Spangler Phenomenon - Spinning Match Investigation

This Spangler Phenomenon lesson about fields and exerting force is crafted to include a video created by Steve Spangler exclusively for Kesler Science. The interactive investigation will keep your students on the edge of their seats and engage their analytical skills with this Really Big Question: When static electricity causes an object to move without being touched, what is the cause, and what is the effect?

Science education gets an upgrade as Steve Spangler and Chris Kesler become a force of nature in this collaborative series. Created in the 5E framework, each lesson aligns to middle school NGSS physical science.

Spangler Phenomenon: Brain-bending Lessons to Engage Student Curiosity

Lesson: Spinning Match

Standard: MS-PS2-5: Conduct an investigation and evaluate the experimental design to provide evidence that fields exist between objects exerting forces on each other even though the objects are not in contact.

Learning Objective: When static electricity causes an object to move without being touched, what is the cause, and what is the effect?

CCC/SEP: Structure and function; Obtaining, evaluating, communicating information

Lesson Contents:

In Part 1: Think Like a Scientist, students think and behave like real scientists and engineers as they analyze inspiring phenomenon related to fields and exerting force. They get inspired by a Steve Spangler video, Spinning Match Table Trick, then students will conduct an experiment with charged balloons.

In Part 2: Study Like a Scientist, students gather facts from an engaging article that relates to fields and exerting force. You can also pause here to add other activities and experiments like Station Labs and Inquiry Labs to expand their experiences.

In Part 3: Work Like a Scientist, students reevaluate their conclusions after watching the exclusive Steve Spangler explanation video. They then engage in a writing, drawing, or building activity – or all three! – to demonstrate what they have learned about the essential question: When static electricity causes an object to move without being touched, what is the cause, and what is the effect?

Each topic includes:

• Complete teacher directions with materials list, usage tips, learning objectives, and answer key
• Hand-outs for classroom use
• Two Steve Spangler videos to introduce and conclude the investigation
• Crisp, clear presentation slides in standard and digital interactive formats
• PowerPoints that can be uploaded cleanly to Google Slides
• Vimeo links to the videos to remove the concern over inappropriate ads and comments

Be on the lookout for more products in the future from this fantastic partnership between Kesler Science and Steve Spangler!

File Formats: PowerPoint and PDF; can be uploaded to Google Slides.