiberglasPoleforgiantVanDeGraaf• Dustpan&Brush(tocleanofftable)

Items needed for Students:

Consumables (per student):

• Vermiculite(about1tsp .)• Salt(about1tsp .)• PlasticSpoonOther:

• None

Prep Work:

• Checkweather(highhumiditynotgoodforVandeGraafgenerator)

• CleanMirror• BuysmallamountofDryIce(orschedulethislessononsamedayasDryIceLesson,anduseleftoverdryice)

Experiment Quick Recap: “Using Static Electricity”Experiment: Use Static Electricity to Separate Salt & Pepper

• Eachstudentgetsasmallpileofvermiculiteandasmallpileofsaltontopofit .

• Studentsmixtheingredientstogetherthoroughly .• Studentshavetoseparatethemintotwopiles .• Afterawhile,studentsaregivenplasticspoonsandaballoontouse .

Van de Graaf generator and Aluminum Pie Tins

Story Recap: “Jack and Jill and the Lightning Storm”


Part 1:

• Jack&Jillclimbedupahillandastormstartedcoming .• Jackwouldn’tleave,butJillstarteddownthehillandhuggedatree .• ThenJillwenttothebottomofthehillandreadcomicssofastherhaircaughtfire .• ShejumpedintoaslimypondnearFredericka’scave .• Thensheranupanotherhillandhidbehindarock .• Askstudentswhichplaceissafest(ontheflatland),andwhytheothersaremoredangerous .• Jackwantedtotakeapictureofalightningboltstrikinghim,sohewouldn’tleavethehill .• EvilMisterFredwasflyingaroundinhisspaceshipandgotouttotrytosneakuponJill .• Jillgotintotheship,flewovertoJack,andgrabbedhimwithatractorbeam,andcrashedtheshipintheslimywater .

• Frederickacapturedthem,lockedtheminacage,andwasgoingtofeedthemtoherdragon .• Jack&Jillpersuadedhertoletthemgoiftheycouldsolveaproblem:separateapileofsalt&pepper .

Story Recap (cont.): “Jack and Jill and the Lightning Storm”


Ending (same image, no additional drawings):

• Jackstartedjumpingaroundandbangingthetableinfrustration,andthesaltandpepperspilledintotheslimywater .

• Thesaltgotdissolvedinthewater,andthepepperfloatedtothetop .• Jackthrewsomeofthepepperintothedragon’sface,andhesneezedjustasFrederickawasopeningthecage .

• Jack&Jillducked,butEvilMisterFredhadjustpokedhisheadintothecave,lookingforJill .• BothFrederickaandEvilMisterFredgothitwiththedragonfire .


Transcript: Introduction/Demos Haveyoueversliddownaplasticslidebefore?Didyourhaireverdoanythingweirdafterslidingdownaplasticslide?Yeah,yourhaircanstickoutbystatic .Wheneveranytwothingsrubtogether,itdoesn’tmat-terwhattheyare,theymakesomestaticelectricity,aslongasthetwothingsaredifferentfromeachother .Soifyourubyourhandonyourhead,youcanmakesomestaticonyourself,butyouusuallydon’tevenfeelit .Ifyourubaballoononyourhead,you’veprobablyseenthatbefore .Let’sgetaballoon .[Blows up a balloon.]Let’ssee,Ineedavol-unteer’shair .Oh,look,she’sgotgoodhair .[Rubs balloon on student’s hair, then pulls the balloon upward to show how the hair lifts up toward it.]Andlookatthat .Thestaticelectricityasitworks .

Now,whenyougodownaslide,yougetchargebuiltuponyou,andtheslidebeingplasticdoesn’tletitgoanywhere .Plasticisagoodinsulator .Soasyou’reslidingdown,yougetmoreandmoreandmorechargedup .Ifyouhaveyourfriendstandatthebottomwiththeirhandout,thenyoucantouchtheirhandandthey’llfeelasparkasyougoby .Somethingsmakemorestaticthanothers .Ifyouslidedownwithyourdog,doghairagainsttheslidemakeslotsofstatic,andthepersondownatthebottomwillgetabigzap .Ifyouslidedownwearinglike,zip-lock-bagpants,plasticpants,youwon’tgethardlyanystaticatall .

