wasser raupe experiment

Forschen & bloggen für Kinder

Ein Blog für Forscher & solche, die es werden möchten!

KREATIV: Das Raupenrennen

Es ist schon einige Zeit her, dass ich Dir etwas für den kreativen Zeitvertreib vorgestellt habe. Heute ist es wieder soweit & Du kannst Dir ein kleines Tierchen basteln. Offen gestanden weiß ich nicht mehr, wo ich diese süße Idee entdeckt habe, aber es sah einfach so niedlich aus, dass ich es früher oder später mit meinen Forscherkids auch einmal ausprobieren wollte.

Heute ist es also so weit & so einfach geht’s:

Was wir benötigen: 1 Din A4 Papier, Schere, ggf. Buntstifte, Trinkhalm

Was zu tun ist: (1) Knicke Dir einen ca. 3-5cm breiten Streifen Deines Papiers ein, um eine gerade Schneidefalz zu erhalten. (2) Schneide nun entlang dieser Knickkante den Papierstreifen ab. (3) Falte den Streifen zur Hälfte, indem Du die beiden kurzen Enden aufeinander legst. (4) Nachdem Du das Papier wieder geöffnet hast, faltest Du die schmale Unterkante bis zur Falz in der Mitte des Papierstreifens. (5) Falte diese verkürzte Papierseite noch einmal in die Mitte & wiederhole die Faltungen von der anderen Seite des Papierstreifens in Richtung Mitte. (6) Nun hast Du ein kompaktes Papierstück, dass mehrfach gefaltet wurde & (7) schneidest mit einer Schere die schmalen Kanten halbrund ab. (8) Schon ist Deine Raupe fertig & kann entweder angemalt oder gleich ausprobiert werden.

Um die Raupe vorwärts zu bewegen stellst Du sie mit den beiden äußeren Raupensegmente auf eine glatte Oberfläche & pustest sie mit dem Trinkhalm oder direkt mit dem Mund an & testest, wann sie beginnt, sich vorwärts zu bewegen.

Es braucht ein wenig Übung, um tatsächlich die raupenähnliche Bewegung durch das Pusten zu erreichen…aber sobald Du die mittleren Segmente der Raupe durch Deinen Luftstrom in Richtung Boden drückst & kurz pausierst, erreichst Du die Vorwärtsbewegung.

Was wir herausgefunden haben: Es braucht ein wenig Übung, bis der Luftstrom Deiner Atemluft die gefaltete Papierraupe in eine Vorwärtsbewegung versetzt. Du kannst quasi Deine Atemluftteilchen sichtbar machen, da Du sie gegen Dein Papier drücken siehst. Durch die Luftteilchen wird Druck gegen das Raupenpapier ausgeübt & die Raupensegmente bewegen sich in Richtung der Oberfläche, auf der Deine Raupe gerade steht.

Pausierst Du mit dem Atmen, wird das Papier nicht mehr in Richtung Boden gedrückt & entspannt sich wieder in seine Ausgangsposition.

Durch diese Auf- und Abbewegung erreichst Du eine Vorwärtsbewegung Deiner Raupe. Wenn Du ausreichend geübt hast, dann kannst Du Dir einen Mitspieler mit eigener Raupe suchen & das große Raupenrennen kann beginnen. Spannend ist sicherlich, wenn Ihr unterschiedlich große Raupen oder Raupen aus verschiedenstem Papier gegeneinander antreten lasst. Schreib mir gerne einen Kommentar, wie das Rennen ausgegangen ist.

Bis dahin wünsche ich Dir viel Freude beim tuning Deiner Rennraupe . Mit rasanten Forschergrüßen. Deine Andrea

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Eine Raupe basteln – aus einem Taschentuch

Kinderleicht: So einfach kannst du aus einem Taschentusch eine super realistische Raupe basteln. Perfekt auch als Aktion beim nächsten Kindergeburtstag. Foto: familienfuchs

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Huch? Was kriecht denn da über’s Blatt? Diese kleine Raupe sieht nicht nur super realistisch aus, sie kann sich auch lebensecht bewegen. Und das schönste an der ganzen Sache ist: Die Raupe kannst du super leicht nachbasteln .

Wie wäre es mit dem Motto „ Die kleine Raupe Nimmersatt “ beim nächsten Kindergeburtstag? Je nach Alter können mehrere oder alle Schritte von den Kids übernommen werden.

Und so kannst du die Raupe basteln :

Um die Raupe zu basteln benötigst du:

• Papiertaschentuch
• Einen durchsichtigen oder grünen Trinkhalm
• Bastelkleber
• Heißklebepistole
• Einen schwarzen Filzstift
• Grünes Tonpapier für das Blatt

So einfach kannst du die Raupe basteln:

Schritt 1 – taschentuch zuschneiden.

Für den Engerling werden nur 3/4 des Taschentuchs benötigt. Schneide den Rest ab. Damit die Raupe nicht zu dick wird, und sich später geschmeidiger bewegen kann, nimm nur eine Lage des Tuchs .

Schritt 2 – Tuch um Trinkhalm wickeln

Wickel nun das Tuch eng um einen Strohhalm oder einen Holzspieß. Zum Befestigen benutzt du Bastelkleber. Dieser lässt sich leicht mit einem Pinsel auf das Taschentuch auftragen.

Lass die Raupe nun trocknen .

