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August 7, 2014

Crazy Cool Walking Water Science Experiment for Kids

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We have been having so much fun with science this summer–it’s the perfect time to get the kids excited with a hands on activity!

The Walking Water experiment is super easy to set up and has a big wow factor.  Kids can watch the colored water walk along paper towels and fill an empty glass. It’s very cool!

Walking Water Kids Science Experiment!

Affiliate links for supplies used below.

Walking Water Science Experiment

  • at least 3 empty glasses (these are the ones we used)
  • water
  • food coloring
  • paper towels

Choose the colors you want to mix.  We did red and yellow, blue and yellow, and red and blue.  Fill a jar for each color and add food coloring.  You will need an additional empty glass of the same size for each pair of colors.

Walking Water Experiment for Kids!

Cut a paper towel in half and then fold it into quarters lengthwise. Stick one end of the paper towel into the colored water and one end into the empty jar.

Cool Science Experiment for Kids

Thanks to capillary action the water moves or “walks” up the paper towels into the empty jar. The middle jar fills up with water until the water levels of all the jars are equal.

Walking Water Color Mixing Experiment

When you start with primary colored water in the jars it also turns into a cool coloring mixing lesson.

Walking Water Science Experiment for Kids

Walking Water Science Experiment Video

Want to see how cool it is for yourself? Watch it in action!

Walking Water Troubleshooting

Happens very slowly. We have always been able to see results within minutes. If you aren’t it may be the type of paper towels you are using. We do this one fairly often and have great success with the Target brand version where you can select the smaller sizes instead of a larger sheet. If you are disappointed with it taking a long time to see any action I’d try a different type of paper towel.

Won’t get started. You start to see something happening right away when you have filled your outer glasses all the way to the top. It totally works with shorter, wider clear glasses but we have the most success with the canning jars shown in the photos. If you have them it may be worthwhile to get them out!

This is one experiment you want to try until you get right because it is just that cool when it works. Trust me. You’ll be just as impressed with this walking water science experiment as the kids!

summer science camp blue 8 weeks

Join me and Erica from What Do We Do All Day? each Thursday this summer for a free Summer Science Camp.  We are sharing classic science experiments that your kids will love!

Head over to see what they made this week!

Don’t let the fun and discovery stop there!

We have TONS of science experiments your kids will love on our Super Cool Science Experiments for Kids page! 

The most fun science experiments for kids ever!

Take me to the experiments –> Super Cool Science Experiments for Kids

About Megan Sheakoski

Megan is the creator of Coffee Cups and Crayons, a blog full of simple fun and learning. She believes that kids’ activities don’t have to be complicated to be fun and that learning is better with play.

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Math Play for Kindergarten {Numbers 1-100}

Comments

  1. gaye Moore says

    August 7, 2014 at 10:01 am

    This experiment is so cool! I am an Education Manager at a Head Start and I am going to recommend using this experiment and others you have on your website to my teachers. Thanks.

    Reply
    • Megan Sheakoski says

      August 8, 2014 at 6:47 pm

      Thank you!!! It is one of our favorites! I HIGHLY recommend trying it!

      Reply
      • Diana Saber says

        May 21, 2016 at 8:42 am

        I want to try this experiment for my school project about colors but the teacher is going to ask me what is going on and I think that the paper towel sucks in the water so this way it travels on the paper towel but I just want to be sure that my hypothesis is right so could you explain it to me or tell me if I am right or wrong?

        Reply
        • Megan Sheakoski says

          May 22, 2016 at 5:50 pm

          Diana that is a great topic for you to research before you present it! Good luck!

          Reply
          • leisa says

            December 7, 2016 at 10:02 am

            hi I need step by step to do this can you tell me what the dependent variable I need it for my science fair project

          • Megan Sheakoski says

            December 8, 2016 at 7:04 am

            Hi Leisa! Check your notes to figure it out. I’m sure you can do it!

        • Marcos Martinez says

          March 7, 2019 at 1:30 pm

          it moves because of a process called capillary action. The adhesive forces between the water and the paper towel are stronger than the cohesive forces inside the water. As a result, the water travels up and across the paper towel out of one glass

          Reply
          • Diane Magruder says

            November 3, 2019 at 10:05 pm

            Hypothesis???

