NATURAL SCIENCES: PLANNING & PREPARATION

GRADE 8 TERM 3 KNOWLEDGE STRAND Energy and Change

DATE: Term 3 Week 2; 2021
Teaching Methodologies & Resources / LTSM
Topic / Content / Concepts / Skills
(WHAT I am going to teach/guide/support…) Classroom Management (WHAT I am going to use to teach /
(HOW I am going to teach/guide/support…) guide/support…)
Topic: Static Electricity The learners were introduced to the Learner’s own textbook for
concept of friction in previous grades. additional notes and activities.
Content & Concepts: Friction and Static The lesson can be started by asking
Electricity them if they remember what friction is Sasol Inzalo Grade 8b Textbook –
and to ask them to explain to the pages 11 – 26
1. The re-introduce the concepts of class.
1.1 Friction and The Science of Static Electricity –
TEACHERS
1.2 Static Electricity To explain FRICTION to the learners, use the link
start with a demonstration rubbing https://www.youtube.com/watc
2. To explain that: your hands together – two different h?reload=9&v=yc2-363MIQs
2.1 friction is caused by rubbing one material surfaces.
with another; How does lightning work – use
2.2 during the rubbing of materials, electrons the link
are transferred between the atoms of the https://www.youtube.com/watc
materials being rubbed together h?v=Cz_uYBx1G5s
2.3 the electrons move from one material
causing a positive charge on its surface,
and causing a negative charge on the
surface of the other material
2.4 It is only the electrons that are transferred,
protons and neutrons do not move (they When a balloon is rubbed with wool
remain in the nucleus of the atom) cloth, the electrons will be transferred
2.5 objects/materials with same/like charges from the wool cloth to the balloon,
repel each other
2.6 objects/materials with opposite/unlike The cloth is now
charges attract each other

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 2.7 a discharge of the electrons causes the
sparks or shock of static electricity,
especially when the air is dry

positively charged and the balloon is

negatively charged.

REMEMBER:
Electrons are found on the outside of
the atom and can be transferred. The
protons and neutrons are in the
nucleus and therefore, cannot be
transferred to other materials.

THEN, rub a ruler with a cloth and hold

it over small pieces of papers. The
papers should be attracted to the
ruler! This indicates that electrons have
been transferred because the two
materials are attracted to one
another.

Examples of attraction and repulsion:

Left – walking with shoes on carpet

Attraction due to unlike charges,
positive charges on the sole of the

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 shoe and negative charges on the
carpet.
Right – touching a metal doorknob
Repulsion due to like charges present

on the hand and the doorknob.

Example of Static electricity

discharge:

When electrons move across an air

space, they can heat the air enough
to make it glow. The glow is called a
spark.

Lightning is a form of natural static

electric discharge. This means that
electric charge flows through air.
When electrons move across an air
gap, they can heat the air enough to
make it glow. The glow is called a
spark.

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 The learners were introduced to the concept
of friction in previous grades. The lesson can
be started by asking them if they remember
what friction is and to ask them to explain to
the class.
To explain FRICTION to the learners, start with
a demonstration rubbing your hands together
– two different
PARENTS surfaces.
When a balloon is rubbed with wool cloth, the
electrons will be transferred from the wool
cloth to the balloon,
GET GRADE 8 NATURAL SCIENCES DRAFT LESSON PLAN: STATIC ELECTRICITY
ACTIVITIES AT HOME:
Materials: balloons, etc.
Consult the learner’s textbook on this
chapter. If there are simple • Natural Sciences Textbooks/
experiments that you can do at home • Siyavula Workbooks
to investigate the concept of friction, • PDF Worksheet
assist the learner to do so.
Ensure Access to:
Support your child with this activity by: • Science journal / Workbook
• Providing support when asked for /writing pad, pencils,
it. Laptop / tablets / smart
• Guiding their learning through phones
questions. • Data (if possible)
• Showing an interest.
• Providing a safe, secure area in
which to do the work.
• Allowing for the time it will require
to do the activity.
• Helping them to acquire the
materials they will need to
investigate the topic using the key
questions below (a gentle
reminder that in Science and
Technology we advocate
recycling as far as possible).
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 The cloth is now positively charged, and the • Allowing them to make mistakes
balloon is negatively charged. and seeing it as growth in their
thinking and doing (do not give up
attitude).
• Allowing them to fix their mistakes.
• Give hints instead of answers.

The idea is still that the learner should

REMEMBER:
Electrons are found on the outside of the
atom and can be transferred. The protons
and neutrons are in the nucleus and
therefore, cannot be transferred to other
materials.
do their own work, but it is very
important that they feel that their
parents had some input and
supported them.
This activity will teach fact-finding and
problem-solving skills and responsibility
as a value.

