What Is the Kissing Balloon?

Grade Levels: 3 - 5

Objectives

• Students will understand the concept of static electricity.

Materials

• Balloon
  
• Wool cloth
  
• String
  
• Permanent marker
  
• Story (provided below)
  

PROCEDURES

1. Inflate the balloon.
   
   
2. Using the marker, draw a face on the balloon.
   
   
3. With the string, suspend the balloon from the ceiling. Adjust the height so the balloon is at the level of your head when you're standing on the floor. Do this while students are out of the room.
   
   
4. With students still out of the room, rub the "nose" of the balloon with the wool cloth. If properly charged, the balloon will now face you any time you are reasonably near. If you walk around the balloon, it will follow.
   
   
5. You are now ready for your students to return to the classroom. They should take their seats without going near the balloon.
   
   
6. Without revealing scientific principles involved, tell the following story as an introduction to your study of static electricity. Following the study, the Kissing Balloon could be used again for review and/or evaluation. A suggestion for such an evaluation follows the story.
   
   

   Story
   "Students, I'd like you to meet a friend of mine. His name is George. George, meet the smartest fourth grade in the state." (At this point you are standing at least 2 m – or about 2 yards – from George.)
   
   "There are a couple of things I think you should know about George, class. First, he's nearsighted, and second, he has an awful crush on me. He likes me so much that he just can't keep his eyes off me – when he can see me, that is." (Walk over closer to George and he will turn to face you.)
   
   "You see? He just stares at me, and he keeps staring at me as long as I'm close enough for him to see me." (Walk away.) "When I walk away, he just looks all over, trying to find me again." (Move closer again.) "You'll be able to tell when I'm within his range of vision because he'll look right at me." (Walk around George.)
   
   "See, I told you he likes me. Now, if you'll promise not to tell anyone, I'll let George kiss me, just once, on the cheek." (Lean over, where your cheek is very near George.) "Aw, that's so nice."
   
   "Now, for the next few days, we're going to do a few things that should give you some clues about George. We'll visit with him again on another day."

   The story can be adjusted to let it be one of the students that George (or Sue, or what ever you want to call the balloon) is attracted to. Fun will be had by all, and your students should be more highly motivated for their study of static electricity as a result of meeting George.
   

EVALUATION
One idea for an evaluation following learning activities on static electricity is to repeat the kissing balloon activity, but first put the following terms on the chalkboard: static electricity, attraction, repulsion, transfer of electrons, induction.

Ask students to explain why George behaved the way he did. Instruct them to use some of the terms from the chalkboard in their explanation.

Note: One of the properties of static electricity is that a charge can be held in a given location. When you rub George's nose with the wool cloth, the charge does not spread throughout the balloon, but remains localized. Otherwise, this activity would not be possible.

Excerpted from Hands-On Physical Science Activities.