Lesson Plan

Lesson Plan
Grade: Date: 25/02/2026
Subject: Physics
Lesson Topic: State that positive charges repel other positive charges, negative charges repel other negative charges, but positive charges attract negative charges
Learning Objective/s:
  • Describe the behavior of electric charges: like charges repel and opposite charges attract.
  • Explain Coulomb’s law and predict how the force changes when the separation distance changes.
  • Identify charge interactions using a summary table of charge pairs.
  • Predict the outcome of simple charge demonstrations and justify using the concepts learned.
Materials Needed:
  • Projector and screen
  • Whiteboard and markers
  • Printed handout with the charge interaction table
  • Charged balloons and a charged plastic rod for demonstrations
  • Worksheet with Coulomb’s‑law problems
  • Calculator for each pair of students
Introduction:

Begin with a quick question: “What happens when you rub two balloons together and bring them close?” Connect this to prior knowledge that charge is a property of matter. Explain that today’s success criteria are to state how like and unlike charges interact and to use Coulomb’s law to explain force changes.

Lesson Structure:
  1. Do‑Now (5’) – Think‑pair‑share on everyday static‑electricity examples.
  2. Mini‑lecture (10’) – Introduce charge types, repulsion/attraction, and display the summary table.
  3. Demonstration (10’) – Balloon‑balloon repulsion and rod‑electroscope attraction; students predict outcomes.
  4. Guided practice (12’) – Worksheet activity applying Coulomb’s law to varying distances.
  5. Check Understanding (8’) – Whole‑class discussion of the two “Check Your Understanding” questions.
  6. Exit ticket (5’) – Write one accurate statement about charge interactions.
Conclusion:

Summarise that like charges repel, opposite charges attract, and the force follows Coulomb’s law. Collect exit tickets as a retrieval check and assign homework: complete additional problems on charge interactions and force calculations.