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Halloween Science: Static Electricity Ghosts
How about some safe, spooky Halloween science fun? Tell your kids they can create their own ghosts and make them move without touching them. They will freak out! Here’s how to do it.
Halloween Science Supplies
This science project has a short supply list. You probably have it all on hand already.
- tissue paper or Kleenex
- scissors
- a balloon
- tape
Halloween Science How-To
Setting this science project up is easy. The kids can do it themselves. Just supervise as needed.
Create your ghosts by cutting small ghosts out of the tissue paper. If you are using double-ply Kleenex, separate the two and just use one. You draw on th eyes using a black marker.
Tape the bottom of your ghosts to your work surface.
Blow up the balloon and tie the end.
Rub the balloon rapidly on your hair for 15 – 20 seconds.
Hold the balloon a few inches above the ghosts and lower until the ghosts begin to rise. Slowly pull the balloon up so that the ghosts are standing up, but not touching anything.
How Did That Happen?
When you rubbed the balloon on your hair, the balloon picked up electrons from the hair and the atoms of the balloon became negatively charged. The positively charged atoms in the paper were attracted to those negatively charged atoms of the balloon. When they got close enough to each other, the attraction between the atoms was so great that it overcame the force of gravity and caused the ghost to lift off the surface and to be held there.
More Halloween Science and Math Fun
These Recycled Egg Carton Bats are an adorable add-on and double as super-cute decorations if you’re planning a Halloween party or diving into a bat study. They pair perfectly with these static electricity ghosts, just float the ghosts first, then let kids switch gears and create their own recycled-egg-carton bats. I’ll link to my bat printable so you can mix science with hands-on crafting for a whole Halloween STEM experience.
Halloween is an exciting time for children. Then, it’s followed by Thanksgiving and Christmas. The excitement, changes in schedule (and increased activities) can be overwhelming for us, just think of the excitement level for our children. Here are some Halloween Mindfulness printables for kids .
Here are some other ideas for this time of year:
12 Haunted Science Experiments For Kids
Halloween Science Pinterest Board
Want more Halloween Science ideas? Check out these awesome projects from some other science-loving bloggers.
The Purple Pumpkin blog has so many fun ideas, including this craft stick magic potion bottles activity
Photo copyright: The Purple Pumkin Blog
Check out over 70 Halloween activities for preschool from The Primary Parade.
This is an adorable activity that you can easily turn into a STEM challenge! Have your children build a paper bag haunted house. (Think create a house with a spider web inside or build a haunted house with a door (or window) that opens and closes.
Fluffy Zombie Slime – Little Bins for Little Hands
Discovering a Pumpkin: STEM Investigation – Share it! Science
Halloween Fun: Spider Science Activities for Kids – Growing With Science
Halloween Ghost Balloons – Mama Smiles
Bubbling Pumpkin Experiments – Preschool Powol Packets
Halloween Robot Spider Craft – Inspiration Laboratories
Halloween Rock Painting for Kids using Physics – From Engineer to Stay at Home Mom
Edible Candy Corn Slime – Teach Beside Me
I hold a master’s degree in child development and early education and am working on a post-baccalaureate in biology. I spent 15 years working for a biotechnology company developing IT systems in DNA testing laboratories across the US. I taught K4 in a private school, homeschooled my children, and have taught on the mission field in southern Asia. For 4 years, I served on our state’s FIRST Lego League tournament Board and served as the Judging Director. I own thehomeschoolscientist and also write a regular science column for Homeschooling Today Magazine. You’ll also find my writings on the CTCMath blog. Through this site, I have authored over 50 math and science resources.