Static Electricity 1

Today we did four different experiments involving atoms and static electricity. At the first station we rubbed a balloon on our hair and held it on top of scraps of paper. When we did this the paper attracted to the balloon and rose to it. I think this is because the balloon gained positive or negative energy when we rubbed it on our head and the paper had the opposite energy as it, causing them to attract. At the second station we stuck two 10 inch pieces of tape to the table and then ripped them and held them up to each other. When we did this, the tapes repelled each other. I think this is because they were both the same thing, and they got the same amount of energy, therefore they repelled each other. At the third station we stuck at 10 inch piece of tape to the table and another one on top of it, then ripped it off. When we did this the tapes attracted to each other. I think this is because one of the pieces of tape was charged from ripping it off the table, but because the other one wasn't ripped off, it was opposite, because of this they attracted. At the fourth station we rubbed a balloon on our shirt and the held it up to a small stream of water. When we did this the water attracted to the balloon. I think this is because the atoms in the water have are oppisite to the balloon, therefore they attract. During this lesson I was confused about some things, here are some questions I had. What is an atom made of? I don't mean neutrons, protons, and electrons, but for example if we had a huge atom the we could see, what would it look/feel like. Another question I have is, how do atoms play into static electricity? I also wonder, if an atom is negative or positive, does that mean the object it makes up is also negative or positive?