Investigative Question: Can we use diffusion and the sun to create a patterned work of art?
Materials: watercolor paper, liquid watercolors, pipette, water, brush, scissors, Black construction paper
Step 1: Prep your paper by taping it down to a plastic tray or cookie sheet tray.
Step 2: Cut out different size shapes from a sheet of black construction paper.
Step 3: Use a brush to cover your paper with water.
Step 4: Using a pipette or eye dropping drip dots of paint onto the wet paper. Observe how the paint moves once it touches the wet paper. Repeat with other colors as desired.
Step 5: Dip your black construction paper shapes completely in water. Lay the black shapes on top of your painting.
Step 6: Set your painting out in the sun to dry. Drying time will vary but ours took an hour. Once the paper is completely dry carefully peel off your black paper.
How did your print turn out?
Art Extension: Add more design and color with markers or colored pencils.
The Science Behind It: The black construction paper blocks the sunlight causing the surrounding exposed painted paper to dry quicker. The watercolor paint moves from underneath the black paper (an area of high concentration) to the surrounding dried area which is a low concentration. This process is called diffusion.
This post is part of the Outdoor STEM series hosted by Little Bins for Little Hands
Original article and pictures take http://handmadekidsart.com/sunprint-science-experiment-kids/ site