AndtodaywehavewaystomakestaticinmachinescalledVandeGraafgenerators .Theyhavesomethinglikeaslideinside .There’sarubberbandthatgoesaroundandaroundandaroundandaround .Andthenthere’sapulleyatthetopmadeoutofonekindofplasticandapulleyatthebottommadeoutofanotherkind .Betweenthetwoofthem,

theymakeallkindsofstaticcharge .Thisonetakeselectrons,whichiselectricitymadeoutofitty-bittylittlethingscalledelectrons .Andtheelectronsliketojumpontherubberbandatthebottom,becausethepulleyunderneathispositivelycharged,andtheelectronswanttogothere .Theythinkthisisapicnicarea .Andtheygozzzzzhhhh-boom!--stickontherubberband .Thentherubberbandcarriesthemtothetop .Whentheygettothetop,theydiscovertotheirhorrorthatthere’sanotherpulleytherewiththesamechargeasthem .Andtheygo,“Aaaaahhhh!”andtheyjumpoffontotheball .

Sowe’regoingtousesomeofthoseelectronstoday .Thiselectronpumpwillpumpthemuptothetop,andwe’llgoofaroundwiththemandseewhattheydo .We’vegotsomefoghere[indicates dry ice fog in a plastic container],there’soneexperimentyoucandowhere,ifyoustandonsomethingthat’sinsulatedandlettheelectricchargegointoyou . . .I’llturn

Van de Graaf Generator

Use an Insulated Stepstool


thison[turns on Van de Graaf].Thisonemakeslittlesparks[holds hand next to ball to show sparks jumping toward his hand].Canyouseethelittlesparks?[Student: Plus, it hurts.]Oh,yeah,they’reextremelypainful .I’minagony .IfIputmyhandontheball,theelectronsgothroughmyarm,throughmybody,downthroughmyfeetintothefloor .IfIstandonsomethingthat’splastic[stands on plastic stepstool],theelectronsgointomeandIstarttogetchargedup .Isanythinghappeningtomeyet?[Students: Your hair!]Now,ifIpointmyfingeratthefog--doyouseethefogmove?Theelectronsgoandtheytrytohitthealumi-numfoilwhichiscloseby,anditknocksdownthefog .Andthere’sdryiceintherethat’sbusymakingfog,soI’mkillingitalmostasfastasit’smakingit,withmyfinger .Soifyou’reattheairportandtheysay,“Oh,no,planescan’ttakeoffbecausethere’sfogontherunway,”yourunaround,rubballoonsonyourheadasfastasyoucan,pointyourfingersintotheair,andkillallthefogforthemsothattheairplanescantakeoff .[Student: Your hair is still sticking up!]Isitstillstickingup?

[Instructor calls up his assistant.]Let’sseewhathappensifJen . . .[assistant stands on stepstool, with hand on Van de Graaf].Okay,justputyourhandrightonthere .Don’tpresstoohard .[Her hair starts to stand on end.]Oh,lookatthat--that’sperfect!It’sworkinggood .Now,justdothis .[Assistant shakes her head to make her hair stand up even more.]Lookatthat .She’sgottheperfecthair .Now,takeyourhandofftheballandseeifyourhairstayspuffed .[She removes her hand from the ball. Instructor points one finger at her hair.]Ooh,nowwatchthis .[Her hair becomes attracted to his finger.]Nowtouchmyfinger .[She does so and gets a big shock.]Okay,nowyoucanstepdownbecauseyou’realldischarged .

Sometimeswecanseetheelectrons .IfIturnoffthelight,youcanseetheelectronsastheyjumptomyknuckle[holds fist next to ball].Mostofthetimeyoucan’tseethem .Thesearelittletinylightningbolts .[Student: And they hurt. It’s like pinching your knuckle with your fingers.]Orlikejabbingyourfingernailintoyourknuckle .Sometimestheymakeotherthingshappen .[Turns lights back on.]

