Pencil lead and some batteries make a small plasma cutter that is used to etch a pattern in aluminum foil.
In this simple but cool demo, you are able to observe how a high velocity ionized gas (plasma) conducts electricity across a small gap between the tip of the pencil lead (graphite) and a conductive solid (aluminum foil). When electric current is applied, the carbon atoms in the graphite vaporize and ionize creating a small ball of plasma that heats and melts the aluminum foil.
Let us know if you think this demo is something you would use in your classroom. See comments below!!!
This video was produced by The Little Shop of Physics at Colorado State University in partnership with GE.