THEN, rub a ruler with a cloth and hold it over

small pieces of papers. The papers should be
attracted to the ruler! This indicates that
electrons have been transferred because the
two materials are attracted to one another.

Examples of attraction and repulsion:

Left – walking with shoes on carpet

Attraction due to unlike charges, positive
charges on the sole of the shoe and negative
charges on the carpet.
Right – touching a metal doorknob
Repulsion due to like charges present on the
hand and the doorknob.

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 Example of Static electricity discharge:

When electrons move across an air gap, they

can heat the air enough to make it glow. The
glow is called a spark.

Lightning is a form of natural static electric

discharge. This means that electric charge
flows through air. When electrons move
across an air gap, they can heat the air
enough to make it glow. The glow is called a
spark.

Learner Activities
LEARNERS’
ACTIVITIES ACTIVITY: Sticky balloons
MATERIALS:

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 • balloons (or a plastic comb) • small pieces of paper
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Take up the balloon and blow it up.
2. Tie it closed so that the air does not escape.
3. Hold the balloon a short distance away from your hair or pieces of paper. What do you notice?
4. Rub your hair with the balloon.
5. Now hold the balloon a short distance away from your hair or pieces of paper. What do you see?
6. What did you do to make your hair or the pieces of paper stick to the balloon?
7. Do you understand why your hair rises and is attracted to the balloon after you rub the balloon on your hair?
Write a short description to explain what is happening using the words: electrons, transfer, negative charge, positive
charge, opposite, attract, repel.

OPTIONAL:
ACTIVITY: Research the practical applications of static electricity.

INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Use the internet or your school or community library to find information about the practical applications of static
electricity.
2. Research one useful effect of static electricity and one problem caused by static electricity.
3. Write a short paragraph explaining your research
Complete the Worksheet below.
Informal Assessment

Values taught Attentiveness and Creativity

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 Worksheet: Static Electricity
QUESTION 1
1.1 Sarah uses a plastic comb to comb her hair. The comb becomes negatively charged. The
comb is negatively charged because the comb has:
A. gained electrons
B. gained protons
C. lost electrons
D. lost protons (1)

1.2 A perspex strip was rubbed with a cloth and became positively charged. The correct
explanation for why the perspex rod becomes positively charged is that:
A. the perspex rod got extra protons from the cloth.
B. the perspex rod got extra protons due to friction.
C. protons were created as the result of friction.
D. the perspex rod lost electrons to the cloth due to friction. (1)

1.3 Why does your jersey make a crackling sound when you pull it over your head? (2)

1.4 Sometimes, when you are pushing a trolley, you can get a small shock. Explain why this
would happen. (2)
(6)

QUESTION 2

A learner conducts an experiment in which he wants to charge objects. He rubs a glass

rod with a piece of silk as shown in the diagram below. The rod obtains a positive charge
and the cloth obtains a negative charge.

2.1 How is electrons transferred during this action? Write ONLY FROM THE ROD TO THE
CLOTH or FROM THE CLOTH TO THE ROD. (1)
2.2 Explain why this experiment is not very successful on a rainy day. (2)
2.3 Are there any electrons left on the rod after it was rubbed with the silk cloth? Write
down an explanation for your answer. (3)
(6)

QUESTION 3

Rod X, that is positively charged comes near rod Y, suspended on a thread, that is also
positively charged as shown below:

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 3.1 Explain how it is possible for a rod to obtain a positive charge. (2)
3.2 What will you observe when rod X comes near rod Y? (2)
3.3 If rod X touches the ground, in which direction will electrons flow? From Rod X to
the ground or from the ground to rod X? (1)
3.4 What do one observe when a great charge flows from charged object to the
ground? (1)
(6)

MEMORANDUM

QUESTION 1

1.1 A (1)
1.2 D (1)
1.3 The crackling sound is made by the movement of charges , the electrons. (2)
1.4 These are accumulated charges, on the trolley, that has moved to your hand. (2)
(6)
QUESTION 2
2.1 From the rod to the cloth  (1)
2.2 On a rainy day, there is vapour in the air that is a good conductor of charge. 
Therefore, as charge build up on the cloth and rod, it immediately discharge (2)
through the air. 
2.3 Yes  There is MORE protons than electrons on the rod, which gives it a positive
charge.  (3)
(6)
QUESTION 3
3.1 Friction  can remove electrons from rod X so that there is more protons on the rod (2)
than electrons. 
3.2 Rod Y will move away from rod X.  (2)
3.3 from the ground to rod X  (1)
3.4 A flash of lightning.  (1)
(6)

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