Static Electricity Butterflies

Yesterday, Kindergarten students did a great hands on project to experiment with static electricity. We began by discussing where we witness static electricity in our daily lives. We came up with answers such as playground slides, shopping carts, other people touching us, and balloons rubbed in our hair.

We then, created our own butterfly that would show static electricity at work! Thanks to a post on I Heart Crafty Things Blog, we made these great butterflies out of tissue paper, construction paper, and cardboard squares. Students assembled, glued, and personalized thier butterflies. Next, they each got a balloon to see if they could use the balloon to lift the wings of the butterfly without touching them. Sure enough, students found that when rubbing the balloon in their hair or on the carpet and bringing it near the wings, they rise.