Lesson Plan | Active Learning | Electricity: Electric Charge

Assumptions: This Active Lesson Plan assumes: a 100-minute class, prior student study with both the Book and the start of Project development, and that only one activity (among the three suggested) will be chosen to be conducted during the class, as each activity is designed to take up a significant portion of the available time.

Objectives

Duration: (5 - 7 minutes)

The Objectives stage is crucial for establishing a solid foundation for students' understanding and engagement with the topic of Electricity: Electric Charge. This section aims to provide clarity on what will be learned and what is expected of students at the end of the lesson. Furthermore, it helps to align the expectations of both students and the teacher, ensuring that everyone involved is focused on the same educational targets during practical activities.

Main Objectives:

1. Explain the concept of electric charge and how it behaves in different materials.

2. Demonstrate that both negative and positive charges can be transferred between objects in common situations.

3. Instruct students to calculate the total charge of a body, using knowledge about the charge of an electron.

Side Objectives:

1. Develop critical thinking skills when analyzing and solving problems related to electric charge.

Introduction

Duration: (10 - 15 minutes)

The Introduction stage is designed to engage students with the theme through problem situations that facilitate the connection of prior knowledge with the new content to be explored in the classroom. Furthermore, the contextualization of the topic with real situations and practical examples aims to motivate students, showing the relevance and applicability of Physics in everyday life. This approach seeks not only to stimulate curiosity but also to lay the groundwork for students to effectively apply the learned concepts during practical activities.

Problem-Based Situations

1. Imagine you have two balloons, one negatively charged and the other positively charged. What happens when you bring these balloons close to each other?

2. If a plastic comb is rubbed on dry hair and then brought close to small pieces of paper, why is the paper attracted to the comb?

Contextualization

Electricity is everywhere around us, from the simple act of turning on a light bulb to the operation of computers and smartphones. Understanding electric charge is fundamental for understanding how these devices work and how energy is transferred and manipulated in our modern world. Additionally, the history of the discovery and understanding of electricity is full of fascinating experiments and historical figures, such as Benjamin Franklin and his famous kite experiment during a storm.

Development

Duration: (5 - 10 minutes)

The Development section aims to apply and deepen students' prior knowledge of electric charge through practical and playful activities. This stage allows students to explore, experiment, and visualize electric charge concepts in a concrete manner, facilitating understanding and engagement. By working in groups, students also develop collaborative and communication skills, essential for scientific learning.

Activity Suggestions

It is recommended to carry out only one of the suggested activities

Activity 1 - Lost Electrons Hunt

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Understand the transfer of electric charge through friction and the influence of the electronegativity of materials.

- Description: Students will be divided into groups of up to 5 members, where each group will receive a series of common materials (such as wool, plastic, metal, and glass) to experiment with the transfer of electric charges through friction. They will test different combinations of materials, rubbing them against each other and using a homemade electroscope to detect the presence of electric charge.

- Instructions:

• Divide the class into groups of up to 5 students.

• Distribute the materials and the homemade electroscope to each group.

• Guide students to rub the materials in pairs and observe the behavior of the electroscope.

• Ask them to record their observations, identifying which materials generate more electric charge.

• Lead a discussion about the results, correlating with the concept of electronegativity of materials.

Activity 2 - The Enigma of Dancing Balloons

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Investigate the interaction between electric charges and the influence of the type of material on generating static charge.

- Description: In this activity, students will use balloons and different fabrics to explore how electric charges behave. Each group will inflate balloons and rub them on various fabrics to create static charge. They will then attempt to make the balloons repel or attract each other, using a ruler to measure the distances of repulsion or attraction, recording data for later discussion.

- Instructions:

• Distribute balloons and different types of fabrics to each group.

• Instruct students to inflate the balloons and rub them on the fabrics to generate static electricity.

• Explain how to use the ruler to measure the force of repulsion or attraction between the balloons.

• Ask each group to record their observations and measurements.

• Facilitate a discussion to understand the differences in the forces observed and relate them to electric charge theory.

Activity 3 - Charge Race

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Understand how electric charge flows through circuits and the impact of different components on electric current.

- Description: Students will use a simple circuit with LED lamps, batteries, and wires to explore how electric charge moves in a closed circuit. Each group will build their own circuit and observe the effect of adding or removing components (such as resistors or more LEDs) on the brightness of the lamps, discussing observations in relation to the amount of electric charge flowing in the circuit.

- Instructions:

• Provide each group with the necessary components to assemble a simple circuit.

• Explain how to connect the batteries, LEDs, and wires to form a closed circuit.

• Instruct students to experiment by adding and removing components like resistors.

• Ask them to observe and record the effect of these changes on the brightness of the LEDs.

• Lead a discussion on how the amount of charge affects the functioning of the circuit.

Feedback

Duration: (10 - 15 minutes)

The purpose of this stage is to consolidate learning through the sharing of experiences and observations among students, promoting a deeper understanding of electric charge concepts. This discussion helps to clarify doubts and reinforce acquired knowledge, ensuring that students can apply these ideas in future contexts. Furthermore, it provides the opportunity to develop communication and scientific argumentation skills.

Group Discussion

Start the group discussion with a brief recap of the experiments conducted, highlighting the importance of understanding electric charge interactions and how they manifest in different materials. Encourage students to share their findings, focusing on the surprises and challenges encountered during the practical activities. Use key questions to guide the conversation, ensuring that all essential concepts are addressed and understood.

Key Questions

1. Which materials generated the most electric charge and why?

2. How does the electronegativity of materials influence the transfer of electric charges?

3. What was the impact of changing components in the circuit on the brightness of the LED lamps?

Conclusion

Duration: (5 - 7 minutes)

The purpose of the Conclusion stage is to reinforce the knowledge acquired during the lesson, establish a clear link between theory and practice through the activities carried out, and highlight the relevance of studying electric charge for practical applications in everyday life. This section aims to ensure that students have a solid and integrated understanding of the topic, preparing them to apply this knowledge in real situations and future academic studies.

Summary

To conclude our lesson today on Electricity: Electric Charge, let's summarize the main points covered. We discussed the concept of electric charge, observed how both negative and positive charges can be transferred between objects, and explored how to calculate the charge of a body using the charge of an electron. These foundations were visualized and tested through the practical activities conducted in class.

Theory Connection

The connection between theory and practice was established through experiments involving everyday materials to demonstrate the transfer of electric charge and the assembly of simple circuits to observe the behavior of charges. These activities not only reinforced the theory studied but also allowed students to physically visualize and manipulate the concepts of electricity.

Closing

Understanding electric charge is essential, as it underpins the operation of numerous devices we use in our daily lives, from smartphones to household appliances. The ability to manipulate and understand these charges can open pathways for technological innovations and practical solutions in various fields of engineering and technology.