Electronsfollowthreebasicrules .RuleNumberOneis:Theyhateeachother .Ifyouputtwoelectronsinthesameplace,theylookateachotherandgo,“Aaaaahhhhh!”andruninoppositedirections .RuleNumberTwois:Theyhaveextrasensoryperception .Theyalwayknowwheretheotherelectronsare .Soifoneelectronishere,andtheotherelectrongoesandhidesrightbehind[this student’s]head,thisguycan’tseethatguy,butheknowshe’stherewithhisextrasensoryperception .Andiftheonebehindhisheadtriestosneakout,sneakaroundbehindme,thisguysays,“Ah,youcan’tsneakupbehindme .Iknowyou’rethere,”andwillrunaway .TheThirdRuleofelectronsis:Theyhavestickyfeet .

Assistant’s Hair Stands Up

Making Dry Ice Fog Disappear


Whenyougetintocollegeandtheprofessorsays,“Well,doesanybodyhereknowanythingaboutelectrons?”youstandrightupandyousay,“Yes!TheRuleNumberOneis:Theyhateeachother .RuleNumberTwois:TheyhaveESP .AndRuleNumberThreeis:Theyhavestickyfeet .”Andyourprofessorwillsay,“Whatiswrongwiththatguy?”

Butthat’showtheyact .Wecankindofproveit .We’llputourtuboutoftheway .[Holds up aluminum pie tin.]Supposethisisyournewcar .Yourdadpaidahundredthousanddollarsforyournewcar .Hebringsitinandyousay,“That’snotmuchofacar,dad .Lookslikeanaluminumpiepantome .”Anddadsays,“Ah,butit’saspecialpiepan .Youcansitonitandrideaway .”Andyousay,“Dad,you’reasadcase .Yourbrainhasgonecrazy .”Andhesays,“No,no,no,mybrainhasn’tgonecrazy .”Let’sjustuseawholebunchofcars .We’llputthemonhere[puts a stack of pie tins on top of the ball, keeping one hand on top to hold them in place].Nowthey’regoingtobeallcoveredwithelectrons .NowI’mgoingtoletthemgoandseeiftheydoany-thing .[Takes hand away and pie tins fly off the stack one by one.]Goodcar!Ifyouwereridinginthatcar,youcouldbeflyingrightthroughtheair .Now,doyousupposeitwillworkifIdoitupsidedown?Let’ssee .[Places stack of pie tins on top of ball in reverse position, then releases them.]Heregoes .[Pie tins fly off just as before.]

Now,here’sathumbtack .Athumbtackiskindoflikealightningrod .Intheolddaystheysetlightningrodsonhouses,andtheideawastokeepthelightningfromhittingyourhouse,oratleastburningitdown .It’ssupposedtoleakofftheelectricitysoyourhousedoesn’tburndown .Ifyoutakethislightningrodandsomescotchtape,wecantapeittothisball .Nowwe’vegotastickythumbtack .[Sticks thumbtack onto ball, with point sticking up.]Nowwehaveathumbtacksittingontheball,andthere’sstillsomechargeoutherebecauseit’stheplasticcomingback .[Holds palm above tack.]Thereshouldbechargeleakingoffofthis .Wemightneedabetterpinforthat .Let’sleave

thatonethere .Ah,here’sabetterpin .Thatonehasaplasticbasewhichmakesitnotworkaswell .[Takes a T-pin and tapes it to the ball.]Thisonehasametalbase .There .NowourVandeGraafgeneratorhasantennas .[Puts his hand above the new pin.]Anditjustbarelysparks .

Now,ifyouwanttoseewhatelectronsfeellike,youcancomeuphereandyoucanputyourfingeroryourknucklebytheballoneatatimeandfeelalittletinyspark .Oryoucanputitbytheendoftheneedle,anditfeelsweird .Theelectronswillbezappingintoyourskin .Thepalmofyourhandisbest,just

Feeling the Sparks

Aluminum Pans Fly

Tacks taped onto Ball


abovetheneedle .Don’tslamitdownontheneedle,becauseyou’llbleed .Ifyouwanttotrythis,lineuprighthere .[Stu-dents take turns putting their hands next to the ball.]Whenyoucomeby,trytogetalittlezapthere .Andthenputyourhandlikethisandseeifyoucanfeelanything .[Student: I feel air!]Yeah,that’swhatitfeelslike--coldair .

Now,isthereanybodyouttherewhowouldliketohavetheirhairpuffedup?Ifyouwanthairpuffedup,standonthisthing[insulated stepstool]andthen . . .[hands student a pie tin to hold upside down on top of the ball].Itworksbetterifyouholditlikethat .Andthenjustputitontopoftheball,andwe’llseeifit’scharginguprightnow .Oh,it’sstartingto .We’lldryitoffalittlebit .[Turns on hair dryer and directs it toward the rubber belt. Student’s hair starts to stand up.] [Stu-dents take turns getting their hair to stand on end while the Instructor holds a hand mirror so they can see it.]

[While one student is getting his hair puffed, Instructor calls another student to stand nearby.] [To the first student:]Pointyourfingerrightathim .Youfeelanything?[Second stu-dent: Something weird.]Somethingweird,right .Nowpointyourfingeroverat[third student]. [Student on stool points at second student, and second student points at third student. Instructor tells third student to touch second student’s finger. Second student gets a shock.]

[Instructor moves all students to one side of the table, away from the large Van de Graaf generator.]Duringthisexperiment,ifyou’resittinginachairyouneedtostayseatedinachair .Youneedtostaywhereyouare .Thisoneisthesameastheotherone,butthisoneletsusseewhatlightninglookslike .Andwecanstudylightningbywatchingitsshapeandseeinghowitmovesandwhatitdoes .[Turns off lights and uses long pole to pull lightning bolts from ball.]Andyoucanwatchitchangecolor .Sometimesit’slikevio-let,sometimesit’slikeblue .Youcantrytomakeitlonger .Andyoucanmakeitshorter .Seehowblueitiswhenit’sshort?Almostwhite .[Stu-dent: Is that metal?]No,it’safibreglasspole .Ifyoulookcarefully,youmightseesomelittletinylightningboltscomingupoffthelittleball .Let’sseeifwecangetthelittleonestoform .Ifyoulookcarefullyalsoattheflourescentlamps,theyflickereverytimeyougozap .Ifyougettoofaraway,itjustsitsthereandhisses .It’sstillmakingelectrons,butthey’reshootingoutallovertheroom .Andevenwhenyougetfaraway,youcomebackup,anditstilldoesn’tjumpthatfar .[Turns on lights, turns off Van de Graaf, and continues to bring pole close to ball until no more sparks are created.]There--allchargeisgone .

Student see his Hair in the Mirror.

Three-Way Charge Transfer

Big Van de Graaf


Story: “Jack and Jill and the Lightning Storm”Onceuponatime,JackandJillwentupthehilltofetchapailofrootbeer .Yep,there’sahill .Andtherewasrootbeerhoveringoverthetopofthehill,inabucket .Andtheywerealltiredout,they’dbeenhikingallday,andtheyreallywantedsomerootbeer .Andtheygotupthereanddiscoveredthatsomebodyhadgottentherefirstanddrankalltherootbeer .SoJackgotontopoftherootbeerbucketandwastryingtobalancehimselfupthere .He’sgoing“whoooaaahh”likethisontherootbeer .AndthenJillwassaying,“Whoa,thatlookslikefun .Iwanttodothat,too .”ButJackwouldn’tlethergetontotherootbeer .Andshesays,“Awww,that’snotverynice .”

