Balloon Static

What You Do:

1. Let your child use the hole punch to make a pile of small paper circles. Set the paper circles aside.
2. Have her blow up the balloon.
3. Help her tie the balloon -- those ties can be tough on small fingers!
4. Time to start exploring static electricity. Tell your child to stand in front of a mirror and rub the balloon on the top of her head for a couple of seconds.
5. Have her slowly raise the balloon off of her head. What happens to her hair?
6. Explain that her hair raised as a result of static electricity. Static electricity is just the excess electric charge that transfers from the balloon to your child's hair.
7. Now have her rub the balloon on her head once again.
8. This time, have her lower the statically charged balloon over the pile of paper circles.
9. The balloon will pick up the paper circles! What else does your child think her static balloon can pick up?