Mein erstes Bastelbuch

• Motive im Buch zum ausschneiden
• ausmalen nach Lust und Laune
• fördert die Feinmotorik

Schritt 3 – Ein Blatt für die Raupe basteln

Währenddessen bastelst du das Blatt für die Raupe. Zuerst bringe es mit einer Schere in die richtige Form. Mit Hilfe des Spießes kannst du dem Blatt nun Struktur verleihen.

Schritt 4 – Engerling vom Halm befreien

Sobald die Raupe getrocknet ist, schiebe sie auf dem Halm oder Spieß wie ein Akkordeon fest zusammen. Ziehe den Engerling nun von seiner „Halterung“.

Schritt 5 – Raupe befestigen

Jetzt kommt die Heißklebepistole zum Einsatz. Klebe das eine Ende des Engerlings an dem Ende des Spießes fest. Schneide nun zirka vier Zentimeter vom Strohhalm ab und schiebe das Stückchen über den Holzspieß. Das andere Ende der Raupe wird schließlich mit Heißkleber am Trinkhalm befestigt. Kleiner Tipp: Einen durchsichtigen und dünnen Trinkhalm (wie in dieser Anleitung) findest du bei Trinkpäckchen für Kinder. Es geht aber auch ein ganz normaler.

Schritt 6 – Die Raupe bemalen

Definiere den Kopf und die Füßchen der Raupe nun mit dem schwarzen Filzstift. Tipp: Falls du eine Raupe Nimmersatt basteln möchtest, nimmst du an dieser Stelle einen roten Stift für den Kopf. Den Körper bemalst du am besten in unterschiedlichen Grüntönen. Zum Schluss befestigst du den Trinkhalm mit der Heißklebepistole am Blatt. Fertig!

Für einen Kindergeburtstag mit dem Motto „Weltraum“ hätten wir noch eine tolle Anleitung wie du ein Ufo basteln kannst . Und in dieser Anleitung zeigen wir dir, wie du einen Vulkan zum Ausbruch bringst.

Faltklassiker für Kinderhände

• Schritt-für-Schritt-Anleitungen
• fördert die Konzentration

Viel Spaß beim nachbasteln!

Bei Fragen und Anregungen schreibe uns bitte in den Kommentaren!

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11 Kommentare

Hallo Lena, Deine Raupe ist genial Einmal zum Anschauen, billig herzustellen und etwas in Bewegung zu sehen. Sehr, sehr kreativ. Grüße aus Augsburg Elisabeth

Hallo Elisabeth! Danke für das Kompliment! Das freut mich, dass die Anleitung gut ankommt! Viele Grüße und viel Spaß beim Basteln! Lena

Hallo Lena, ich bin total begeistert von deiner Raupe. So süß und einfach herzustellen. Lieben Dank und Gruß aus S. H.

Ich habe die Raupe im Englischunterricht zum Buch „The very hungry Caterpillar“ gebastelt. Funktioniert prima und sieht super aus. Die Kinder waren begeistert! Vielen Dank für die tolle Anleitung!

Diese Raupe hat mein Sohn gestern in der Schule Gebastelt und ich bin ganz begeistert davon wie schön und unterschiedlich alle Kinder ihre Raupe gestaltet haben! 🙂 Vielen Dank für diese Tolle Anleitung!

Hallo Jacqueline! Ich bin total begeistert, dass die Anleitung so gut ankommt und sogar im Schulunterricht Verwendung findet. Vielen Dank für das Feedback! Liebe Grüße, Lena

Hallo Lena, meine Kinder sind begeistert! Danke für die schöne Anleitung!

Hallo Lena, Danke für die tolle Anleitung. Werde sie in mein Ferienprogramm aufnehmen. Mein Ergebnis siehe Webseite. Viele liebe grüsse aus dem Schwarzwald

Hallo Susanne, Toll, dass du mit der Anleitung sogar ein Ferienprogramm zum Basteln gestaltest. Viel Erfolg und Freude, Lena

Me encanto!!

Es macht Spaß

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37 Water Science Experiments: Fun & Easy

We’ve curated a diverse selection of water related science experiments suitable for all ages, covering topics such as density, surface tension, water purification, and much more.

These hands-on, educational activities will not only deepen your understanding of water’s remarkable properties but also ignite a passion for scientific inquiry.

So, grab your lab coat and let’s dive into the fascinating world of water-based science experiments!

Water Science Experiments

1. walking water science experiment.

This experiment is a simple yet fascinating science experiment that involves observing the capillary action of water. Children can learn a lot from this experiment about the characteristics of water and the capillary action phenomenon. It is also a great approach to promote scientific curiosity and enthusiasm.

Learn more: Walking Water Science Experiment

2. Water Filtration Experiment

A water filtering experiment explains how to purify contaminated water using economical supplies. The experiment’s goal is to educate people about the procedure of water filtration, which is crucial in clearing water of impurities and contaminants so that it is safe to drink.

Learn more: Water Filtration Experiment

3. Water Cycle in a Bag

The water cycle in a bag experiment became to be an enjoyable and useful instructional exercise that helps students understand this idea. Participants in the experiment can observe the many water cycle processes by building a model of the water cycle within a Ziplock bag.

4. Cloud in a Jar

The rain cloud in a jar experiment is a popular instructional project that explains the water cycle and precipitation creation. This experiment is best done as a water experiment since it includes monitoring and understanding how water changes state from a gas (water vapor) to a liquid (rain) and back to a gas.