Whiletheywerearguing,Jillhappenedtonoticeoffinthedistancethatthereweresomecloudscoming .Andshesaid,“Uh,oh,there’sclouds .Lookslikeastormcoming .We’dbetterwatchout .”AndJacksaid,“No,we’reokayuphere .Ilikeituphere .”Andthentherewasaflashoflightning,likethat .AndJillstartedcountingMississippis .Shesaid,“OneMississippi,twoMississippi,threeMississippi,fourMissis-sippi,fiveMississippi--“KA-BOOM!!!Andtherewasthethunderthatshookeverything .AndJacksaid,“Jill,whyareyoucountingMissis-sippis?Idon’tevenseeanyMississippis .”AndJillsaid,“Ah,Idoitforareason .”AndJacksaid,“What?”DoyouknowwhatJill’sreasonwas?Whatdoyouthink?Yeah!IfyoucountfiveMississippisforthefirstflash,andifyouhearanotherflashattenMississippis,thatmeansthestorm’smovingawayfromyou .AndeveryMississippiisaboutonesecond .IttakesfiveMississippistomakeonemile .Soshesaid,“Hey,Jack!Thatlightningisonemileaway .We’reindanger .We’vegottogo .We’vegottorunawayandhideorwemightgethitbylightning .”AndJacksaid,“No,I’mcool .I’mallrighthere .Ilikeithere .”

SoJillrandownthemountainandsawaredwoodtree .AndJillhuggedtheredwoodtree .Andshesaid,“I’msafehere,I’mbythisbigredwoodtree .”Andshewouldhavestayedthere,excepttherewereredantsalloverthetree .AndtheredantsgotalloverJill,andtheywerebitingher .Andshewent,“Ahhh,

Idon’tlikeants!Ohhh!”Andsheranaway,tryingtoshakeofftheants .Andshecamedownhereandsawawholepileofcomicbooks .Jilllovescomicbooks .Andshesaid,“Oh,boy,comicbooks!”Soshesatdownandstartedtoreadthecomicbooks .ButJillisaspeedreader .Shewasreadingthecomicbookssofastthatherbraingotreallyhotandherhaircaughtonfire .Andshesaid,“Oh,no!”Herhairwasonfire,andshesaw,luckily,aslimygreenpondthere .Andshejumpedintothepondandputoutherhair .Nowshe’scov-eredwithslime,andherhairisnolongerburning .Shedidn’t

Jack & Jill with a Pail of Root Beer

A Storm Approaching

Jill and Redwood Jill reading Comics


notice,buttherewasacaveneartheendofthepond .Andinthecavewasalittlegreenladywithapointyhat .HernamewasFreder-icka .AndFrederickahadabaseballbat .AndFrederickalookedandsawJillandshesaid,“Oh,boy,food!”AndFrederickawasgoingtorunoutthereandgogetJillanddragherinside .ButJilljustgotoutofthewaterandranawayupontothehillside,wherethereweresomebigrocks .Andshehidbehindtherocks .There’sJill’seyes,hidingbehindtherocks,andhercurlyhair .

Now,Jill’sbeeninabunchofdifferentspots .Shewasuphereontopofthemountain .Shewashuggingatreedownthere .Shewasreadingcomicbooksdownthere .Shewassittinginapondoverhere .Andshe’sbehindsomerocksoverhere .Fiveplaces .Andthelightninghasbeenmovingacrossthevalleythiswayandthatway .Sometimesit’soverclosertoJack,sometimesit’soverclosertoJill .IfyouwereJill,whichplacewouldyouliketostaythat’stheleastlikelythatyouwouldgethitbylightning?Shouldshestayontopofthemountain?[Students: No.]No?Shouldshehugtheredwoodtree?[Students: No.]Shouldshestayreadinghercomicbooks?[Students: No.]Shouldshestayinthewater?[Students: No.]Shouldshestayupontherocks?[Students: Yes. No.]Ahh .

Well,peoplehavestudiedthis .Afriendofmineisaranger,worksoutatGrandCanyonNationalPark .And,unfortunately,hewashitbylightningonce .Andheknowsaboutlightningbecauseyoukindofgetcarefulonceyou’vebeenhitbyit .Hedidn’tdie,butitburnedlittleholesinhimwhereverhehadmetalonhim .Youknowhowonjeanstheyhavelittlerivetsonthem?Hehadabeltbuckleon,andhehadglasseson,hehadcarkeysinhispocket .Andonhisshoestherewerelittlemetalroundthings .Wher-evertherewasmetalonhim,itburnedaholedowndeepintohisskin,whichtookweekstohealup .Butherevivedagainandeventuallywasokay .Andhedidsomeresearchandhesaid,“Theworstplaceisupontopofamountain .Lightninglikestohitupontopofmountains .”Badplacealsoisnearatree,especiallyifthetreeisbyitselfoutinthefield .Ifthere’satreeoutthereandyou’rehuggingthetree,lightningwillhitthetree--kazzzzzhhhh!andthetreemightevenexplode .Thewaterinthetreeturnstosteam,andthesteamgoeska-blam,andthetreeblowsup .Ifyou’rehuggingit,yougetelectrocuted .Ifyou’reinthewater,ifyou’reonthesurfaceandthelightninghitsanywhereonthesurface . . .Lightninglikestospreadout,yourememberelectronshateeachother?Anditspreadsout,andyou’dgetelectro-cuted .Butifyou’reunderwaterwiththefishes,unlessthelightninghitsdirectlyaboveyou,youwon’tgetelectrocuted,whichisaprettycoolthing .Otherwise,allthefishwoulddiewhenthelightninghitalake .Ifyou’reupamongtherocks--hediscoveredthis,too--therewasawholeherdofsheepon

Jill in the Slimy Green Pond and Fredericka in her Cave

Jill behind the Rocks


arockyhillside .Andthelightninghitoneoftheserocks .Andthenitjumpedkerching,kerching,kerch-ing,fromsheeptosheeptosheep,anditkilledaboutfiftysheepwithonelightningbolt .Sothat’snowarealgoodplacetobe .Turnsoutthebestplaceisdownhereontheflatland,ontheground,hopefullywithnotmuchmetalonyou .Andeventhoughyou’resittingtherewithnothingaroundyou,andthere’slightninggoingpzzsshew,pzzsshew,pzzsshew,andyouthink,“Oh,no,thelightningcanseeme!It’sgoingtogetme!”That’sthebestplace,outinthewilderness .

IfaVolkswagencar,oranycaractually,showsupandit’smadeoutofmetal,getinthecar .Metalcarsarefantastic .Insideofacarisreallygood,aslongasyoudon’trolldownthewindowandstickyourheadouttowatchthelightning .Becausethelightninghitsthecarandgoesallarounditandjumpstotheground,andyou’resafeinsidethecar .

SoJillisnowuponthishillside,lightning’shittingoverhere,soit’llbeallrightforawhile .AndsheseesJackisstillstandingthereontopofthe

bucket .Andshesays,“Jack,getdown!You’regoingtodie!”AndJacksaid,“No!I’mgoingtobecomefamous .”Andhepulledacameraoutofhisbackpack .Andhesays,“I’mgoingtotakeapictureofthatlightningboltjustasitgoesintomyforehead .AndI’llbefamous .It’llbethebestpictureoflightninganybody’severtaken .”AndJillsaid,“You’regoingtodie!”

Well,whileJackandJillwerearguing,EvilMisterFred,whowasflyingaroundinhisspaceship,happenedtobenearby .AndhesawJillhidingbehindarock .Andhesays,“Oh,ho,ho!I’mgoingtosneakuponJill,andI’mgoingtograbher,andI’mgoingtotiearopearoundher,attachittomyspaceship,andflyaway .AndmaybeI’llcatchJack,too .”SoEvilMisterFredcamedown,landedhisspace-ship,andtriedtosneakuponJill .Whilehewasdoingthat,Jillwasdesperate .ShehadtorescueJacksomeway .Soshegotupandshewasrunningaround,tryingto

