STEM Saint Patrick’s Day Rainbow Bridge

This rainbow experiment is not only a delightful way to explore colors but also a wonderful opportunity for learning through play

Materials Needed:

White paper towels (preferably unbleached)
Washable markers in various colors (red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet)
A cup or small bowl filled with water
Scissors (optional, for cutting the paper towels)
A tray or plate to catch any drips

Step-by-Step Instructions:

Start by cutting the paper towels into strips or squares. You can make them about 2 inches wide and 6 inches long. This will give you enough space to draw!

Using the washable markers, draw a rainbow on one side of the paper towel strip. You can make it as colorful as you like! Encourage your child to use all the colors of the rainbow.

Once you’ve drawn on one side, flip the paper towel over and draw another rainbow on the other side. This way, you’ll have a rainbow on both sides!

Take your cup or bowl filled with water. Make sure it’s deep enough to dip the paper towel into.

Carefully dip one end of the paper towel into the water. You can hold the other end to keep it out of the water. Watch as the colors start to spread and mix together!

After a few moments, take the paper towel out of the water and lay it flat on a tray or plate. Observe how the colors have blended and created beautiful patterns.

You can try this with multiple strips of paper towels and different color combinations to see what happens!

The Science Behind the Experiment:

This experiment is a fantastic way to introduce preschoolers to the concepts of capillary action and color mixing.

Capillary Action: When you dip the paper towel in water, the water travels up through the fibers of the towel. This happens because water molecules are attracted to each other and to the paper towel fibers, which allows the water to move upward against gravity. This is why you see the colors spreading!
Color Mixing: As the colors travel through the paper towel, they blend together, creating new shades. This is a great opportunity to discuss primary colors (red, blue, yellow) and how they mix to form secondary colors (green, orange, purple).

Follow-Up Questions for Parents:

After the experiment, engage your child in a fun conversation with these questions:

What colors did you use for your rainbows? Which one is your favorite?
What happened when you dipped the paper towel in the water? Did the colors change?
Can you think of other things that use capillary action? (e.g., plants absorbing water)
What happens if you use more water or less water? How does that change the colors?
If you could create a new color by mixing two colors, what would it be?

Happy Saint Patrick’s Day! Who knew science could be so colorful 🌈😉