Learn more: Cloud in a Jar

5. The Rising Water

The rising water using a candle experiment is a wonderful way to teach both adults and children the fundamentals of physics while also giving them an exciting look at the properties of gases and how they interact with liquids.

6. Leak Proof Bag Science Experiment

In the experiment, a plastic bag will be filled with water, and after that, pencils will be inserted through the bag without causing it to leak.

The experiments explain how the plastic bag’s polymer chains stretch and form a barrier that keeps water from dripping through the holes the pencils have produced.

Learn more: Leak Proof Bag Science Experiment

7. Keep Paper Dry Under Water Science Experiment

The experiment is an enjoyable way for demonstrating air pressure and surface tension for both adults and children. It’s an entertaining and engaging technique to increase scientific curiosity and learn about scientific fundamentals.

Learn more: Keep Paper Dry Under Water Science Experiment

8. Frozen Water Science Experiment

The Frozen Water Science Experiment is a fun and engaging project that teaches about the qualities of water and how it behaves when frozen.

You can gain a better knowledge of the science behind the freezing process and investigate how different variables can affect the outcome by carrying out this experiment.

9. Make Ice Stalagmites

10. Bending of Light

A fascinating scientific activity that explores visual principles and how light behaves in different surfaces is the “bending of light” water experiment. This experiment has applications in physics, engineering, and technology in addition to being a fun and interesting method to learn about the characteristics of light.

11. Salt on a Stick

This experiment is an excellent way to catch interest, engage in practical learning, and gain a deeper understanding of the characteristics of water and how they relate to other substances. So the “Salt on Stick” water experiment is definitely worth trying if you’re looking for a fun and educational activity to try!

Learn More: Water Cycle Experiment Salt and Stick

12. Separating Mixture by Evaporation

This method has practical applications in fields like water processing and is employed in a wide range of scientific disciplines, from chemistry to environmental science.

You will better understand the principles determining the behavior of mixtures and the scientific procedures used to separate them by performing this experiment at home.

13. Dancing Spaghetti

Have you ever heard of the dancing spaghetti experiment? It’s a fascinating science experiment that combines simple materials to create a mesmerizing visual display.

The dancing spaghetti experiment is not only entertaining, but it also helps you understand the scientific concepts of chemical reactions, gas production, and acidity levels.

14. Magic Color Changing Potion

The magic color-changing potion experiment with water, vinegar, and baking soda must be tried since it’s an easy home-based scientific experiment that’s entertaining and educational.

This experiment is an excellent way to teach kids about chemical reactions and the characteristics of acids and bases while providing them an interesting and satisfying activity.

15. Traveling Water Experiment

In this experiment, you will use simple objects like straws or strings to make a path for water to pass between two or more containers.

Learn more: Rookie Parenting

16. Dry Erase and Water “Floating Ink” Experiment

The dry-erase and water “floating ink” experiment offers an interesting look at the characteristics of liquids and the laws of buoyancy while also being a great method to educate kids and adults to the fundamentals of science.

Learn more: Dry Erase and Water Floating Ink Experiment

17. Underwater Candle

In this experiment, we will investigate a connection between fire and water and learn about the remarkable factors of an underwater candle.

18. Static Electricity and Water

19. Tornado in a Glass

This captivating experiment will demonstrate how the forces of air and water can combine to create a miniature vortex, resembling a tornado.

Learn more: Tornado in a Glass

20. Make Underwater Magic Sand

Be ready to build a captivating underwater world with the magic sand experiment. This experiment will examine the fascinating characteristics of hydrophobic sand, sometimes referred to as magic sand.

21. Candy Science Experiment

Get ready to taste the rainbow and learn about the science behind it with the Skittles and water experiment! In this fun and colorful experiment, we will explore the concept of solubility and observe how it affects the diffusion of color.

Density Experiments

Density experiments are a useful and instructive approach to learn about the characteristics of matter and the fundamentals of science, and they can serve as a starting point for further exploration into the fascinating world of science.

Density experiments may be carried out with simple materials that can be found in most homes.

This experiment can be a great hands-on learning experience for kids and science lovers of all ages.

22. Super Cool Lava Lamp Experiment

The awesome lava lamp experiment is an entertaining and educational activity that illustrates the concepts of density and chemical reactions. With the help of common household items, this experiment involves making a handmade lava lamp.

Learn more: Lava Lamp Science Experiment

23. Denser Than you Think

Welcome to the fascinating world of density science! The amount of matter in a particular space or volume is known as density, and it is a fundamental concept in science that can be seen everywhere around us.

Understanding density can help us figure out why some objects float while others sink in water, or why certain compounds do not mix.

24. Egg Salt and Water

Learn about the characteristics of water, including its density and buoyancy, and how the addition of salt affects these characteristics through performing this experiment.

25. Hot Water and Cold-Water Density

In this experiment, hot and cold water are put into a container to see how they react to one other’s temperatures and how they interact.

Sound and Water Experiments

Have you ever wondered how sound travels through different mediums? Take a look at these interesting sound and water experiments and learn how sounds and water can affect each other.

26. Home Made Water Xylophone

You can do this simple scientific experiment at home using a few inexpensive ingredients to create a handmade water xylophone.

The experiment demonstrates the science of sound and vibration and demonstrates how changing water concentrations can result in a range of tones and pitches.

Learn more: Home Made Water Xylophone

27. Create Water Forms Using Sound!

A remarkable experiment that exhibits the ability of sound waves to influence and impact the physical world around us is the creation of water formations using sound.

