Balloon Static

What You Need:

• Balloon
• Paper
• Hole punch
• Mirror

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 them blow up the balloon.
3. Help them 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 their head for a couple of seconds.
5. Have them slowly raise the balloon off of their head. What happens to their hair?
6. Explain that their 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 your child rub the balloon on their head once again.
8. This time, have them 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 their static balloon can pick up?