Virginia SOL 5.4.c

Science5th GradeForce, Motion, and Energy

The Standard

static electricity can be generated by rubbing certain materials together

Virginia Standards of Learning for Science

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students rub two materials together and observe signs of static charge, such as attraction or repulsion. They identify which material pairs produce a noticeable effect.
What Mastery Looks Like: Students can generate static charge with materials such as a balloon and wool. They can describe the rubbing, predict an effect, and use observations as evidence.
Common Misconceptions: Students may think rubbing creates new electrons or that every material pair produces the same result. They may also confuse static electricity with current flowing through a wire.
How to Assess It: Give students a balloon, wool cloth, and paper bits. Ask them to create static charge, demonstrate its effect, and explain what caused the effect.

Lesson moves

Rub balloons with wool, hair, and cotton, then measure how many paper bits each balloon attracts.
Ask students to write why a rubbed balloon can stick to a wall without glue.
Play a prediction game where teams choose material pairs, predict static effects, test them, and record results.
Examine dryer cling and explain how tumbling clothes can build static charge.

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