findouthowtogetbacktoJack .Andloandbehold,shesawEvilMisterFred’sspaceship .AndnoEvilMisterFred .Soshegotinside,andtherewereallthesecontrols,sticksandbuttonsanddialsandallsortsofthings .Shesays,“Idon’tknowhowtoflyit .WhatamIgoingtodo?”Soshestartedpushingbuttons .Push,push,push,push,push .Andsheplayedwiththesticks--rmm,rmm,rmm--andthethingtookoff .Itwashoveringintheair .Shesays,“Wow,I’mgood!”Thensheflewit--kindofcrooked,becauseshewasn’tgoodatflying--andmanagedtogetitrightoverbyJack .Shesaid,“Jack,geton,grabhold!”AndJacksaid,“No!Getoutofmyway!”AndJillsawabuttonthatsaid,“TractorBeam .”Shesaid,“Iwonderwhatthatdoes .Doesitthrowouttractors?”Shedidn’tknow .SoshepushedtheTractorBeam,andabluerayoflightshotoutandhitJack--bzzzzzhhh!AnditmadeJacksticktothethinglikeamagnet--klonggg--byhishead .AndJillstartedtoflyawaywithJack .Stillshewasn’tthatgoodatthecontrols,andshewasgoing,“Whoooa,whooa,whooa!”Andsmush!Itcrashedintotheslimygreenwater .

Inside a Metal Car is a Safe Place

Jack and Camera

Evil Mister Fred’s Spaceship

Jack Caught in the Tractor Beam


Andherewasthegreenlady .Andshesays,“Ohboy,ohboy,ohboy,there’speoplethere!”Andsheranoutwithherbaseballbat,grabbedJackandwentklonk!,grabbedJillandwentklonk!,andtookthemintohercave .Insideofhercavetherewasasteelcage .Andthewaterinthecavewasabouttwofeetdeep,anditwasallslimyandsmellyinthere .AndJackandJillwereputinthecageandthedoorwaslocked .There’sJack’seyes .There’sJill’seyes .WhenJackandJillwokeupagain,theylookedaroundandsaid,“Ohh,itstinksinhere!”Andthegreenladysaid,“Ha,ha,ha!I’veinvitedyoufordinner .AndJackandJillsaid,“Wedon’twantdinner .”Shesaid,“No,no,no,no .You’rethedinner .”AndJackandJillsaid,“What--us?Wewouldn’ttastegood .”Andthegreenladysaid,“Don’tworry .I’mnotgoingtoeatyou .”AndJackandJillsaid,“Oh,phew!That’sarelief!”

Thentheyhappenedtolookatthebackofthecave,andthereweretwobigredeyes .JillsaidtoJack,“Uh,Jack,there’stwobigredeyesbackthere .”AndJacksaid,“Oh,no,whatisit?”Andalittlebitofflameshotout--sssssshhhhh!AndJillsaid,“Uh,fire-breathingdragon,maybe?”AndJacksaid,“Oh,thisisnotgood .Thisisbad .Thisisreallybad .”AndJackandJillsaidtothegreenlady,“Please,please,letusout,letusout,letusout!”Andthegreenladysaid,“Okay .”Andthenshesaid,“Waitaminute!Whosaidthat?”AndJackandJillsaid,“Yousaidthat .”Andthegreenladysaid,“Idid?”AndJackandJillsaid,“Wedefinitelyheardyousay,‘Okay,’youwouldletusout .”Andshesaid,“Oh,man,that’sbad!”Well,thelastteeni-estbitofgoodnessthatwasinherlittletoehadsneakedupandclimbedintoherbrain,andsheagreedtoletthemout .Andthenshesaid,“Oh,no,Ican’tletyouout .Mydragon’shungry .I’vegottofeedit .Okay,I’vegotanidea .I’llletyououtifyousolvetheproblem .”AndJackandJillsaid,“Okay,what’stheproblem?We’llsolveit .”Andshesaid,“Uh,oh .I’dbettermakeuparealhardproblem .”Soshelookedaroundinhercave,andshefoundatable .AndsheputthetableinthecavewithJackandJill .Andthenshepouredontopofthetableahundredpoundsofsalt .Andthenshepouredontothetableahundredpoundsofpepper,andsaid,“Thereyougo .Mixitalltogether .”SoJackandJillwentgoosh,goosh,goosh,goosh,andmixedallthesaltandpeppertogether .Andshesaid,“Now,allyouhavetodoisputitback,apileofsaltandapileofpepper,justlikeitwas .”AndJackandJillsaid,“What?That’simpossible .Thatwouldtakeusahundredyears .”Andshesaid,“Yeah .Ifyou’renotdonebymidnight,offwithyourheads!”Now,ifyouwereJackandJill,whatwouldyoudo?

