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Flying Tinsel

Hone your electrostatic levitation skills as you learn about static electricity while making tinsel fly. This makes a great winter holiday activity.

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Time Needed:: 30-45 minutes
Grade:: 5th Grade
Subject:: Physics

Educator Rating:

3.8

Parent Rating:

3.1

Educator Reviews

3.8

Based on 6 reviews

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Annonymous

This resource is a flying tinsel experiment. I like the organized format of this site and the explanation of how it works. It is the same experiment featured in Science Bob in the levitating orb albeit with slightly changed supplies. Try both and see which you like best. For those uninitiated in the art of levitation, this science experiment is a ton of fun for all ages. The static electricity from rubbing the Styrofoam creates charged pieces of tinsels that form a floating orb shape. It is truly a sight to see.

Josh

While I think this is a wonderful idea and has the potential to be very fun, it can also be a bit frustrating and the supplies are not always readily available. It might fly over some younger kids' head (pun intended), but it is worth explaining to them and helping them with as a parent.

Annonymous

Thank you for the great idea and fantastic and fun, super easy project!

Annonymous

I was excited with the opening video. It was exciting and I was eager to try to the experiment, but then it stopped. For a 2nd-3rd grade student, you just lost them. Include a video demonstrating the experiment. The directions on how to complete the project were easy enough for an adult to follow, but the size of print and so many steps to read on one page will discourage a child from completing the task. The vocabulary on the task was a little advance for this age group. I like the extension activities. Science experiments like these are fun, but make it practical. How does this affect us in the world? Why is this important to know? I want my students to connect science with life and not just play with science.

Jordan

This activity was challenging to implement. For this activity to work, key items such as a Styrofoam board and cup are specifically needed. Although trying to improvise with the limited supplies at hand, the ability of this undertaking is slim. The educational value is detailed and organized. Overall, this is a good, challenging, and exciting activity for elementary students - as long as they persevere and are determined.

Annonymous

There were good visuals but the description was geared toward older children. The activity itself was fun for all ages, even myself.

Parent Reviews

3.1

Based on 3 reviews

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Lacy

Good activity over the holidays so I was able to find tinsel. My 7 year old had a good time doing this simple activity that was fun and rewarding. He recharged the plate and spent a long time doing the experiment over and over again. The video instructions are very user friendly too which is nice.

Annonymous

Hard to find tinsel during a pandemic and not around Christmas time. Unless you happen to already have it in your Christmas box.

Annonymous

This would be a very fun assignment to have around Thanksgiving time. Needing a pie tin and tinsel that would be a great time to find those things. We didn’t have those available but my son was super excited and wanted to do it. I also like that this activity would be good for younger kids but taking the step further into the Math portion would interest older STEM learners.

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Educational Value*
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Educational Value Score
User Friendly Resource*
- Content is not organized; minimal connection to STEM
- Somewhat organized content
- Organized content
- Organized content; detailed and accurate
- Organized content; detailed, in-depth, and accurate
User Friendly Resource Score
Ease of Use at Home*
- Not user friendly, poorly designed, supplies are difficult to find
- Somewhat user friendly, acceptable design, supplies are somewhat difficult to find
- User friendly, good design, supplies are somewhat easy to find
- Very user friendly, well designed, supplies are easy to find
- Extrememly user friendly, well designed, supplies are readily available at home
Ease of Use Score
Fun and Engaging*
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Educational Value*
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Educational Value Score
User Friendly Resource*
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Ease of Use at Home*
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Fun and Engaging*
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Fun and Engaging Score
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