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24 Shockingly Fun Electricity Experiments and Activities for Kids
Play dough circuits, LED magic wands, and more!
Electricity is all around us, so we tend to take it for granted. It’s a fascinating subject for kids, though, so they’ll love these electricity experiments and activities. You may need to invest in a few simple supplies for some of these activities, but you’ll be able to reuse them for multiple activities year after year. The hands-on experience kids will get makes the extra effort worthwhile.
1. Start with an anchor chart
Static electricity is most kids’ intro to this concept, and it leads nicely into electrical energy and circuitry. These colorful anchor charts help you teach both.
Get tutorial: Anchor chart about electricity and electricity anchor chart
2. Bend water with static electricity
Most static electricity experiments are quick and easy enough for anyone to try at home. This is a great example: Charge a comb by rubbing it against your head, then use it to “bend” a stream of water from a faucet.
Get tutorial: Water balloon experiment
3. Separate salt and pepper using a magic spoon
This static electricity experiment works because pepper is lighter than salt, which makes it quicker to jump to the electrically charged plastic spoon. So cool!
Get tutorial: Salt and pepper experiment
4. Move a bubble using a balloon
Balloons are a fun way to teach about static electricity. Combine them with bubbles for a hands-on activity students will really love.
Get tutorial: Bubble experiment
5. Flap a (paper) butterfly’s wings
Speaking of balloons, try using them to help a butterfly flap its tissue paper wings. Little ones’ faces light up when they see the butterfly come to life.
Get tutorial: Butterfly wing experiment
6. Make jumping goop with static electricity
Kick your static electricity experiments up a notch by mixing a batch of cornstarch “goop,” then making it “jump” toward a balloon. Amazing!
Get tutorial: Jumping goop experiment
7. Assemble circuits from play dough
When you’re ready to explore electrical energy, start with play dough circuits. You’ll need a battery box and mini LED lights. Mix up your own batches of insulating and conducting play dough using the info at the link.
Get tutorial: Play dough circuit experiment
Buy it: Battery box and clear LED lights at Amazon
8. Create a classic potato clock
A potato clock is an impressive way to kick off or end a unit on electricity. Your students will never look at potatoes the same way again.
Buy it: Potato Clock experiment kit
9. Find out if water conducts electricity
We’re always telling kids to get out of the water at the first sign of a lightning storm, so use this demo to help them understand why. You’ll need alligator clip wires, mini LED bulbs, and button cell batteries.
Get tutorial: Water electricity experiment
Buy it: Alligator clip wires , mini LED bulbs , and button cell batteries at Amazon
10. Whip up wizard wands
Lumos! If your kids are fascinated by Harry Potter and the world of magic, they’ll love this electricity project that turns ordinary sticks into light-up wands! Learn how it’s done at the link.
Get tutorial: Wizard wand project
11. Play a DIY steady-hand game
Electricity experiments like this one are perfect for exploring the idea of open and closed circuits. Plus, kids will have so much fun playing with them.
Get tutorial: Steady-hand game
12. Copper-plate coins using electricity
We all know electricity lights up a room and powers phones, computers, and even cars. But what else can it do? This electroplating experiment is a real jaw-dropper.
Get tutorial: Copper plate coins experiment
13. Create an index card flashlight
This DIY flashlight really turns on and off! It only takes index cards, aluminum foil, mini LED bulbs, an button cell batteries.
Get tutorial: Index card flashlight
Buy it: Mini LED bulbs and button cell batteries at Amazon
14. Twirl some homopolar dancers
These sweet little twirling dancers are a fantastic demonstration of a homopolar motor. In addition to basic AA batteries, you’ll need neodymium magnets and copper wire.
Get tutorial: Homopolar dancers
Buy it: Neodymium magnets and copper wire at Amazon
15. Build multiple circuits
Create more than one circuit using play dough to create a series. The positive leg of the LED is near the battery terminal. Since the battery can only push the electricity one way, you can create a circuit of two or more to create a larger circuit.
