- 5 - 15 mins
- Fine motor, science concepts
- Mess free
- Easy
This is a super easy, super fun science experiment that’s all about static electricity! Can you make your butterfly move using a simple balloon? Why not give it a go? My children were fascinated by this experience, they came up with all sorts of ways to make the wings fly but were most intrigued with creating static electricity using their bodies and a simple balloon.
This activity was fun, quick and easy art project to create and then a fabulous experience to explore the effects of static electricity. So many science concepts and thinking and fun all around for everyone!
What you will need
- Cardboard
- Cardstock
- Tissue paper
- Scissors
- Glue
- Balloon
Activity steps
Setup
- Carefully cut out a square piece of cardboard and put aside.
- Take your tissue paper and fold a piece in half. Draw half a set of wings from the fold of your tissue paper. Carefully use your scissors to cut out your wings. But don’t cut along the fold! Open up your wings and you should have a symmetrical set of wings in front of you.
- Place your wings on top of the cardboard, but DO NOT glue them down.
- Now take your cardstock and cut out a butterfly body and glue it down the middle of your butterfly. Make sure the body is long enough to overlap onto the cardboard and hold the butterfly together.
- Using your markers, add some eyes to make the butterfly come to life.
- Now you are ready to play!
How to play
- Blow up your balloon and ask your child if they can make the butterfly wings move using the balloon. See what they come up with.
- Demonstrate how to create static electricity by rubbing the balloon on your hair to give it electric charge. Now hold the balloon on top of your butterfly, close but not touching and watch the wings rise and fall as you move the balloon around the butterfly.
- When the balloon loses charge, recharge it by rubbing it on your hair again!
Thought provoking questions…
- What happens to the balloon when you rub it on your hair?
- Why do you think the wings are able to move the way they do?
- Can other parts of your body charge the balloon?
Learning Opportunities
- Scientific concepts- Your children will be encouraged to engage in basic science concepts such as prediction, experimentation, investigation, and critical thinking. They will learn the basic effects of static electricity and charge.
- Fine motor- Your children will use their fine motor development to manipulate various tools to cut, draw, trace and glue the butterfly together.
Reference sites
We would like to acknowledge these amazing sites that have inspired us to create this activity. Thank you!