Preview draft. Activities have not been tested with caregivers.
Science · The activity desk
Bend a water stream
Use a rubbed plastic comb to explore static electricity near a thin stream of water.
Let's play →
A little plan for play
Open interactive activity →Add to play journal →What you need
A clean dry plastic comb, a dry wool cloth, and a sink with a tap
Age: 3–5 years; choose for the individual child.
Stay with the child throughout. Check the space and supplies, including anything within reach of younger siblings. Skip any activity that is unsuitable. Stop if a child puts non-food material in their mouth or becomes distressed. Use intact books, full sheets of paper, a large child-appropriate crayon and a clean, dry towel. Follow product labels; remove torn paper and keep broken crayons and caps away from children. Adult handles and stores supplies.
Set up: An adult clears the sink area, checks the comb for sharp or broken teeth, and turns on a thin stream of cool water.
Adult's role: Stay beside the child, control the tap, and hold the comb near the water without touching it. Turn the tap off promptly after the observation.
Let's make it happen
- Rub the dry plastic comb briskly with the dry wool cloth.
- The adult slowly brings the comb close to the thin stream without touching the water. Watch for the stream bending toward it.
- Move the comb away and compare. Try rubbing it again if nothing changes; damp air can make the effect harder to see.
Make it simpler: Watch the adult rub and hold the comb, then point to any movement in the stream.
Clean up: Turn off the tap, dry the sink area, and put the comb and cloth away.
An adult controls the tap and stays beside the child. Keep the comb and cloth away from mouths and stop if water makes the floor slippery.