A 3-page 3rd grade science recording sheet for a balloon static test. Page 1 lists the materials and four steps, then a table where students predict and record what happens near paper bits, salt and an empty can. Page 2 has them rub the balloon 5, 10 and 20 times, count the paper bits, and draw a bar graph with a scale up to 20. Two questions ask what happened and why. It ties to NGSS 3-PS2-3, and page 3 gives expected results.
3-PS2-3
“Ask questions to determine cause and effect relationships of electric or magnetic interactions between two objects not in contact with each other.”
Part 1 has students predict and record how a charged balloon acts on three objects without touching them. Part 2 adds a count and a bar graph for how rubbing changes the effect.
A list of one balloon, one wool sock, tiny paper bits, a pinch of salt and one empty soda can, four numbered steps, and a photo of the set-up.
A table with three rows (Paper bits, Salt, Empty can) and two columns, Prediction and What happened, each with two lines.
A table for 5, 10 and 20 rubs, and an empty bar graph with a scale from 0 to 20 in steps of 2, where students draw three bars.
Two questions with three lines each: what happened when you rubbed the balloon more times, and why.
Expected results for paper bits, salt and the can, sample counts of 4, 9 and 16 bits for the three trials, and a reason about stronger static charge.
A dry day
Run it when the air is dry. In a humid classroom a balloon loses its charge fast and the paper bits barely move.
Count the first trial together
Do the 5-rub trial as a class so students see how to count the bits that stick. Leave the 10 and 20 trials for groups.
Graph check
Walk round while students draw the bars and compare each bar top with the table. The scale goes up in 2s, so an odd count like 9 sits between two lines.
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