Was it a bad hair day or an engaging science experiment? For DCD second graders in Ms. Kaelin’s science class, it was both! Students had fun exploring what happens when you create negatively charged electrons that come into contact with positively charged objects. Armed with yellow balloons and data recording sheets they began their exploration of static electricity. The first step in the experiment was to rub the balloon against their hair, creating friction and a transfer of electrons. Long hair proved the best in creating negative electrons, though one student found his fleece snuggy to be an excellent “electricity generator.” Ms. Kaelen joined in, even sacrificing her hair for the cause!
With the now negatively charged surface of the balloon, students made their way around the lower school science room, stopping at stations containing different items to test which were attracted to the balloon. Some items like oregano and paper stuck directly to the balloon while others such as rice seemed to move when they brought the balloon close to the plate. And of course, making the balloon stick to your head or shirt or seeing a classmate’s hair stand on end added some giggles and silliness to this engaging experiment!