In this experiment, sound waves are used to generate patterns and shapes, resulting in amazing, intricate designs that are fascinating to observe.

28. Sound Makes Water Come Alive 

These experiments consist of using sound waves to create water vibrations, which can result in a variety of dynamic and captivating phenomena.

29. Water Whistle

The water whistle experiment includes blowing air through a straw that is submerged in water to produce a whistle.

This experiment is an excellent way to learn about the characteristics of sound waves and how water can affect them.

Water Surface Tension Experiments

You can observe the effects of surface tension on the behavior of liquids by conducting a surface tension experiment.

By trying these experiments, you can gain a better understanding of the properties of liquids and their behavior and how surface tension affects their behavior.

30. Floating Paperclip

In this experiment, you will put a paper clip on the top of the water and observe it float because of the water’s surface tension.

31. Water Glass Surface Tension

Have you ever noticed how, on some surfaces, water drops may form perfect spheres? The surface tension, which is a characteristic of water and the cohesive force that holds a liquid’s molecules together at its surface, is to blame for this.

32. Camphor Powered Boat

The camphor-powered boat experiment is a fun and fascinating way to explore the principles of chemistry, physics, and fluid mechanics. In this experiment, a miniature boat is used to travel across the water’s surface using camphor tablets.

33. Pepper and Soap Experiment

The pepper in a cloud experiment is a simple and interesting activity that explains the concept of surface tension. This experiment includes adding pepper to a bowl of water and then pouring soap to the mixture, causing the pepper to move away from the soap.

Learn more: Pepper and Soap Experiment

Boiling Water Experiments

Experiments with boiling water are an engaging and informative way to learn about physics, chemistry, and water’s characteristics.

These investigations, which include examining how water behaves when it changes temperature and pressure, can shed light on a variety of scientific phenomena.

It’s important to take the proper safety measures when performing experiments with hot water. Boiling water can produce steam and hot particles that are dangerous to inhale in and can result in severe burns if it comes into contact with skin.

34. Make It Rain

This experiment can be accomplished using basic supplies that can be found in most homes, make it an excellent opportunity for hands-on learning for both kids and science lovers.

Learn more: Make it Rain

35. Fire Water Balloons

Learning about the fundamentals of thermodynamics, the behavior of gases, and the effects of heat on objects are all made possible by this experiment.

36. Boil Water with Ice

The Boiling Water with Ice experiment is an engaging and beneficial approach to learn about temperature and the behavior of water. It can also serve as an introduction for further discovery into the wonderful world of science.

37. Boil Water in a Paper Cup

The “boil water in a cup” experiment is an easier but powerful approach to illustrate the idea of heat transmission by conduction. This experiment is often used in science classes to teach students about thermal conductivity and the physics of heat transfer.

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Entdeckendes Lernen

Bewegliche Krabbelraupe

Das Aussehen von Raupen ist noch vielfältiger, als das der erwachsenen Falter. Denn die Raupen häuten sich und manche sehen in den verschiedenen Stadien ganz anders aus. Raupen bewegen sich auf ganz typische Raupen-Art: entweder mithilfe von Bauchfüßen krabbelnd oder indem sie ihren Körper zu einer Brücke biegen und sich so vorwärts schieben. Diese gebastelte Raupe wird nicht nur realistisch aussehen, sie wird sich auch ganz ähnlich bewegen wie eine echte Brücken-Raupe!

• 1 Blatt Küchenpapier
• 1 Holzspieß
• Filzstifte (zum Anmalen)
• 1 grüner Buntstift
• grünes Papier und Klebeband
• Schere und Flüssigkleber

Es geht los:

• Rolle das Küchenpapier um den Holzspieß (Bild 1).
• Klebe es am Ende fest (Bild 2).
• Schiebe nun das aufgerollte Papier von beiden Seiten aus fest zusammen (Bild 3).
• Ziehe die Raupe vom Spieß (Bild 4).
• Male die Raupe an. Suche ein Bild von einer bestimmten Raupe und male Farben und Muster ab. Oder, du malst sie einfach bunt nach deiner Fantasie (Bild 5).
• Male den Holzspieß grün an (Bild 6).
• Schneide einen Streifen vom grünen Papier ab. Etwa 2cm breit und 5cm lang.
• Lege den Holzspieß an den grünen Buntstift.
• Rollen den grünen Papierstreifen um den Buntstift und den Holzspieß. Klebe das Papier mit Klebeband fest. Der Holzspieß sollte sich vor- und zurückschieben lassen, das Papier aber möglichst fest sitzen (Bild 7).
• Klebe das Hinterteil der Raupe am grünen Papierstreifen fest (Bild 8).
• Klebe den Raupenkopf an die Spitze des Spießes (Bild 9).

Jetzt nur noch kurz warten, bis der Klebstoff getrocknet ist. Dann kannst du den Spieß hin- und herschieben und so deine Raupe bewegen. Übe ein bisschen. Vergleiche mit einer echten Raupe. So kannst du sie bald perfekt imitieren.

• Kooperieren

Walking Water Rainbow Science Experiment

Let’s make a walking water rainbow! There’s no better way for little scientists to learn about capillary action and color mixing than by making water walk (yes – walk!) in this colorful rainbow science experiment. This science experiment is a favorite of ours because it’s so easy to set up and the results are almost immediate.

Check out the simple step-by-step below and then gra b 30 more jaw-dropping (but easy prep!) science experiments kids will love from our shop!

