Climbing Rainbow Science Experiment

Climbing Rainbow Science Experiment

Are you looking for easy and fun science experiments to do at home? Something really easy to occupy some time and educate your kids? OH! And also something where you already have everything you need?

Look no further! This fun and colorful Climbing Rainbow experiment turns out beautiful every time and, with a little help, will teach your kids to explore cause and effect, the scientific process, and capillary action. It's STEAM activity time!

Materials Needed:

  • Water-Based Markers
  • Paper Towel
  • String, Ribbon, or Tape
  • Paper clip
  • Pencil
  • Water
  • Scissors
  • Tray, dish, or pan to hold the water

Step One

Layout your paper towel and draw a rainbow shape across the paper towel. Try not to press too hard because you don't want to rip the paper towel!

Step Two

Once you have the shape of the rainbow drawn out, cut the shape out of the paper towel.

Step Three

The fun part! Layout the paper towel shape and begin coloring the bottom two sides of the rainbow. Only color up about an inch and a half. Choose any colors you want and start from the outside and work inward. As you color, go along with the rainbow shape so that the height of the colors on the interior of the rainbow are a bit shorter than the colors on the outside. If you are looking to create a true rainbow use the old ROYGBIV (Red Orange Yellow Green Blue Indigo Violet) color scheme.

Step Four

Grab your paperclip and a string of your choice. Stick the paperclip through the top center of the rainbow shape and tie the string around the paperclip.

Step Five

Grab your dish and fill with water until it is about 1/4 of the way full. Hold the string and dip the ends of the rainbow into the water. Tie the string to something above the dish to hold the rainbow in place.

Step Six

Watch this rainbow beauty in the making! The colors will slowly climb up the rest of the paper towel rainbow until it is completely colored. Let dry and you'll have a beautiful masterpiece to frame! How was that fun science experiment?

Encourage your child to experiment, be creative, and observe closely - what colors will they choose? Why do they think the colors 'climb' up the paper towel? Do different colors 'climb' quicker than others with this rainbow experiment? 

Don't forget to tag on social media and show us your finished product!


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