Want to grow your own rainbow? Try this simple science experiment! You only need paper towel, water and washable markers. Kids will love to see their rainbow “grow” in this easy activity!
RELATED: Surprise Rainbow ActivitiesÂ
You will love seeing the rainbow come together in this simple science experiment! You can even do different patterns and colors too.
Grow a Rainbow Experiment for Kids
Here is what you will need for this activity:Â Â
- Paper Towel
- Washable Markers
- Water
- 2 Small Glasses
Watch the Full Video Tutorial Here
What is the Science Behind This Experiment?
This science experiment is a great example of chromatography. Chromatography is a way of separating out a mixture of chemicals. If you ever got a paper with ink wet you would have seen the ink move across the page in streaks.
Capillary action makes the marker dye move up the paper towel.  The water moves upward through the paper towel, lifting the washable dye molecules with it. Because the washable markers are water based, they disperse in water.
Set up a few different scenarios and hypotheses. For example, if you were to try this experiment without any dye, you would still see the water rising upwards towards the center of the paper towel.
If you were try this experiment with permanent markers it would not work. This is because the markers are not water based (they are alcohol based) so the dye in the marker does not travel with the water. You can also show that permanent markers will disperse with rubbing alcohol but not with water.
Tips:Â
- You need absorbent paper towel or napkin – we used the brand Bounty
- You must use washable markers – make sure to check it’s washable as not all Crayola brands are washable
- Do not place the end of the paper towel too deep into the water or the dye will dissolve into the water instead of traveling up the paper towel
- The shorter the paper towel – the better it works as there is less for the marker dye to have to travel across
- Add lots of marker to the ends. You need lots of dye for it to travel upwards.
Growing Rainbow Experiment Instructions
1. Fold over a piece of paper towel (so you have 2 pieces on top of each other). Trim the length to be 7.5 inches (any longer and the rainbow may not connect fully).
TIP: The shorter your piece of paper towel, the better it will connect. Also make sure you are using an absorbent paper towel. We used Bounty.
2. Draw rectangles of the rainbow colors on each end.
You want to make sure to fill these colors in well so there is enough dye to travel across the paper towel.
TIP: Add lots of marker to the ends, you want a good amount of dye to travel up the paper towel.
3. Place 2 cups with water filled 3/4 full. You only want the bottom of the paper towel in so leave some space from the top of the cup.
Then place the paper towel into the cups, with one end in each cup.
TIP: Do not place the ends too deep in the water or the dye may dissolve into the water instead of moving up the paper towel.
4. The washable marker dye with slowly make it’s way up with the water to meet the other side in the center of the paper towel.
5. Leave the paper towel for 10-15 minutes and it will eventually connect the colors together.
We love how simple this science experiment is! Expand on the learning by testing with permanent markers or just water to see what happens in those scenarios.
More Rainbow Activities
Your kids will also love to try these surprise rainbow activities!
See this fun rainbow slime. Kids will love building a rainbow out of slime!
Make some rainbow playdough! This playdough recipe is super soft and lasts for months!
For another fun rainbow activity, this rainbow rice is our favorite sensory bin!
Me and my neighbors did the rainbow paper towel one and had lots of fun!
Hi can you pre color the paper towel? And do the experiment another day? We want to do it for a party and have it pre colored so all the kids have to do is dip it in water.Â
Yes that should still work!
I love it. Thanks. I’m doing this as a virtual library lesson for a 25 minute class. If anyone is pressed for time like me it actually works faster with an unfolded cheap paper towel <5 minutes.
BEST experiment crafts I have seen in a long while. I hunt down ideas for my grandchildren when they come to visit and these are all on point and they will love them Thanks. I will use all of them (except the rice) . GREAT ideas.
Thanks so much Lee!
What is the purpose of folding the paper towel in half (step 1)?
We found that the colors moved across the paper better when there are 2 layers.