Rainbow Walking Water Science Activity For Kids

 Overview 

This science activity Walking Water is a fun simple and easy colorful hands-on science experiment for kindergarten to do at home. The required material can be easily found in the kitchen.

Ages: 3+         Est. Time: > 1 hour

 Safety 

1. Adult supervision.
2. Be careful with the fragile glassware.
3. Wear protective gloves and goggles.

 Materials List 

• Water
• Food coloring
• Tissue paper
• 7 Cups
• Gloves
• Goggles

 Instruction 

Step 1/3 – Place four cups and add about 3/4 cups of water and a few drops of different food colorings to each cup and mix them well.

Step 2/3 – Arrange 7 cups into a row (or in a circle) in order, water cup →empty cup → water cup → empty cup.

Step 3/3 – Place one end of the tissue is submerged in the colored water in a cup while the other end is in an empty cup. Each cup has two tissue in it and all the cups are connected in a row (or in a circle). After waiting for a while, you can see that the water runs into the empty cup (about two hours).

 Troubleshooting 

Why is water walking so slow?

– It is recommended to use tissue with the high water-absorbing ability.

 Scientific Description 

The principle behind this walking water is the Capillary Action which is the ability of a liquid rising up and defying gravity in a narrow room. The fiber inside the tissue creates many small rooms that enable the water to travel inside. Thereby, the water moves from a cup with water to another cup without water. This is the same principle that helps water travels from a plant’s roots to its leaves through its stem.

 Extensions 

You can use different kinds of tissue and compare which kind of tissue in which water runs fastest.

 Disposal 

Pour the liquid into the sink and do not forget washing what you have used.