Buzzing Bee Balloon

Materials you'll need

• Yellow balloon
• Hex nut
• Black construction paper
• Tracing paper
• Tape or glue

 

Step-by-step tutorial

Step 1: Get an uninflated yellow balloon and drop a hex nut inside it through the neck.

Step 2: Inflate the balloon and tie off the end.

Step 3: Cut a paper stripe from the construction paper and wrap around the middle of the balloon to give your bee its striped body.

Step 4: Cut the tracing paper to make wings and attach to the top of the balloon.

Step 5: Cut eyes from the construction paper and glue or tape onto the front of the balloon.

Step 6: Hold your bee balloon with both hands and swirl it around in circles. Listen as it buzzes.

Learn more

This buzz comes down to shape and vibration. A hex nut has six flat sides, so instead of rolling smoothly like a marble would, it bumps and scrapes against the balloon's rubber skin as it circles around inside. Those tiny, rapid bumps make the balloon's surface vibrate fast — and the balloon itself acts like a resonator, a natural amplifier that turns that vibration into the buzzing sound you hear.