CK-12 Foundation
Lightning-Rod
Why do some buildings have lightning rods? Scholars explore the movement and attraction of opposing electrical charges through a simulation of a lightning rod. They control the cloud height, charge separation, and if the lightning rod is...
Curated OER
Lightning Rod
In this lightning rod worksheet, students make a lightning rod out of batteries, breadboard, light bulbs, wires, and more. Students also answer 2 questions.
Curated OER
How Lightening Works
Annotated diagrams explain the distribution of charged particles in clouds that can lead to lightening bolts. This is a super short slide show but it is useful for explaining the phenomenon and safety mechanisms.
Curated OER
Lightning
Students study lightening and the history behind how it was used for electricity. In this electricity lesson students complete several experiments on the invention of the lightning rod.
Curated OER
Benjamin Franklin - Master of Electricity The Kite Experiment and the Invention of the Lightning Rod
Learners study Benjamin Franklin including who he was, what he invented and his experiment. In this inventive lesson students follow the steps of Ben Franklin and build a Leyden jar.
Curated OER
Fall 2004 Midterm Exam #2 - Electricity and Magnetism
Written for a college physics course, this midterm examination deals with electric and magnetic fields. When taking this test, learners answer multiple choice questions, solve problems, and analyze a variety of attractive diagrams....
Curated OER
Blowing in the Wind
Students identify and interpret maps, graphs, charts, tables and political cartoons. Students identify what a compass rose is and review its meaning in relation to standard directions. Students design their own weathervanes. Students...
Cornell University
Scaling Down: Effects of Size on Behavior
Two activities explore the concept of size, especially small sizes down to the nano. Scholars practice determining volume, mass, and density and calculate exponential increases and decreases. They then predict and test the effect of size...
Curated OER
Getting A Charge Out of the Sky
Students investigate electricity from the sky. In this electricity lesson, students participate in an experiment to simulate the electric charges from the sky. Students discuss results.
Curated OER
Static Electricity: Matching
Discovery Education has provided a series of quick quizzes on several topics. Here is one on static electricity. Young scientists match eight terms to their definitions. You can view the solution right from the page, so if you want to...
Curated OER
Weather Lessons: Explore the Possibilities
Looking to the sky isn't just for day dreamers.The weather is a fascinating way to explore science and history.
Curated OER
Science Hits Activity
Learners listen to a song that teaches the elements of the periodic table and write their own song to be used as an aid in remembering scientific information.
Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary
Science Pen Pals
Students explore the scientific career of Benjamin Franklin. In this science lesson, students discuss Franklin's correspondence with other scientists and write letters describing Benjamin Franklin's experiments.
Curated OER
Static Electricity
In this electricity worksheet, students read about static and current electricity and then draw pictures of an electric cell and circuits. Students draw 3 pictures total.
Curated OER
Night Hike
Students explore Upham Woods at night and investigate about the special adaptations of nocturnal animals. They identify three nocturnal animals and how they are adapted to the night. Students explain what night vision is and how it works.
Curated OER
Electricity
In this electricity worksheet, students review electric charges and what types of materials can conduct electricity. This worksheet has 7 fill in the blank, 5 true or false, 3 multiple choice, and 5 short answer questions.
Curated OER
Static Cling
Fifth graders examine the principles of static electricity and positive and negative charges. They observe and then perform experiments with static electricity. They record examples in their journals.
Curated OER
Coulomb's Law
Ninth graders observe the relationship between electrical charge and force. In this electrical charge lesson students experiment and find the quantitative relationship between force and the center to center distance between objects.
The Franklin Institute
Franklin Institute: Franklin's Lightning Rod
See a picture of the lightning rod Benjamin Franklin used in 1746 and learn about his discovery of electricity.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Physics Simulation: Lightning Rod
[Free Registration/Login Required] Learn about charge, electric field, and electric potential in the context of a lightning strike using this interactive simulation. A PDF worksheet is also available. Includes video tutorial. [3:49]
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....
Dan Satterfield
Dan's Wild Weather Page: Lightning
Learn facts and statistics about the weather phenomenon of lightning. This illustrated article also includes a lightning experiment and safety tips.
Famous Scientists
Famous Scientists: Prokop Divis
Learn about Prokop Divis in this article that discusses his life and discoveries especially with creating the first grounded lightning rod.
American Geosciences Institute
American Geosciences Institute: Earth Science Week: Lightning
This activity will demonstrate the attraction of positive and negative charges and what happens when those opposite charges meet each other.