      • g-money says

        October 9, 2017 at 9:16 am

        Sure I’m doing this project for my school 😀

        Reply
    • Tiffany gamboa says

      October 25, 2014 at 3:27 pm

      Yay! I also work for Headstart! I’m excited to try this!

      Reply
      • Megan Sheakoski says

        October 26, 2014 at 8:08 pm

        The kids will LOVE it!!!!

        Reply
      • g-money says

        October 9, 2017 at 9:17 am

        cool:)))

        Reply
    • jennelle says

      November 4, 2014 at 11:53 pm

      I am a lead teacher for head start in GA. I can’t wait to try this!

      Reply
    • D Green says

      July 11, 2015 at 8:15 pm

      Thanks for sharing this. We did a similar experiment without the colors. I mixed dirt and water in one glass, ran a paper towel (exactly like this experiment) to an empty glass. Pretty soon the formally empty glass will be just as full as the muddy water glass, but with clean water. (Well…cleaner water)

      I tried to make it very theatrical: I told my kids I would drink the water from the muddy water glass without using a sieve. Then I set up the experiment in a minute and 20 minutes later drank from the clean water glass.

      We’ll definitely reinforce the concept with this one…thanks!

      Reply
      • Megan Sheakoski says

        July 11, 2015 at 9:35 pm

        Oh I love that! Especially how you set it up–awesome!

        Reply
        • Cheri says

          January 7, 2016 at 12:18 pm

          Hi Megan!
          My son wants to do this for a project. Can u explain what the hypothesis would be and what the experiment is actually proving?
          Thanks
          Cheri

          Reply
          • Megan Sheakoski says

            January 8, 2016 at 11:30 am

            Hi Cheri! He would be the one creating the hypothesis, it’s his prediction/educated guess about what will happen. Once he does that he can complete the experiment to see if he is right or wrong. Then based on his results he’d write his conclusion. Have fun!

      • Olivia says

        April 29, 2016 at 11:21 am

        Wow! It is really cool!

        Reply
    • Trinity says

      January 18, 2016 at 4:16 pm

      They should tell us how much water to put in the jars but the easiest way to do it is just to pour them into the middle jar at the same time

      Reply
      • Trinity says

        January 18, 2016 at 4:17 pm

        Just saying

        Reply
  2. melissa says

    August 9, 2014 at 6:38 am

    Very cool! About how long does it take for the experiment to work? Thanks!

    Reply
    • Megan Sheakoski says

      August 9, 2014 at 1:18 pm

      You can see the water walk up the paper towels almost immediately and our jars were complete in about 30 minutes!

      Reply
  3. Melinda says

    August 9, 2014 at 9:05 am

    Love the kitchen table experiments. Hope u come by and share this on #kidsinthekitchen this week http://lookwhatmomfound.com/2014/08/salad-sandwich-bites-kidsinthekitchen.html

    Reply
  4. Linda says

    August 9, 2014 at 10:07 am

    How long does this usually take for the water to “walk” into the other cups?

    Reply
    • Megan Sheakoski says

      August 9, 2014 at 1:17 pm

      You start to see it happen very soon and depending on how much water is in your jar about 30 minutes to complete!

      Reply
    • Ann Ali says

      November 29, 2016 at 5:27 pm

      wow!!!!!!! so cool 🙂

      Reply
  5. Victor says

    August 9, 2014 at 12:21 pm

    Great! Thanks for that!
    How many time does it take to see a result?

    Reply
    • Megan Sheakoski says

      August 9, 2014 at 1:19 pm

      You can see the colored water “walk” up the paper towels right away! It’s amazing!

      Reply
      • Austin Seales says

        November 14, 2016 at 1:21 pm

        #Awesome

        Reply
  6. carolyn says

    August 10, 2014 at 2:05 pm

    This can be done with multiple glasses and colors..the colors will blend with each additional color but even more interesting for the students is that the fluid levels equalize in all the glasses!