Get tutorial: Series circuit experiment
16. Make a coin battery
Use a stack of coins (the more coins you use, the more electricity produced) to make a battery.
Get tutorial: Coin battery
17. Make an electromagnet
Make an electromagnet, or a magnet that uses an electric field, by wrapping wire around an iron nail and running current through the wire. An electric field is created around the nail and, sometimes, the nail will stay magnetized even when the coil is removed.
Get tutorial: Electromagnet project
18. Create a pencil resister
Learn about how resisters control the amount of electricity that flows through a circuit. Use pencils (a great way to use those old stubby pencils that are sharpened at both ends) as part of the circuit, and watch the brightness of the build change when the resistance in the circuit changes.
Get tutorial: Pencil resister project
Buy it: AA batteries , battery holder , LED light bulbs , and alligator clips at Amazon
19. Find out what conducts electricity
Figure out what objects are made of material that conducts or does not conduct electricity. Collect common objects such as a key, chalk, wood, and/or candle. Then, test each object by putting it between a battery and a light bulb and touching foil to the base of the bulb. If the bulb lights up, the object conducts electricity!
Get tutorial: What conducts electricity? experiment
Buy it: AA batteries and LED light bulbs at Amazon
20. Create electric paint
Use electric paint to create a circuit and light up a painting with batteries and LEDs. You will need a multimeter for this project (here’s how to use a multimeter ).
Get tutorial: Electric paint project
Buy it: Multimeter , electric paint , 9-volt batteries , LED light bulbs , and alligator clips at Amazon
21. Create an electromagnetic train
Show the connection between electricity and magnetism by creating a train with a battery and some neodymium magnets. One note: This is a project for older students who have close adult supervision, as neodymium magnets are very strong.
Get tutorial: Electromagnetic train project
Buy it: Neodymium magnets at Amazon
22. Create an electroscope with a soda can
An electroscope detects the presence of an electronic charge. Create a basic but effective electroscope with a soda can, insulation tape, aluminum foil, and a Styrofoam cup. Put it near various surfaces and see what happens.
Get tutorial: Soda Can Electroscope
23. Turn dirt into a battery
Electricity can even conduct in dirt. Create a dirt battery with galvanized steel screws (very important), an ice cube tray, copper wires, and soil. Make it more interesting by putting lemon juice or vinegar in the dirt.
Get tutorial: Dirt Battery Experiment
Buy it: Copper wire and galvanized screws at Amazon
24. Lemon battery
Use a lemon to create a battery with coins and a multimeter. It’s a great way to show students how literally anything can be a conductor of electricity.
Get tutorial: A Simple Lemon Battery
Buy it: Multimeter at Amazon
Love these electricity experiments and activities? Check out Easy Science Experiments Using Materials You Already Have On Hand .
Plus check out turn muggles into wizards with harry potter science experiments ..
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Static Electricity Experiments For Kids
Ever noticed how when you rub a balloon against your hair, it sticks to the wall? That’s static electricity in action! Learn more about this fun science concept with simple static electricity experiments, and everyday examples of static electricity. Enjoy hands-on physics experiments for kids!
Explore Static Electricity For Physics
Static electricity happens when tiny particles called electrons build up on an object, making it either positively or negatively charged.
When these charged objects get near each other, they can do some pretty cool things, like making your hair stand on end or attracting small things, like pieces of paper or confetti.
So, static electricity is all about the invisible forces that make objects stick together or repel each other, and it’s a fun and fascinating part of science that you can explore with simple static electricity experiments below.
💡For more ways to explore physics with kids, check out our list of easy physics experiments .
Examples of Static Electricity
Here are some everyday examples of static electricity that you can explain to kids. These examples help kids understand that static electricity is all around us, and it can be both fun and surprising when we see it in action. It’s like a little bit of science magic happening every day!
- Balloon on the Wall: When you rub a balloon against your hair and then stick it to the wall, it’s static electricity at work. The balloon becomes negatively charged from the friction, and it sticks to the wall, which has a different charge.
