TheWalking Water experiment is a fun, hands-on activity that introduces kids to basic scientific principles such as capillary action and color mixing. It’s simple to set up, requires only a few household items, and provides an exciting visual display. Perfect for young learners, this experiment not only ignites curiosity but also encourages kids to explore how liquids move in surprising ways.
 

What You’ll Need

 

6 clear cups or glasses
Water
Paper towels (cut into strips)
Food coloring (red, blue, and yellow work best)

 

 

Step-by-Step Instructions

Set up the cups: Place the 6 cups in a straight line. Fill the 1st, 3rd, and 5th cups about three-quarters full with water, leaving the 2nd, 4th, and 6th cups empty.

Add color: In the 1st cup, add a few drops of red food coloring. In the 3rd cup, add yellow food coloring. In the 5th cup, add blue food coloring. Stir each cup to fully mix the colors into the water.

Create paper towel bridges: Take your paper towel strips and fold them lengthwise to create a narrow bridge. Place one end of the paper towel into a cup with colored water and the other end into an adjacent empty cup. Repeat this process for all the cups, connecting them with the paper towel bridges.

Watch the magic happen: Over the next few hours, the colored water will start to “walk” up the paper towels and drip into the empty cups. Eventually, the colors will mix, and you’ll have a rainbow effect in the empty cups.

 

 

How Does It Work?

This experiment showcases capillary action, which is how water can move through materials like paper towels. The fibers in the paper towel draw the water up and over into the empty cup. This is the same process that helps plants absorb water through their roots and transport it up to their leaves.

Additionally, kids can see the colors blend as the water from two different cups meets in the middle, making it a fun way to learn about color mixing too!

 

 

Extend the Learning

Ask Questions: Why does the water move up the paper towels? What do you think will happen if you add more food coloring or change the number of cups?
Experiment More: Try different variations—use different colors, try shorter or longer paper towel strips, or see what happens with different types of liquids (like juice or soda).

The Walking Water experiment is a fantastic way to introduce kids to scientific concepts through a visual, hands-on activity. It fosters curiosity, creativity, and a love for learning. Plus, it’s a colorful and exciting way to spend an afternoon!