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Simple science starts here! This walking water experiment is incredibly easy and fun to set up for kids. All you need are a few simple supplies you can find in your kitchen cupboards. Watch the water travel as it makes a rainbow of color, and learn about capillary action too! We love easy science experiments for kids!

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What You Will Learn

The walking water experiment is a fantastic way to introduce kids to several key scientific concepts:

Capillary Action: This experiment demonstrates capillary action, which is the ability of water (or other liquids) to move upward against gravity through narrow spaces, such as the gaps between paper towels or the fibers of a paper towel.

Absorption: Kids can learn about absorption, which is the process of one substance being taken up by another substance. In this experiment, they observe how water is absorbed by the paper towels and then transported from one cup to another.

Color Mixing: The walking water experiment also allows for exploring color mixing. Using colored water in the cups, kids can observe how the colors blend as the water travels through the paper towels, creating new colors that overlap.

Properties of Water: Through this experiment, kids can learn about the unique properties of water, including cohesion (water molecules sticking together) and adhesion (water molecules sticking to other substances, like paper towels).

Experimental Method: It introduces children to the scientific method by encouraging them to make predictions, conduct experiments, and observe and analyze the results.

Watch the Walking Water Video:

Walking Water Experiment

If you want to make this into a walking water science fair project where you are using the scientific method, you need to change one variable. You could repeat the experiment with different types of paper towels and observe the differences. Learn more about the scientific method for kids here.

Walking Water Experiment Hypothesis Example:

Hypothesis: “I predict that if I place pieces of paper towel in cups filled with different colored water and connect them, then the water will move up the paper towels and travel from one cup to another.

Supplies:

  • Water
  • Test Tubes and Rack (clear plastic cups or mason jars work well too!)
  • Food Coloring
  • Paper Towels
  • Stirrer
  • Scissors
  • Timer (optional)

Instructions:

STEP 1. You can set up as many or as less jars as you like for this part.

We used 9 test tubes of primary colors (3 x red, 3 x yellow, 3 x blue). We added red, yellow, and blue food coloring (one color per test tube) in a pattern.

Give each test tube (or glass or cup) a little stir to distribute the color evenly. Try to put the same amount of food coloring in each container!

STEP 2. Cut thin strips of paper towel to fit in the test tubes. If you are using glasses or cups, you can judge the best size strip to fit what you are using.

Place the paper towel strips into the test tubes. There will be two ends in each tube.

STEP 3. Wait and watch what happens. At this point, you can set up a stopwatch to make note of how long it takes for the colors to meet and mix.

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Once you have inserted the towels, it’s the perfect time to talk about what your kids see happening (observations). Do they want to improve their hypothesis or have new ideas about what might happen?

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How Long Does it Take for the Walking Water Experiment to Work?

The whole process starts pretty quickly, but it does take a while for the colors to begin to mix. You may want to leave it and return to see the colors mixed.

This would be a great time to pull out the watercolors and do some color mixing art!

Or how about setting up a homemade lava lamp experiment while you wait?

Make sure to check on your walking water science experiment every once in a while to see the changes constantly occurring. The kids will be amazed at how the water seems to defy gravity!

walking water science and color wheel for color theory science tooPin

The Science Behind Walking Water

Walking water science is all about capillary action, which also can be seen in plants. You can even check out our celery and food coloring experiment to see this!

What is capillary action? Capillary action is the ability of a liquid to flow upward against gravity in a narrow space, like a thin tube or a porous material. Capillary action can happen due to combining two main forces: cohesion and adhesion.

Cohesion is the attraction between molecules of the same substance. In the case of water, water molecules are strongly attracted to each other, creating a sort of “pull” that keeps the molecules together.

Adhesion is the attraction between molecules of different substances. Water molecules are also attracted to the surfaces of materials like glass, paper, and plants.

How Does the Water Walk?

The colored water travels up the fibers of the paper towel. The gaps in the paper towel are similar to the capillary tubes of a plant that pull the water up through the stems.

The fibers of the paper towel help the water move upward which is this walking water experiment looks like it is defying gravity. How else does water move up the tree?

As the paper towels absorb the colored water, the water travels up the towel strip. It meets up with the other colored water that has traveled up the neighboring strip.

Where the primary colors interact, they turn into the secondary colors. Both colors will continue to travel as long as the towel fibers will absorb the water.

We left our walking water science experiment out overnight and had a mucky-looking puddle of water underneath the rack the next day. The paper towels had become oversaturated!

Aweosme kids science with easy to set up walking water physics for kidsPin

Using the Scientific Method

The scientific method is a process or method of research. A problem is identified, information about the problem is gathered, a hypothesis or question is formulated from the information, and the hypothesis is put to test with an experiment to prove or disprove its validity. Sounds heavy…

What in the world does that mean?!? The scientific method should be used as a guide to help lead the process.

You don’t need to try and solve the world’s biggest science questions! The scientific method is all about studying and learning things right around you.

As kids develop practices that involve creating, gathering data evaluating, analyzing, and communicating, they can apply these critical thinking skills to any situation.

To learn more about the scientific method and how to use it, read more here.

Even though the scientific method feels like it is just for big kids…

This method can be used with kids of all ages! Have a casual conversation with younger kiddos or do a more formal notebook entry with older kiddos!

Free printable junior scientist guide!

Printable Science Resources

SCIENCE VOCABULARY

It is never too early to introduce some fantastic science words to kids. Get kids started with a printable science vocabulary word list. You will want to incorporate these simple terms into your next science lesson! Also, check out these free science worksheets

WHAT IS A SCIENTIST

Think like a scientist! Act like a scientist! Scientists like you and me are also curious about the world around them. Read What Is A Scientist

SCIENCE BOOKS FOR KIDS

Sometimes the best way to introduce science concepts is through a colorfully illustrated book with characters your kids can relate to! Check out this fantastic list of science books that are teacher approved!

SCIENCE PRACTICES

A new approach to teaching science is called the Best Science Practices. These eight science and engineering practices are less structured and allow for a more free**-**flowing approach to problem-solving and finding answers to questions.

More Fun Water Experiments to Try

Check out our list of science experiments for Jr Scientists!

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
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