    Reply
    • Megan Sheakoski says

      August 10, 2014 at 2:08 pm

      Yes! It’s so cool to watch!

      Reply
  7. KEllie b says

    August 11, 2014 at 10:54 pm

    Wow!! This is so simple yet so, so clever and impressive!! I cannot wait to try it out with my little guys. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  8. Kellie Banyer says

    August 11, 2014 at 10:56 pm

    Wow!! This is so simple yet so, so clever and impressive!! I cannot wait to try it out with my little guys. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
    • Megan Sheakoski says

      August 12, 2014 at 9:42 am

      It really is impressive!!! You must try it!

      Reply
      • KEllie Banyer says

        August 14, 2014 at 7:03 am

        We did it today – so, so awesome! Thanks again – I am going to write a post on it and of course will link your page for credit!

        Reply
        • Megan Sheakoski says

          August 14, 2014 at 1:04 pm

          Isn’t it just the coolest???

          Reply
        • bhavna Chhabra says

          June 25, 2017 at 3:38 am

          This science experiment looks amazing. This is easy also. I hope it goes well. I am excited to conduct this experiment. Thanks for sharing! Kids will enjoy this a lot.

          Reply
  9. Sharon says

    August 15, 2014 at 8:57 pm

    Love this! We did this experiment during the school year, but with only two glasses. I was teaching my daughter how water is absorbed through a plant’s roots.

    Reply
    • Megan Sheakoski says

      August 16, 2014 at 9:11 am

      Such a great visual for roots!!!!

      Reply
  10. Shirley says

    August 24, 2014 at 11:24 pm

    How do you explain term capillary action to young children? Thanks in advance!

    Reply
    • Megan Sheakoski says

      August 26, 2014 at 3:23 pm

      Shirley I don’t think you even need to! You can mention it during the experiment, but at that stage it’s more about building their background knowledge. Hope that helps!

      Reply
      • latoya mayfield says

        January 8, 2018 at 2:35 pm

        Is this good for a fifth grader???

        Reply
        • Megan Sheakoski says

          January 8, 2018 at 4:15 pm

          Yes 🙂

          Reply
          • Nameeeshi says

            February 23, 2018 at 4:38 pm

            Can i know da hypothosis of this project witha question and the answer must me in the experiment

          • Megan Sheakoski says

            February 26, 2018 at 10:52 am

            Hi Nameeeshi! A hypothesis is your prediction of what will happen in the experiment based on your research or scientific understanding. It is basically what you think will happen when you “test” your scientific question and why. At the end of your project you check to see if your hypothesis was supported or not and figure out why. Good luck!

  11. mackenzie says

    October 30, 2014 at 10:57 am

    how does it work

    Reply
    • Megan Sheakoski says

      October 30, 2014 at 9:15 pm

      Capillary action helps the water travel through the paper towels into the other cups until the water levels are even!

      Reply
    • Megan Settle says

      November 4, 2014 at 10:25 pm

      mackenzie, Each water molecule is attracted to the paper towel and attracted to the other water molecules. So, as one water molecule gets pulled to the paper towel, the water molecules behind the original water molecule get pulled along as well.

      Reply
  12. Megan Settle says

    November 4, 2014 at 10:20 pm

    So fun. I’m a HS science teacher, a mother of a 1 yo and a 5 yo, and a Megan. Thank you for sharing with us. I can’t wait to try this with my girls.

    Reply
    • Megan Sheakoski says

      November 4, 2014 at 10:46 pm

      He he! Hello fellow Megan! Have fun doing it with your girls–it has been a favorite of my kids for years. It never gets old!

      Reply
  13. maman poisson says

    November 5, 2014 at 2:29 am

    Wonderfull !! I will try with my children Aurevoir 😉

    Reply
    • promise says

      January 9, 2018 at 9:25 am

      im trying i in class and i will try with my students in science

      Reply
  14. Wafa says

    November 5, 2014 at 5:33 am

    I have done it with colored cello paper too.will try these for hands on experiment.awesome thx:)

    Reply
  15. Laura says

    November 11, 2014 at 3:46 pm

    Hi! I am testing out the Walking Water experiment before having it as an activity. What kind of paper towels did you use? Thank you!