- Walking on Carpet: Sometimes, when you walk on a carpet with socks, you may feel a shock when you touch a metal doorknob. This happens because you build up a charge by rubbing against the carpet, and when you touch the doorknob, the charge flows and gives you a little shock.
- Socks and Jumping Beans: Sometimes, when you take off your socks after walking on a carpet, they might attract small items like jumping beans or bits of paper. The socks get charged as you walk, making them attract other small objects.
- Static Cling in the Dryer: When you take clothes out of the dryer, they might sometimes stick together or to the sides of the drum. This happens because of static electricity from the friction of the clothes rubbing against each other.
- Balloons Stick Together: If you rub two balloons against your hair and then bring them close together, they might stick to each other. This is because the like charges (both negatively charged) on the balloons repel each other.
- Crackling Sounds in the Winter: In cold, dry weather, you might hear crackling sounds when you touch things or take off your winter hat. That’s static electricity being discharged.
- Lightning: Explain how lightning during a thunderstorm is a massive example of static electricity in nature. It happens when negative charges build up in the clouds and discharge as a bright bolt of lightning to the ground.
- Petting a Cat or Dog: Sometimes, when you pet your cat or dog, you might feel a little shock when you touch their fur. It’s because of static electricity from friction between their fur and your hand.
Here are some simple and fun examples of static electricity experiments and demonstrations that are great for learning at home or in the classroom.
Rolling Can Static Electricity
The rolling can experiment provides a tangible demonstration of static electricity’s captivating nature! Grab a balloon and an aluminum can to get started.
Bending Water
Can you bend a stream of water with static electricity? It’s an easy and fun science demonstration for people of various ages to try.
Static Electricity with Balloons
Rub a balloon against your hair or a piece of wool cloth, and then place it near small pieces of paper. The paper should be attracted to the balloon, demonstrating the effect of static electricity. What happens when you use different types of cloth?
We’ve tested lightweight paper, tissue paper, and tinsel! What else can you test?
Static Electricity with a Plastic Straw
Rub a plastic straw with a piece of cloth or fur and then use it to pick up small pieces of paper or confetti. The static charge on the straw will make the paper pieces stick to it.
Static Electricity with a Plastic Bag
Inflate a plastic bag and rub it against your hair or a piece of fabric. Hold the bag near a wall, which should stick to the wall due to the static charge.
Static Electricity with a Balloon and Salt and Pepper
Rub a balloon against your hair and then bring it to a plate of salt and pepper. The salt and pepper will be attracted to the balloon, demonstrating the power of static electricity.
Static Electricity with a Comb and Water
Run a comb through your hair and bring it near a thin stream of water. The water will be attracted to the comb and bend towards it.
Check out the experiment details further below!
Static Electricity with Cornstarch Goop
Make electric goop ! Mix up a batch of cornstarch oobleck and test out the power of static electricity with a balloon.
What Is Static Electricity?
Think of tiny invisible particles called electrons as little magnets. Everything around us, like your hair, a balloon, or even a piece of cloth, is made up of these particles. Learn more about electrons here.
Sometimes, when two things rub against each other, like when you rub a balloon against your hair, the electrons can get all jumbled up and move from one thing to the other.
When this happens, one thing gets extra electrons, and the other thing loses some. The one with extra electrons becomes negatively charged, like a minus sign, and the one that lost some becomes positively charged, like a plus sign.
These opposite charges make things stick together or repel each other, like magnets with opposite ends.
So, when you rub the balloon on your hair, it’s taking some of your hair’s electrons, making the balloon negatively charged.
That’s why the balloon can stick to the wall or make your hair stand up—all because of those jumbled-up electrons creating static electricity. It’s like a tiny invisible magic show happening all around us!
Also Try: Static Electricity Butterfly
Make it fly! Harness the power of static electricity.
- Lightweight Paper/Tissue Paper
- Tape and Scissors
Instructions:
STEP 1: Cut out a butterfly shape from lightweight paper or tissue paper,
STEP 2: Attach a small piece of tape to its center and affix it to a straw.
STEP 3: Generate static electricity by rubbing a balloon against the fabric. Hold the charged balloon near the butterfly.
STEP 4: Observe as the butterfly flutters toward the balloon drawn by invisible forces!
Try This Static Electricity Experiment with a Comb
This comb and water static electricity experiment is a fun way to demonstrate the principles of static electricity to kids.
- A plastic comb (the type with fine teeth works well)
- A running faucet or a source of water
- A small piece of dry paper or a small piece of tissue
- A piece of dry cloth or wool (a piece of wool fabric or a wool sweater works great)
STEP 1. Take the dry comb and rub it vigorously against the dry cloth or wool for about 20-30 seconds. This rubbing creates a buildup of static electricity on the comb.
TIP: If the comb is not dry, be sure to dry it with a paper towel or cloth so that it’s completely free of water.
STEP 2. Have a running faucet nearby or fill a small sink with a shallow layer of water.
STEP 3. Now, while still holding the comb, bring it near the running faucet or the water surface without actually touching the water.
You should see that the water stream bends toward the comb, as if the comb is magically attracting the water.
TIP: You can also try this with a small piece of tissue instead of running water. When you bring the charged comb close to the tissue, you’ll notice that it’s attracted to the comb.
What is happening?
When you rub the comb against the cloth or wool, it picks up extra electrons and becomes negatively charged. The water or tissue has a positive charge.
Opposite charges attract, so the negatively charged comb attracts the positively charged water or tissue. This is a simple demonstration of the principles of static electricity.
Make sure to explain this concept to the kids while conducting the experiment, and encourage them to try it themselves. It’s a great way to make science fun and interactive for children.
Helpful Science Resources To Use
Here are a few resources that will help you introduce science more effectively to your kiddos or students and feel confident yourself when presenting materials. You’ll find helpful free printables throughout.
- Best Science Practices (as it relates to the scientific method)
- Science Vocabulary
- 8 Science Books for Kids
- All About Scientists
- Science Supplies List
- Science Tools for Kids
- Join us in the Club
More Physical Science Activities To Explore
- Gravity Experiments
- Magnet Activities
- Simple Machine Projects
- Potential & Kinetic Energy
- Light Experiments
- Surface Tension Experiments
Science Experiments By Age Group
We’ve put together a few separate resources for different age groups, but remember that many experiments will cross over and can be re-tried at several different age levels. Younger kiddos can enjoy the simplicity and hands-on fun. At the same time, you can talk back and forth about what is happening.
As kiddos get older, they can bring more complexity to the experiments, including using the scientific method , developing hypotheses, exploring variables , creating different tests, and writing conclusions from analyzing data.
- Science for Toddlers
- Science for Preschoolers
- Science for Kindergarten
- Elementary Science by Season
- Science for 1st Grade
- Science for 2nd Grade
- Science for 3rd Grade
- Science for 4th Grade
- Science for 6th Grade
- Science for Middle School
Printable Science Projects For Kids
If you’re looking to grab all of our printable science projects in one convenient place plus exclusive worksheets and bonuses like a STEAM Project pack, our Science Project Pack is what you need! Over 300+ Pages!
- 90+ classic science activities with journal pages, supply lists, set up and process, and science information. NEW! Activity-specific observation pages!
- Best science practices posters and our original science method process folders for extra alternatives!
- Be a Collector activities pack introduces kids to the world of making collections through the eyes of a scientist. What will they collect first?
- Know the Words Science vocabulary pack includes flashcards, crosswords, and word searches that illuminate keywords in the experiments!
- My science journal writing prompts explore what it means to be a scientist!!
- Bonus STEAM Project Pack: Art meets science with doable projects!
- Bonus Quick Grab Packs for Biology, Earth Science, Chemistry, and Physics
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