Getting Ready

To prep, I gathered our supplies:

• 6 wide-mouth glasses or jars
• Paper towels (use the kind where you can select a size)
• Food dye or liquid water colors (red, yellow, and blue)

I grabbed the six small glasses first .  We’ve had success using wide-mouth drinking cups and canning jars, too.  Even though they all worked, just remember that bigger glasses will need more food coloring.

I ripped off six sheets of paper towel and folded each sheet in thirds, lengthwise.

We were using pretty small glasses, so I cut a few inches off the folded paper towel so it would fit in the glasses.

It’s a good idea to test your paper towel strip to make sure they fit properly in your glasses.  They should be able to go from the bottom of one jar to the next without sticking up in the air too much. The paper towel on the left shows the just-right height.  It’s important to set up this rainbow science experiment for success!

Making a Rainbow

This colorful rainbow science experiment is so simple and quick, it’s perfect for even the youngest little scientists.  My 3 year old, Q, couldn’t wait to get started.

First, I had him line up the glasses and fill the first one with a good squirt of red watercolor , the third with yellow, and the fifth glass with blue.  We left the other glasses empty.

Next, I helped Q add water to the glasses with color until the colored water almost reached the top.

We moved the glasses into a circle and added the paper towels .  Starting with the red, we added one end of the paper towel and then put the other end in the empty glass next to it.

We continued around until the last paper towel was placed into the red glass.

We saw the color wick up the paper towel right away.  This rainbow science experiment doesn’t take long to get going!

After another several minutes, the colored water had almost travelled the whole length of each paper towel.

Five minutes later, the water had traveled all the way up and then down the paper towel and was dripping into the empty glass.

The yellow and red water dripped into the empty cup to make orange!  It made for a good lesson on color mixing.

After another five minutes, we could see the water level had dropped in the red, yellow, and blue glasses and rose in the once empty glasses as the water continued to travel from the more full glasses to the less full glasses.

We grabbed a snack and watched our beautiful rainbow science experiment during the next 20 minutes. The water continued to walk from the primary colored glasses to fill the secondary-colored glasses until all the jars were filled equally.

Not Working?

If you aren’t seeing much movement within a few minutes, it may be that you need to add more water to your colored water glasses.  It really needs to be almost at the top for the water to walk quickly.  So try topping off those glasses and seeing if that gets things moving.

If you see the water moving up the paper towel but it seems like it’s taking forever , it may be the type of paper towel you are using.  You want a paper towel that will really hold a lot of water.  We have used Bounty Select-a-Size and Target’s Up and Up Brand Select-a-Size with success.

It really is worth the extra effort of trying different cups and paper towels to get this activity to work.  And once you have had success, don’t throw out those beautifully-colored paper towels or the colored water!  We gently squeezed out our paper towels and let them dry in a heap on a baking sheet.  We ended up with gorgeous tie-dyed looking paper towels to use for crafts and we used the leftover water as watercolors for painting with later.

The Science Behind It

This rainbow science experiment is as magic as the science behind it.  The colored water travels up the paper towel by a process called capillary action . Capillary action is the ability of a liquid to flow upward, against gravity, in narrow spaces.  This is the same thing that helps water climb from a plant’s roots to the leaves in the tree tops.

Paper towels, and all paper products, are made from fibers found in plants called cellulose .  In this demonstration, the water flowed upwards through the tiny gaps between the cellulose fibers.  The gaps in the towel acted like capillary tubes, pulling the water upwards.

The water is able to defy gravity as it travels upward due to the attractive forces between the water and the cellulose fibers.

The water molecules tend to cling to the cellulose fibers in the paper towel.  This is called adhesion .

The water molecules are also attracted to each other and stick close together, a process called cohesion .  So, as the water slowly moves up the tiny gaps in the paper towel fibers, the cohesive forces help to draw more water upwards.

At some point, the adhesive forces between the water and cellulose and the cohesive forces between the water molecules will be overcome by the gravitational forces on the weight of the water in the paper towel.  

When that happens, the water will not travel up the paper towel anymore. That is why it helps to shorten the length that colored water has to travel by making sure your paper towel isn’t too tall and making sure you fill your colored liquid to the top of the glass.

Rainbow Science Activity Extensions

Turn this demonstration into a true experiment by varying the water level (volume) you start with and seeing how long it takes the water to reach the empty glass.

Or start with the same volume of colored water and change the brand, type (single vs double ply, quilted vs not) or length of paper towel to see how long it takes for the water to “walk” to the empty glass.

You could even use the same volume of water, same length and brand of paper towel but vary the height of the filled glass , by raising them up on books, to see how that affects the speed of the water as it “walks” to the empty glass.

Have you had enough fun with the paper towels?  Try using other paper products to see how the type of paper effects the results.  Try toilet paper, printer paper, newspaper or a page from a glossy magazine.  What do you predict will happen?

Grab a Record Sheet

Help kids keep track of their results by grabbing our free record sheet! Then grab 30 more jaw-dropping (but easy prep!) science experiments kids will love from our shop!

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Water Cycle, Rain Cycle Science Experiments and Craftivity

Let’s learn about the water cycle 3 simple water cycle experiments & a craftivity.

Here are 3 of my favorite water cycle experiments as well as a craftivity.  These science experiments are simple to set up and use common household items. The water cycle wheel craftivity gives students a visual representation of the stages of the water cycle and how they repeat over and over again.

First, introduce your students to the water cycle and the following terms: evaporation, condensation, precipitation, collection.

