I wasn't great at science when I was growing up, but I learned best when our teacher used to demonstrate experiments right in front of us. These visual lessons work best for my kids too.
So the other day we were up to for some pretty simple, yet quite fascinating experiment that basically blew my children's minds. Paper experiment that was. There were some drawing, coloring and cutting involved. Oh, and there were lilies. My favorite flowers.
Here is a short video to see lilies opening up in action. Pretty cool, don't you think?
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Paper experiment
You will need:
First, draw and color the flowers.
Note: make sure the leaves of the lilies should be half size of the flower's radius.
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Second, cut them out.
Fold the leaves inside. Make sure they folded strongly.
Finally, place the folded lilies in the water and watch them unfold. It's pretty amazing. The more you make the bigger affect it has. It's just a matter of seconds for them to open.
The explanation of the experiment
Paper is a thin material produced by pressing together moist fibers, which are like thin tubes. Because of the power of attraction between molecules the water is going up in these capilares to the top. The paper swells up and the leaves of the paper flower straighten up (open up), just like if you would put wilted flower, most times its leaves will open up again.
More mind blowing kids science experiments
My friend Asia Citro wrote a fantastic book loaded with amazing science experiments that everybody can do without fancy equipment or materials. Seriously, we open this book daily.
