The Homeschool Scientist

taking the fear out of and putting the fun into homeschool science

logo
Please enter your name.
Please enter a valid email address.
Join our email list for FREE science lessons and resources!
Something went wrong. Please check your entries and try again.
  • Experiments
    • biology
    • botany
    • chemistry
    • earth science
    • engineering
    • physics
    • Summer Science
    • The Lab Report
  • Resources
    • Biology Resources
    • Chemistry Resources
    • Human Anatomy And Physiology Resources
    • Homeschool Science Printables
  • Blog Posts
  • Start Here
    • Who Is The Homeschool Scientist?
    • Contact
    • Disclosure Policy
  • Affiliates
  • April 24, 2018

September 20, 2017 By Marci Goodwin 11 Comments

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.

Halloween science: static electricity ghosts

  • tissue paper or Kleenex
  • scissors
  • a balloon
  • tape

affiliate link

Halloween Science How-To

Setting this science project up is easy. The kids can do it themselves. Just supervise as needed.

Halloween Science: Static Electricity Ghosts

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 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.

Halloween Science: Static Electricity Ghosts

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.

affiliate link

 

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 From The Homeschool Scientist

12 Haunted Science Experiments For Kids

Human Skeleton Printables

15 Pumpkin STEM Activities 

Halloween Science Pinterest Board

Halloween Science Blog Hop

Want more Halloween Science ideas? Check out these awesome projects from some other science-loving bloggers.

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

Halloween Science: Static Electricity Ghosts - The Homeschool Scientist
Top 10 Fall Activities {Plus Printables!}
A Day In The Life Of Homeschooling High School

Comments

  1. 6

    JDaniel4's Mom says

    September 20, 2017 at 8:34 pm

    Wow! This is such a clever experiment! Watching the ghosts float up would be super cool!

    Reply
    • 7

      Marci Goodwin says

      September 24, 2017 at 10:21 pm

      Thanks! This is a super fun activity that never gets old!

      Reply
  2. 8

    maryanne says

    September 25, 2017 at 10:10 am

    Such a fun way to play with static electricity!

    Reply
    • 9

      Marci Goodwin says

      September 25, 2017 at 10:50 am

      Thanks! I hope your kids have fun with it!

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. How To Make Zombie Slime with Fluffy Slime Recipe for Kids says:
    September 20, 2017 at 6:33 am

    […] Halloween Science: Static Electricity Ghosts – The Homeschool Scientist […]

    Reply
  2. Ghost Balloons! Fun Halloween Science for Kids - a Great Group Activity says:
    September 20, 2017 at 9:12 am

    […] Static Electricity Ghosts by The Homeschool Scientist […]

    Reply
  3. Edible Candy Corn Slime (Play Dough) - Teach Beside Me says:
    September 20, 2017 at 1:44 pm

    […] Halloween Science: Static Electricity Ghosts – The Homeschool Scientist […]

    Reply
  4. Halloween Rock Painting for Kids using Physics and Forces! says:
    September 20, 2017 at 3:50 pm

    […] Activities for Kids – Growing With Science Halloween Ghost Balloons – Mama Smiles Halloween Science: Static Electricity Ghosts – The Homeschool Scientist Bubbling Pumpkin Experiments – Preschool Powol Packets […]

    Reply
  5. Halloween Peeps Candy Ghost Experiment says:
    September 20, 2017 at 8:26 pm

    […] Halloween Science: Static Electricity Ghosts – The Homeschool Scientist […]

    Reply
  6. Halloween STEM Activities Calendar Countdown Free Printable for Kids says:
    October 4, 2017 at 12:47 pm

    […] static electricity with a ghostly theme for another awesome Halloween themed static electricity physics […]

    Reply
  7. Bending Water Science Experiment - The Homeschool Scientist says:
    April 17, 2018 at 10:36 am

    […] Static Electricity Ghosts […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

You are here: Home / Experiments / Halloween Science: Static Electricity Ghosts
Snarky Homeschool Moms podcast

Backyard Nature Video Art Lessons

Copyright © 2018 · The Homeschool Scientist · Developed by Left Right Labs · Log in