The earth has a limited amount of water.  This water keeps going around and around in what we call the water cycle.  When the sun heats the water in the lakes, streams, oceans, etc. some of it turns to a gas (water vapor). This is called evaporation . This invisible water vapor is light and rises into the air.

When the water vapor hits the cold air high up in the atmosphere it turns back to water droplets and collects in clouds.  This is called condensation.

When too many water droplets form in a cloud, the cloud gets heavy and the water falls back to the earth in the form of rain, hail, sleet, or snow.  This is called precipitation.

When the water falls back to the earth, it may fall back in the streams, lakes, ocean, etc. or it may fall on the land. This is called collection . When it falls on the land, it either soaks into the earth for plants to drink or runs over the soil and back into the streams, lakes, oceans, etc. and the cycle begins all over again.

I like using word wall cards as visual aides to help reinforce the words and their meanings. I use one set for student use in the writing center and another set for instruction and our word wall.

These simple science experiments will help demonstrate the water cycle or parts of the water cycle.

Experiment 1

Items Needed: large bowl mug or small cup plastic wrap string or large rubber band water

Place the mug or small cup in the center of the bowl.  Fill the bowl with water about 2/3 of the way up the cup (do not put water inside the cup).

Cover the bowl with saran wrap and either tie it with string or place a large rubber band around it to secure the plastic wrap.

Place it outside in a sunny area for a few hours.

After several hours, allow students to observe the bowl.  The plastic wrap will have condensation and some of the condensation will have dripped or fallen into the cup/mug.

This experiment demonstrates the heat of the sun turning the water in the bowl to vapor (evaporation).  The vapor turning back to water droplets on the saran wrap (condensation), drops getting too heavy and falling back down (precipitation) to the water in the bowl or in the mug which represents mountains or land (collection).

After the experiment I check students’ understanding of the water cycle vocabulary words and how the experiment demonstrated each stage of the water cycle by having them label a picture of the experiment.

Seesaw, Google Slides, or Pic Collage (Pic Kids) can also be used to check students’ understanding of the stages of the water cycle and how they were demonstrated in the experiment. Take pictures of the experiment and have students insert them in the appropriate places.

Experiment 2

Items Needed: Ziploc baggie tape blue food coloring (optional) marker (optional) water

If desired, draw water, a cloud, and a sun on the Ziploc baggie with a marker.

Add a small amount of water to the baggie without getting the sides wet.

Add a few drops of blue food coloring to the water (optional).

Hang on a sunny window for several hours.

After several hours or when heavy condensation appears on the bag, remove the bag and allow students to observe.  Tap the bag, if necessary, to make the water droplets fall.

This experiment allows students to observe the water from the bag evaporating, condensing, falling like precipitation, and collecting again at the bottom.  Notice that the water does not stay blue once it evaporates.  This is because the food coloring is heavier than the water vapor and thus stays down, much like the salt from the ocean water.

After the experiment, check students’ understanding by having them draw and label a picture of the experiment using the water cycle vocabulary words or use Seesaw, Pic Collage (Pic Kids), or Google Slides to insert a photo of the experiment and label it with the text feature.

Experiment 3

Items Needed: shaving cream small glass medium glass straw or eye dropper blue food coloring water

Place approximately 3 tablespoons of water in the small glass and add about 10 drops of blue food coloring.

Fill the medium glass with water. Add 1-3 inches of shaving cream to the top.  The more shaving cream used the longer the experiment will last.

Add the colored water to the shaving cream drop by drop using an eye dropper or by dipping the straw in the colored water, placing your finger over the end, holding it over the shaving cream, and lifting your finger enough to allow drops of colored water to drip onto the shaving cream.

Continue dropping the water onto the shaving cream until you observe it getting too heavy and “rain” starting to come out below.  Depending on the amount of shaving cream used, this could take anywhere from 40-100 drops.

This experiment demonstrates what happens in the clouds during the water cycle. When a cloud accumulates too many water droplets they fall in the form of precipitation.  In the experiment, after a certain point the shaving cream can no longer absorb the water drops and gravity pulls them down into the water.

Optional: Prior to dropping the water in the shaving cream cloud, have students predict how many drops of water they think the cloud will hold before it starts to “rain” and have them record it.  During the experiment, count the number of drops and compare it to students’ guesses.

After the experiment have students draw and explain what they learned.

Water Cycle Wheel Craftivity

As a culminating activity, have students color a picture of the water cycle, label it using the vocabulary words, and glue it to a paper plate.

Make a raindrop “arm” and attach it to the paper plate with a brass fastener.  Students move the raindrop through the different stages of the water cycle.  This gives students a visual representation of the water cycle and how it repeats over and over again.

If you would like to use the printable pages and patterns for the water cycle wheel craftivity with your students, they are available here along with additional crafts and activities.

What fellow teachers are saying about these activities and resource:

“Love this! It is one of the best products I have!” – Krystal L.

“LOVE, LOVE, LOVE! This product included so many fun activities to teach about the water cycle. My students were definitely engaged and begging for more.” – Keeping it Cool in Kindergarten

“Cannot say how much I loved this! My Kinders had so much fun with the activities I got from this, and it was the perfect accessory to our water cycle unit! Love it.” – Vanessa G.

“So many great resources for the price! My kids LOVED this!! I could not believe how many great activities were in here. Print and go…. AWESOME!” – Ewa B.

