Playing and experimenting with static electricity provides children with some of their earliest hands-on physics lessons. This is an easy Valentine’s Day STEM activity where the kids make Cupid fly using static electricity. Get your balloons and your crazy hair ready!

Valentine’s Day Science Activities

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A collection of 14 bubbly, hands-on, colorful Valentine's Day Science Activities for kids ages 3-8. Perfect for heart-filled home or classroom learning.

Flying Cupids Valentine Science Experiment

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Making flying cupids is easy. We gathered these supplies:

  • Tissue paper
  • Markers
  • Printable Cupid Template (available below for free)
  • Scissors
  • An inflated balloon
  • Wool, flannel, or fleece fabric (A head of hair also works perfectly!)

Once our supplies were ready we followed these simple directions:

  • Draw a cupid on a piece of tissue paper. You can either do this freehand or trace a cupid onto the tissue paper like I did! Download a free Cupid Template to trace by clicking on the button below.
<< Download Now >>
  • Cut out the tissue paper cupid and put it on a flat surface.
  • Rub the balloon on fabric or hair for about 10 seconds.
  • Hold the balloon a few inches over the tissue paper cupid and see what happens. If the balloon has a good static charge, the cupid should jump right up and stick to the balloon!
  • Have fun making your cupid fly!

Making cupids fly using static electricity is the perfect easy Valentine's Day science activity for kids. Get your balloons and your crazy hair ready!

Static Electricity for Valentine’s Day

So what is going on with the balloon? Why does rubbing a balloon on your head make your hair go crazy and then attract tissue paper to it?

Simply put, when the balloon is rubbed against fabric or hair, electrons are transferred to the balloon, giving it an overall negative charge. This negative charge attracts the tissue paper cupids, making them stick!

If you love playing with unseen forces as much as we do try making and experimenting with magnet powered cars!

More Valentine’s Day Science –>

Magic milk hearts is a Valentine's Day science variation on the classic experiment. It's a little bit science, a little bit art, and a whole lot of fun!
A collection of the best Valentine's Day STEM activities from across the web. Ideas for science, technology, engineering, and math for kids.
Use salt and liquid watercolors to create gorgeous Valentines science art. Learn hands on science while creating bright and colorful ice hearts.
A collection of 14 bubbly, hands-on, colorful Valentine's Day Science Activities for kids ages 3-8. Perfect for heart-filled home or classroom learning.

STEM Saturday

Candy Heart Catapult | Measuring Distance from Stir the Wonder
LEGO Candy Box for Candy Hearts Building Challenge from Little Bins for Little Hands
Scented Hearts Experiment from Suzy Homeschooler
Dissolving Candy Hearts Experiment from Lemon Lime Adventures