Our elf has decided that Christmas stars should be able to jump. He has brought a balloon and a woolly scarf, so apparently this is a serious scientific project! 🎈
The little paper pieces are waiting on a tray. His note asks, “Can you make them jump?” He is leaving the clever bit to the children.
This easy elf idea sets up a small morning experiment. Everything stays neatly in place overnight, then the family can try the static-electricity trick together.
What you’ll need:
- One official Elf on the Shelf doll (paid link)
- Plain red latex party balloons (paid link)
- A woolly scarf or jumper
- Very small, light stars or scraps cut from coloured tissue paper (paid link)
- A shallow tray and a bowl to stop the balloon rolling
- Paper for the challenge note
Setup:
Inflate one balloon with air and tie it. Rest it in a bowl beside a tray of tiny tissue-paper pieces, with a woolly scarf nearby. Sit your elf against the folded scarf and add the question note. Leave the paper flat overnight. In the morning, rub the balloon on the wool, then bring it close to the scraps without touching them. The light pieces can jump towards the charged balloon; larger or heavier shapes may stay put, so try a few sizes. Rubbing builds up static charge, as explained in Science Buddies’ balloon activity. Recharge the balloon by rubbing it again when the effect fades. An adult can handle inflation and keep spare balloons and burst pieces out of the little ones’ reach.
Make it cheaply:
Use a leftover ordinary latex party balloon and an existing woolly scarf. Torn scraps work just as well as carefully cut stars, so there is no need for a craft punch or a special science kit. A plate can replace the tray. If the children love experimenting, let them compare small tissue scraps with heavier pieces from scrap paper.
Try the pepper-and-soap trick or the invisible watercolour message for another elf scene.