“This is an amazing resource. A wide range of experiments and activities. My students were engaged the ENTIRE time! Thank you so much!” – Buyer

“The best water cycle activity out there!” – Leslie B.

“My students loved the experiments. I have done these experiments before, however the difference is the detailed recording sheets are sooo much better than what I have done. They helped solidify the learning experiences from the experiment and bring everything all together.” – Mountain view learning

“My students loved these Water Cycle experiments! I believe the water cycle is a hard concept for first graders to grasp but this resource made it much easier for them to understand. Plus this resource is so fun!” – Krista B.

“This was awesome! My Grade 2 kids loved the activities and really got interested in science!” – Rebecca T.

“This resource contains so much – step-by-step experiments with recording sheets, crafts, cut & paste diagrams, a relevant book list – I have been able to choose the best activities for each class as well as the supplies I have available. Wonderful!” – Camille W.

“I love this unit! It perfectly covers our 2nd grade standard and my kids loved it!” – Sarah R.

“As I am in a hybrid learning environment currently, this resource was used for both in person and online work. The families LOVED the easy to follow experiments and the hands on water cycle project really helped them synthesize the content.” – Megan R.

“My kiddos enjoyed having this packet. Parents said they appreciated the experiments because it made learning at home more engaging. Was able to use quickly for remote learning due to COVID 19. Thank you!” – Najah L.

“This resource was so easy to use for distance learning. I was able to send select pages to my students for them to do their experiments at home!” – Sydney W.

Have engaging science experiments and STEM activities throughout the entire school year with this money-saving Science & STEM Bundle !

You may also like:

St. patrick’s day rainbow experiment, math activity, writing craftivity & game, rain activities, books, songs, and art project .

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Hi! Thanks for stopping by!

I’m Tina and I’ve taught preK and K for 20+ years. I share fun and creative ideas that spark your students’ love for learning. 

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Rainbow Walking Water Science Experiment for Kids

This walking water science experiment is so much fun and super easy to do! My kids absolutely loved it! It even comes with free printable recording sheets for kids as young as preschool! Check out the video to see how easy this walking water experiment really is. This rainbow activity is perfect for spring science!

Walking Water Science Experiment

Ok, this might just be our favorite science experiment! The whole family (adults included) were completely mesmerized with process. We all couldn’t believe how quickly the water traveled up the paper towel and neat it was to watch the colors mix together.

We have wanted to try it out for a long time now and I am kicking myself for waiting so long. I don’t know why, but I thought it might be difficult to do or take a long time. I was way wrong. It was very easy and we started seeing results right away!

Related: Simple Spring Science and STEAM Activities

The walking water science experiment is great at any time of the year, but it is especially perfect for spring. I love doing rainbow activities in the spring, so this was a great addition to our rainbow theme activities.

If you are looking for simple science to do with the kids and something that will really WOW them, this is definitely one to try.

You only need a few simple supplies that you probably already have around the house.

Setting Up the Rainbow Science Experiment

Supplies Needed:

• Printable walking water recording sheets (button to download at the bottom of the post)
• Small plastic cups or glasses
• Paper towels (*read my tips below for picking the right ones)
• Food coloring in primary colors

* The pick-a-size paper towels are best because then you just use half sheets for each cup. If you only have full sheets, then cut them in half. I’ve also heard that more absorbent paper towels work better too. I buy the cheap store brand ones, and our water moved pretty quickly from cup to cup, so I am not sure how important that is. It may have went quicker with something more absorbent though.

1. Print out the recording sheets and make copies, if needed.

2. Place 7 cups in a row and pour water in the 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 7th cup. My cups were about 3/4 full. I have since heard that fuller is better.

3. Add 5 drops of red food coloring to the 1st cup and the 7th cup.

4. Add 5 drops of yellow food coloring to the 3rd cup.

5. Add 5 drops of blue food coloring to the 5th cup.

Doing the Walking Water Experiment

You want to try to use the same amount of food coloring in each cup. When I did this with my kids they did drop an extra one or two in since they can’t control it well, but I just added a drop or two more to the others to even it out.

6. Take a half sheet of paper towel and fold it in half lengthwise and in half again lengthwise.

7. Trim off some of the length so that there isn’t too much excess paper towel that will stick up in the air between each cup. This will make the water walk more quickly.

8. Place one half of a rolled paper towel in the 1st cup and place the other half in the cup next to it. Then another paper towel from 2nd cup and into the 3rd cup. This continues until you have placed the last paper towel that drapes over from the 6th cup to the 7th cup.

9. Stare at the cups and watch what starts happening. You should quickly be able to see the colored water begin to crawl up the paper towel.

10. Don’t forget to do the first part of the recording sheet. Students will predict what they think will happen.

This walking water experiment is AWESOME!

Keep checking back every couple of minutes. Soon you will be able to see that the water has crawled all the way up the paper towel and is beginning to walk back down into the empty cup next to it.

Since the cup on either side of an empty cup has colored water in it, the two colors begin to mix in the empty cup. So cool!

Keep coming back throughout the two hours or soon and observe what is happening.

Question to Ask

What do you think will happen to the water?

What is happening now?

Why do you think the colors are changing?

Why might the water be able to move up against gravity like that?

How this Science Experiment Works

The water moves up the paper towels through a process called capillary action. The paper towel is made from fibers and the water is able to travel through the gaps in the fibers. The gaps in the paper towel act like capillary tubes and pull the water upward. This is what helps water climb from a plant’s roots to the leaves at the top of the plant or tree.