Jack & Jill in Fredericka’s Cage

Fredericka’s Fire-breathing Dragon

Imagination and Brainstorming Time[Students make suggestions](THEREARENOWRONGANSWERS!Whatevertheysay,youshouldreply:“That’sagoodidea,”“Theymightdothat,”etc .Afterbrainstorming,proceedwiththeexperi-ments,thenfinishthestory .)

We’llleavethis“TobeContinued . . .”


Experiment: “Using Static Electricity”Andwe’lldoanexperiment .Iusedtouserealpepperforthisexperiment,andyouknowwhatwouldhappen?Somebodywouldhavethepepperintheirhand,andthey’dgoah-ah-ah-ah-phooo!andblowitinotherpeople’sfaces .Andthey’dgo,“Ahhh,pepperinmyeyes!Ihatethat!”Sowehavefakepepperthatdoesn’tmakeyousneeze .It’scalledvermiculite .AndI’mgoingtogiveyouapileoffakepepper,andthenwe’regoingtopoursomesaltonit .Andthenwhenyougetyoursaltontopofyourpepper,mixitupjustlikeJackandJilldid .[Instructor passes out salt and vermiculite to each student.]Nowmixitalltogetherreallygood,andthentrytounmixit .Oh,pleasedon’tblowonit,becausesaltcanstillgetinpeople’seyes .[Instructor passes out plastic spoons.]Itishelpfulifyouuseyourheadonthisexperiment .

[After awhile, an Instructor rubs one of the spoons on a student’s head and uses it to attrack some grains of vermiculite. Then she does the same with a balloon. The students then start rubbing their spoons on their heads and using the static to pickup the vermiculite.]Withaballoon,thesaltcansometimesjump,too,butthat’smostlypepper .Ifyoubrushitoffsomewhereelse,thenyou’llhaveonepileofpepperandonepileofsalt .

Vermiculite and Salt

Making Static

The Charged Spoon picks up Vermiculite The Charged Balloon picks it up, too.


End of Story * DO NOT * present this part of the lesson until after the experiments!

End of Lesson

If y0u have questions about this lesson, please ask them through the online Teacher Support Forum on our web site.

Okay,weneedtocreateanendingforthestory .JackandJillwereinthecave,andthegreenladywasgoingtofeedthemtothedragonintheback .AndJacksaid,“No!Please,notthat!”Andhejumpedupanddown,poundinghisfistsonthetable,andJackbrokethetable .Crash!Andallthesaltandallthepepperwentzboosh!intothegreenwater .AndJacksaid,“Oops!”AndJillsaid,“Oh,no,whatarewegoingtodo?”AndJacksaid,“Aaaaahhhh!”andwentsplash,splash,splash,splash .Andashewassplashing,thesaltdissolvedinthewater,andthepepperfloatedtothetop .AndJillsaid,“Oooh--cool!Youseparatedthem .”AndJacksaid,“Wow--that’sprettygood!”Theysaid,“Hey,witchylady,you’vegottoletusout!”Andthewitchyladysaid,“Arrrghh!”Andshewasfishingaroundforthekey .AndJackgrabbedsomeofthepepperystuffthatwasfloatingonthesurfaceandsaid,“Ilikethisstuff .”Andhewentwhoosh!andthrewitlikethat .Anditlandedonthefaceofthedragon .Andjustassheopenedthedoor,thedragonwasgoing,“Ah--ahh--ahhh-”andatthatmomentEvilMisterFredpokedhisheadaroundthecornertolookinsidetoseewhatwasgoingon .Andthedragonwent“Ka-chooo!!”JackandJillwentboosh!underthewater,theflameswentrightovertheirheads,andthegreenladyandEvilMis-terFredwentpoof!Andeverybodylivedhappilyeverafter,exceptEvilMisterFredandthegreenlady .

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teacher’s guide for: static electricity - rock-it...

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