Marker Chromatography

Try this cool color experiment that combines art AND science! Explore the wonder of colors that spread out from a Crayola Marker!

1. Cover your crafting area with newspaper. Add a layer of wax paper on top. Cut long strips about 1 inch (2.5 cm) wide from a paper towel. With a brown, purple, or green Crayola Marker, draw a line across the strip about 2 inches (5 cm) from the bottom.

2. Fill a container with water. Place only the white space under the marker line into the water. Drape the rest of the strip over the edge of the dish, with the end resting on the wax paper. Watch the color spread as the water is drawn to the dry area of the paper towel.

3. Air-dry the strips. Use them in art projects—or as a science fair experiment with several colors. Find out why the colors separated the way they did! How many creative ways can you use the strips?

Adult supervision is required for any arts & crafts project. Observe children closely and intervene as necessary to prevent potential safety problems and ensure appropriate use of arts and crafts materials. Some craft items, particularly beads and buttons, are potential choking hazards for young children. Avoid use of such small parts with children younger than 3 years. Craft items such as scissors, push pins and chenille sticks may have sharp points or edges. Avoid use of materials with sharp points by children younger than 4 years. Read all manufacturers' safety warnings before using arts and craft supplies.

Scissors—ATTENTION: The cutting edges of scissors are sharp and care should be taken whenever cutting or handling. Blunt-tip scissors should be used only by children 4 years and older. Pointed-tip scissors should be used only by children 6 years and older.

Crafts

crayola supplies

• Markers
• Blunt-Tip Scissors

household supplies

• recycled newspaper
• paper towels
• wax paper
• container(s) of water

"This is a fun science experiment that kids can do all by themselves!"
Brady H., scout leader.

"We used the strips for monster hair, stick figures, and letters…and both children are still experimenting!"
Marcus L., father of 5- and 8-year-olds.

With art supplies, there are three primary colors: red, yellow, and blue. You can mix these colors together to make all the other colors but no colors can be mixed together to make red, yellow, and blue. Look for the primary colors that separate out of the marker color! You can remember the colors of the rainbow with the acronym ROY G BIV, where each letter stands for the name of a color.