Sometimes science can appear a bit magical, don’t you think! I bet you have seen or heard of the pencil in a bag water trick. Well, now you can do it for yourself! Find out why you can put a pencil through a bag of water with this easy-to-set-up leakproof bag experiment. Can you pull it off without getting soaked? Did we? We love easy and fun science experiments for kids!
Leakproof Bag Experiment
This particular science project involves a bit of mystery and that’s exactly why kids will have a blast trying it out, testing it, and figuring out what’s going on?
Supplies:
- Sharpened Pencils
- Zip Top Plastic Gallon Bag
- Water
Instructions:
TIP: Just note that this activity might be best for a warm day outside! If not, make sure you are over a sink or tub and have some towels handy.
STEP 1. Make sure to start with freshly sharpened pencils if you can!
STEP 2. Fill your plastic bag with water and seal tightly.
STEP 3. Now for the fun part! Take a sharpened pencil and poke it through the bag! Don’t hesitate or you may find it will leak a bit.
STEP 4. Try it again! How many pencils can you put through the bag? Make a guess and see what happens!
How Does It Work?
You would think that water would leave the bag when you stab it with pencils. This leakproof bag science experiment may look a lot like magic, but it’s also cool chemistry! What’s going on between the water, the plastic bag, and the sharpened pencils?
You can put a pencil through a bag of water because the plastic bag is made up of polymers which are long strands or chains of molecules. When the sharpened pencil pushes through the plastic bag, it’s actually pushing through the polymer chains.
The chains or strands are pushed aside by the pointy pencil but then re-seal themselves around the pencil preventing water from leaking out. See what happens when you try to push a dull or unsharpened pencil through!
LOOK: 65 Amazing Chemistry Experiments for Kids
Now of course when you remove the pencils the holes will be left and the water will definitely leak out, everywhere. Also, make sure not to push the pencils all the way through or you will have holes and leaks too.
Turn It Into A Science Project
Science projects are an excellent tool for older kiddos to show what they know about science! Plus, they can be used in all sorts of environments including classrooms, homeschool, and groups.
Kids can take everything they have learned about using the scientific method, stating a hypothesis, choosing variables, making observations and analyzing and presenting data.
Want to turn one of these experiments into an awesome science fair project? Check out these helpful resources.
Helpful Science Resources To Get You Started
Here are a few resources that will help you introduce science more effectively to your kiddos or students and feel confident yourself when presenting materials. You’ll find helpful free printables throughout.
- Best Science Practices (as it relates to the scientific method)
- Science Vocabulary
- 8 Science Books for Kids
- All About Scientists
- Free Science Worksheets
- Science Supplies List
- Science Tools for Kids
More Fun Water Experiments To Try
There are so many fun experiments you can do with water! Check out our collection of preschool water experiments and water experiments for older kiddos!
Here are a few ideas you will love…
- What dissolves in water
- Walking water
- Saltwater density
- Rainbow In J jar
- How Many Drops On A Penny
- What Materials Absorb Water?
Printable Science Projects For Kids
If you’re looking to grab all of our printable science projects in one convenient place plus exclusive worksheets and bonuses like a STEAM Project pack, our Science Project Pack is what you need! Over 300+ Pages!
- 90+ classic science activities with journal pages, supply lists, set up and process, and science information. NEW! Activity-specific observation pages!
- Best science practices posters and our original science method process folders for extra alternatives!
- Be a Collector activities pack introduces kids to the world of making collections through the eyes of a scientist. What will they collect first?
- Know the Words Science vocabulary pack includes flashcards, crosswords, and word searches that illuminate keywords in the experiments!
- My science journal writing prompts explore what it means to be a scientist!!
- Bonus STEAM Project Pack: Art meets science with doable projects!
- Bonus Quick Grab Packs for Biology, Earth Science, Chemistry, and Physics
