Essy
Hair-Raising Science
Essy loves going to the playground.
One afternoon, after racing down the slippery slide over and over again, she noticed something strange.
When she reached the bottom, her hair was sticking up in every direction!
Then her friend reached out to help her up...
Zap!
They both felt a tiny electric shock.
Essy looked back at the slide.
"There aren't any batteries... there aren't any power cords... so where did the electricity come from?"
That question stayed in her mind all the way back to the Crazy Scientist LAB.
Professor Picklebottom smiled.
"I think we can build an investigation to find out."
Can you solve the mystery before discovering the science?
Ages
5-12 yrs
Duration
min
10
Difficulty
Easy
Stage
Stage 1-3
Cite this resource
Created by Darin Carr (BSc, DipEd)
NESA Accredited Teacher · Chemistry & Physics Specialist · 30+ years in-class teaching
Resource Version: 1.0
First Published:
Last Updated:
16 July 2026
1 Aug 2026
MISSION VERIFIED
Classroom tested. Teacher designed. Safe at home.
Designed by Darin Carr (BScDip Ed)
Practising NESA accredited
Australian Science Teacher
★ 30+ years of classroom experience
MISSION PROGRESS
young scientists have completed this mission.
I'VE COMPLETED THIS MISSION
Click to let us know you have completed this mission
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Before you investigate... watch the mystery
MISSION HOOK
Professor Picklebottom and the team are travelling and collecting amazing science mysteries.
✔ Coming in Term 1 2027
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Mission Equipment
Gather your materials and get
ready for an amazing mission!
1 balloon
A wool jumper or woollen cloth (optional)
Dry hair
A partner
Let’s Investigate
Follow the missions steps below to solve the mystery.
1
Charge the Balloon
Blow up your balloon.
Rub it on dry hair or a wool jumper for about 20 seconds.
Don't test it yet!
PREDICT
OBSERVE
EVIDENCE
ASK
SAFETY
TIP
PREDICT
Gather your materials and get
ready for an amazing mission!
2
Make Your Prediction
Before you hold the balloon near someone's hair...
Think carefully.
PREDICT
OBSERVE
EVIDENCE
ASK
SAFETY
TIP
PREDICT
Gather your materials and get
ready for an amazing mission!
3
Test Your Idea
Slowly move the balloon towards the person's hair.
Don't let the balloon touch the hair.
Watch very carefully.
PREDICT
OBSERVE
EVIDENCE
ASK
SAFETY
TIP
PREDICT
Gather your materials and get
ready for an amazing mission!
4
Can You Make It Better?
Try changing ONE thing.
Rub the balloon for longer.
Rub it on a wool jumper.
Try another person's hair.
Test again.
PREDICT
OBSERVE
EVIDENCE
ASK
SAFETY
TIP
PREDICT
Gather your materials and get
ready for an amazing mission!
5
Where Else Have You Seen This?
Think about everyday life.
Have you ever noticed static electricity...
after a playground slide?
after jumping on a trampoline?
when taking off a wool jumper?
PREDICT
OBSERVE
EVIDENCE
ASK
SAFETY
TIP
PREDICT
Gather your materials and get
ready for an amazing mission!
1
Big Title
Gather your materials and get
ready for an amazing mission!
PREDICT
OBSERVE
EVIDENCE
ASK
SAFETY
TIP
PREDICT
Gather your materials and get
ready for an amazing mission!
1
Big Title
Gather your materials and get
ready for an amazing mission!
PREDICT
OBSERVE
EVIDENCE
ASK
SAFETY
TIP
PREDICT
Gather your materials and get
ready for an amazing mission!
1
Big Title
Gather your materials and get
ready for an amazing mission!
PREDICT
OBSERVE
EVIDENCE
ASK
SAFETY
TIP
PREDICT
Gather your materials and get
ready for an amazing mission!
1
Big Title
Gather your materials and get
ready for an amazing mission!
PREDICT
OBSERVE
EVIDENCE
ASK
SAFETY
TIP
PREDICT
1
Charge the Balloon
Gather your materials and get
ready for an amazing mission!
PREDICT
OBSERVE
EVIDENCE
ASK
SAFETY
TIP
PREDICT
1
Charge the Balloon
Gather your materials and get
ready for an amazing mission!
PREDICT
OBSERVE
EVIDENCE
ASK
SAFETY
TIP
PREDICT
1
Big Title
Gather your materials and get
ready for an amazing mission!
PREDICT
OBSERVE
EVIDENCE
ASK
SAFETY
TIP
PREDICT
The Crazy Scientist LAB Learning System™
Every experiment follows The Crazy Scientist Lab Learning System™ — a simple way to help kids think like real scientists.
We
-
LINK to what they already know,
-
ACTIVATE curiosity through hands-on discovery
-
BUILD understanding that actually sticks.
Have you ever...
Slid down a slippery playground slide and felt your hair sticking up?
Taken off a jumper and heard little crackling sounds?
Had a balloon stick to a wall after a party?
Seen someone else's hair suddenly float upwards?
Those strange things all happen because of the same invisible force.
Today you're going to investigate it yourself.
What did you discover?
When you rubbed the balloon, something invisible changed.
Without touching anything, the balloon could:
Lift hair.
Pull individual strands.
Make hair stand up.
You weren't using magnets.
You weren't using glue.
So...
What was pulling the hair?
Scientists call this invisible effect static electricity.
Where else have you seen this?
The same invisible force can happen in everyday life.
Have you ever...
Gone down a playground slide and your hair stood up?
Taken off a wool jumper and heard tiny crackles?
Rubbed a balloon on your shirt and made it stick to a wall?
Got a tiny zap after walking across carpet and touching a door handle?
They're all caused by static electricity.
Now you'll start spotting it everywhere!
"Want the full teacher guide? The Crazy Scientist Lab includes classroom delivery tips, how to manage the WOW moment, differentiation for Stage 2 & 3, — ready to teach tomorrow."
Think Like a Scientist
Scientists don't just do ONE experiment; they change one part of the experiment (independent variable) and then see how it affects another part of the experiment
(dependent variable)
Change ONE variable and test again.
What happens if you change how long you rub the balloon?
Which material gives the balloon the biggest charge?
Dr Puddledrip’s Science Tip
Read the Science
Teachers & Homeschoolers: Print-ready HD versions of this Science Behind It poster and companion G&T Challenge Card are available inside The Crazy Scientist LAB.
Scientist's Challenge
Designed for HPGE, gifted learners and children who enjoy an extra challenge.
Teachers & Homeschoolers: Print-ready HD versions of this Science Behind It poster and companion G&T Challenge Card are available inside The Crazy Scientist LAB.
The Next Question...
You've solved today's mystery. Now discover where curiosity can take you next.
Teachers & Homeschoolers: Print-ready HD versions of this Science Behind It poster and companion G&T Challenge Card are available inside The Crazy Scientist LAB.
Vocabulary
Static Electricity
What it means: A build-up of electric charge that can make objects attract or push away from each other.
Charge
What it means: The invisible electrical energy that builds up when two materials are rubbed together.
Repel
What it means: To push something away instead of pulling it closer.
Know a parent or teacher who'd love this? Send it on! 👇
Keep Exploring This Mystery
One experiment leads to even more amazing discoveries inside the Learning Universe.
Curiosity Files
BIG Questions & Discovery
Illustrated Facts
Explore • Discover
Road Trip Science
Discover science everywhere
The Teacher's Cauldron
Think. Experiment. Inspire
Books
Read • Explore
Videos
Watch & Learn
LAB Resources
Premium learning resources
- Coming Early 2027
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- Coming Mid 2027
Why Does Your Hair Try to Escape Your Head?
Ready for Your Next Discovery?
READY TO TEACH THIS
TOMORROW?
Running the experiment is easy; however, teaching it well is another challenge.
Teachers often ask:
How do I adapt this for Stages 1,2 or 3?
What misconceptions will they have?
What syllabus outcomes does it cover?
What do I do with fast finishers?
How do I structure this for a full class?
What do I say when they ask WHY?
BUILD AROUND THE LAB LEARNING SYSTEM™
Every resource is designed using our teaching framework.
Inside The Crazy Scientist LAB
Everything you need to confidently teach science tomorrow.
Opening early 2027. Join the Founding Member Waitlist
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