Kick off your summer play with awesome STEAM Activities! This cool paper towel art is very easy to make with just a few simple materials. Combine art with science, and learn about water solubility. Gather a few items for your paper towel craft and let’s get started!

HOW TO MAKE PAPER TOWEL ART

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Get ready to add this simple STEAM activity to your STEM lesson plans this season. If you want to learn more about combining art and science for summer craft and art projects, let’s grab the supplies. While you’re at it, make sure to check out these other fun summer activities.

Our science activities and experiments are designed with you, the parent or teacher, in mind! Easy to set up, quick to do, most activities will take only 15 to 30 minutes to complete and are heaps of fun! Plus, our supplies lists usually contain only free or cheap materials you can source from home!

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PAPER TOWEL ART

Three common household or classroom supplies and you have a cool summer art project. Make an abstract picture, make a tye-dye, or make a masterpiece!

YOU WILL NEED:

  • Paper Towels
  • Water Soluble Markers (not permanent)
  • Water
  • Spray Bottle
  • Pipette
  • Tray

HOW TO MAKE PAPER TOWEL ART

STEP 1:  Place sheets of paper towels on your tray in one layer. 

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STEP 2: Using washable markers, create a design or picture. Try to cover the area as much as possible with color!

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STEP 3: Fill a  squirt bottle with water and lightly spray the paper towel. Watch the colors come alive as the colors spread through the paper towel.

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Continue wetting the paper towel until you are satisfied! Set aside to dry and then you can hang up the masterpiece!

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TIP: This can also be done with coffee filters! See how we do that here.

THE SIMPLE SCIENCE OF SOLUBILITY

Soluble vs. insoluble! If something is soluble that means it will dissolve in that liquid. The ink used in these washable markers dissolves in what? The water of course!

When you added drops of water to the designs on the paper, the ink should spread out and run along the fibers in the paper with the water.

Note: Permanent markers do not dissolve in water but in alcohol. You can see this in action here with our tie dye sharpie cards.

MORE FUN WITH SOLUBILITY

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MAKE COOL PAPER TOWEL ART FOR STEAM

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Looking for easy STEAM ideas?

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