In the wizarding world, the alarte ascendare spell launches an object upward. In The Chamber of Secrets, Gilderoy Lockhart uses this on the snake that Draco conjures in his duel with Harry. 

In our activity, we are going to send a tea bag up into the air – with science! We’ll light the tea bag on fire (please have a grown up help!). As the tea bag burns, the temperature of the air will increase. Hot air rises, so the air will start to move upward. The tea bag will also get lighter as it burns, and eventually the rising hot air will whisk it away.

Here is what to do,

  1. Gather supplies
    1. Tea bag
    2. Matches
    3. Small glass plate
  2. Empty and discard the tea from the bag.
  3. Unfold the tea bag (also remove any strings, paper, or staples) and place the tea bag on a glass plate (or other non-flammable surface).
  4. Make sure that there is plenty of clear space above the plate and then use a match (with the help of a grown up) to light the top of the tea bag.

Watch here: