Curated OER
Magnetism: Knowledge Quiz
In this magnetism quiz worksheet, students complete a set of 10 multiple choice questions covering a variety of concepts about magnetism.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Investigating Static Electricity: Creating Lightning on Much Smaller Scale
In this elementary science activity, students will experiment with static electricity using balloons. After investigating how balloons attract and repel various objects, students will watch a simulation of static electricity to help gain...
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Physical Science: Static Electricity and Static Discharge
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] What static electricity and static discharge are, and how lightning occurs.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Third Grade Science: Physical Science: Static Electricity
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Discusses electric charge and electric force, and identifies ways that electric charge is transferred.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Fourth Grade Science: Physical Science: Static Electric Charge
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Discusses electric charge and electric force, and identifies ways that electric charge is transferred.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Mn Step: Static Electricity Thunder and Lightning
An activity where young scholars simulate the creation of thunder and lightning using simple materials, and learn how static electricity can produce sound.
Other
Kidstorm: Lightning
Learn about lightning formation and lightning safety with this detailed webpage.
PBS
Nova Teachers: Lightning: Classroom Activity
This lesson plan allows learners can create static electricity and compare it to lightning.
PBS
Pbs Teachers: Nova Science Now Lightning: Lightning Varieties
Compare and contrast different types of lightning bolts. A substantial amount of information is provided here including pictures with descriptions for each type of lightning bolt. NOTE: The interactive is no longer available; Click on...
Ducksters
Ducksters: Physics for Kids: Electricity in Nature
Kids learn about electricity in nature the science of physics including lightning, animals, the human body, the Earth, and static electricity.
University of Wisconsin
University of Wisconsin: 4 Electricity
A description of several demonstrations for static electricity concepts. The demonstrations utilizing the Telsa coil, Faraday cage, and Van de Graaff generator are ideal for demonstrating electric potential concepts. Suitable for student...
South Carolina Educational Television
Etv: Nasa Online: Lightning and Static
The concepts of lightning and static charges are made easy to understand by watching this interactive graphic website. Basic terms are explained and illustrated as well.
Physics Classroom
The Physics Classroom: Lightning
In this interactive tutorial students will explore what is the cause and mechanism associated with lightning strikes, They will investiage how lightning rods serve to protect buildings from the devastating effects of a lightning strikes....
Exploratorium
Exploratorium: Super Sparker
This is an activity using common household materials that will demonstrate a static electricity discharge.
Other
K 3 Learning Pages: Web Resources Thunderstorms
Check out this comprehensive list of web resources on thunderstorms and safety. Students and teachers will benefit from the links found on this site.
TED Talks
Ted: Ted Ed: Solid, Liquid, Gas and Plasma?
Have you ever seen static electricity cause a spark of light? What is that spark? What about lightning, the Northern Lights, or the tail of a comet? All of those things and many others in fact, 99.9% of the universe -- are made of...