The water is able to move upward against gravity because of the attractive forces between the water and the fibers in the paper towel.

I even removed one of the red cups and made a color wheel so I could introduce the kids to that as well.

I hope your kids have a great time with this super cool walking water science experiment!

Other Cool Science Experiments for Kids

This rainbow  Walking Water Science Experiment  is one of our most popular science activities!

Try this super simple  Oobleck recipe  that only requires two household ingredients!

This  rainbow skittles experiment  is sure to WOW the kids!

You can also make a rainbow of flowers with this super cool  color changing flowers experiment !

This pepper and soap experiment is very simple to do, but always engages the kids!

Did you know you can put paper under water and it will stay dry? Give it a try with this keep paper dry under water experiment . The kids love this cool trick!

Explore Newton’s color wheel while making colors disappear with this totally awesome science activity!

Explore chromatogography with this super fun STEAM activity that combines science and art!

This  rain cloud jar science experiment  give children a chance to explore clouds and rain in a hands-on and engaging way

The kids will get a kick out of this super cool  dancing raisins science experiment !

Check out these other science experiments and activities for kids.

This lava lamp science experiment is always a hit with the kids!

If you haven’t tried this magic milk science activity , you have to! It is so awesome and super easy to do.

This leak proof bag science experiment will make your kids jaw drop! It’s hard to believe, but it works.

Versuch – Das wandernde Wasser

Das wandernde Wasser ist ein wunderschönes, faszinierendes Experiment, bei welchem gefärbtes Wasser von einem Glas zum anderen wandert.

Das Experiment ist ganz einfach umzusetzen, ihr habt bestimmt alle benötigten Materialien dafür zu Hause. Die Übung ist für Kinder fast jeden Alters einsetzbar. Unsere Große war mit drei Jahren schon begeistert davon, mit älteren Kindern kann man tiefer in die Thematik eintauchen, den Versuch aufzeichnen und dokumentieren lassen.

Ihr benötigt dafür:

• Lebensmittelfarbe in rot, gelb und blau
• Küchenrolle (Küchenpapier)

• Fülle ein Glas dreiviertel voll mit rotgefärbtem Wasser, eines mit blauem und eines mit gelbem Wasser.
• Nun stelle die Gläser im Kreis auf, immer abwechselnd ein volles und ein leeres Glas.
• Schneide zwei Blätter Küchenrolle jeweils der Länge nach in der Mitte auseinander. Drei von diesen vier Streifen faltest du noch einmal der Länge nach um, nun ergeben sich dünne Streifen, mit passender Länge und Breite.
• Nun werden je ein volles und ein leeres Glas mit einem Streifen Küchenpapier verbunden.

Es sind nun alle Vorbereitungen getroffen, nun geht`s ans Beobachten! Das gefärbte Wasser wandert ganz langsam das Küchenpapier entlang und so werden mit der Zeit die leeren Gläser gefüllt. Nebenbei ist es spannend zu beobachten, welche Farben sich in den leeren Gläser bilden, man kann mit größeren Kindern näher auf das Mischen von Farben eingehen

Küchenrolle besteht aus pflanzlicher Zellulose (Zellstoff). Zwischen den einzelnen Fasern des Küchenpapiers existieren jede Menge Hohlräume, diese nennt man auch Kapillaren. Kommt nun Wasser in Berührung mit diesen Kapillaren, tritt der Kapillareffekt auf und die Flüssigkeit steigt bzw. klettert gegen die Schwerkraft nach oben.

Was meint ihr? Ist dieser Versuch nicht einfach zauberhaft? Experimentiert ihr mit euren Kindern auch so gern? Mehr einfache Versuche findet ihr hier .

Alles Liebe, Eure Sandra

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Science Fun

Rainbow in a Glass

• 5 separate cups
• A Tablespoon
• A clear glass
• A dropper or pipette

Instructions:

• Separate the Skittles into the cups, in these amounts: 2 red, 4 orange, 6 yellow, 8 green, and 10 purple.
• Heat a mug of water in the microwave for a minute and a half (or long enough that the water is hot, but not boiling). Be careful removing the water from the microwave–it’s hot!
• Measure and pour two tablespoons of hot water into each cup, on top of the Skittles.
• Stir each cup carefully so no water splashes out. The cups need to be cool for the next part of the experiment, so leave them somewhere where they won’t get knocked over. Stir them every ten minutes or so until the Skittles are dissolved and the water is room temperature.
• Using the dropper, add the colored water from the five cups to the clear glass. Start with purple, then add green, then yellow, orange, and red last. Go slowly here, we don’t want the different layers to mix.
• Congratulations, you made a rainbow. You didn’t even have to go outside!

WATCH THE QUICK AND EASY VIDEO TUTORIAL!

How does it work?

Skittles are mostly made of sugar. When you add hot water to them, the sugar dissolves and the coloring on the shell of the Skittles turns the water different colors. The cup with only two red Skittles doesn’t have as much sugar as the cup with ten purple Skittles, but they both have the same amount of water. The amount of matter packed into a certain amount of space is called the density of the material. The red water is less dense than the purple water, so it will float on top of the purple water.

Further Experiments

• We added our colors in heaviest-to-lightest order. Does the rainbow still form if you add the red water first, then the orange, yellow, green, and purple?
• What happens if you stir your rainbow? What if you leave it sitting there over night?

EXPLORE TONS OF FUN AND EASY SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS!

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