    Reply
    • Megan Sheakoski says

      November 11, 2014 at 8:28 pm

      Hi Laura! We usually buy whatever is cheapest. I don’t remember what kind I used this day, but if you have trouble let me know and I’ll test some. 🙂

      Reply
      • Megan Sheakoski says

        July 7, 2015 at 10:10 am

        Update! I have tested it to see and we like the Targer brand select a size paper towels the best! I think the brand name version of those would work just as well too. As long as they are nice and thick!

        Reply
  16. Rane LAMB says

    January 9, 2015 at 1:43 pm

    I am a middle school student 8th grade and I had been looking for an easy yet very original experiment to this science fair. While adding something different and multiple things i believe that it will work very well for an experiment, get me a good grade (which is needed) and i think it could be fun. Thank you!

    Reply
  17. Jenetta Penner says

    January 22, 2015 at 10:12 pm

    Oh, this is one of my fave science experiments! I love how my daughters look in awe as they watched the water “walk”! 🙂

    Reply
    • Megan Sheakoski says

      January 22, 2015 at 10:18 pm

      YES! It’s the best!

      Reply
  18. Tom Collins says

    February 24, 2015 at 10:59 am

    I am a science teacher in Chicago who has a kindergarten after school science club. I will be doing this with them this afternoon! Thanks for the inspiration.

    Reply
    • Megan Sheakoski says

      February 24, 2015 at 11:36 am

      They will LOVE it!!!! 🙂

      Reply
  19. makiala says

    March 5, 2015 at 5:22 pm

    lol this is a cool comment

    Reply
  20. Monica says

    October 13, 2015 at 9:39 pm

    How much water and drops do I use?

    Reply
    • Megan Sheakoski says

      October 15, 2015 at 8:40 pm

      Fill the outer glasses to the top and add as much food coloring as you would like!

      Reply
  21. Chelsa says

    October 15, 2015 at 6:51 pm

    I tried it and it really did work like wow!!!???????

    I was so surprised good thinking ?

    Reply
  22. Chelsa says

    October 15, 2015 at 6:51 pm

    I don’t get it?

    Reply
    • Ayesha Maher says

      May 9, 2017 at 2:53 am

      hi Megan im doing this for my science fair project and i personally think its a wonderful and very smart idea thankyou for giving me such good information

      Reply
      • Scarlet says

        February 17, 2018 at 8:11 pm

        I am doing this project for Science Fair!

        Reply
        • Tevy says

          January 24, 2020 at 11:38 am

          I have tried this for my a science project and made pink by white and red. It was preety good

          Reply
  23. Jacky CHan 900 says

    February 12, 2016 at 3:12 pm

    This is so cool me and my friend are going to try it

    Reply
  24. Gloria says

    February 15, 2016 at 9:26 pm

    my third grade child choose this project and it seemed to amaze the entire family

    Reply
  25. Jackie V says

    May 25, 2016 at 12:19 pm

    Thought this was an awesome experiment for my 6 year old to do for a science fair project. Only problem we seem to be running into is that we have had it sitting for days now and the jars are not equal in the amount of water yet. I tried using bounty paper towels and also cheaper ones but I’m getting the same reactions. Any thoughts? Thanks 🙂

    Reply
    • Megan Sheakoski says

      May 25, 2016 at 1:22 pm

      Are the glasses too tall? I cannot believe it would be taking that long!!!!! One was full and one was empty to start?

      Reply
  26. Courtney says

    July 27, 2016 at 5:38 pm

    Can this be used with plastic cups instead of glass jars?

    Reply
    • Megan Sheakoski says

      July 29, 2016 at 7:44 am

      Yep! It’s just a little sturdier in the jar, plastic cups are fine!

      Reply
  27. Saif uddin says

    October 11, 2017 at 10:21 pm

    Thanks. My child gonna present this to her science project. Keep her in ur wish.

    Reply
  28. Hariah says

    November 30, 2017 at 2:49 pm

    Wow thanks so muck for this experiment I used it for my project hopefully I win so I can go to high school and show them.

    Reply
  29. Kiki says

    April 5, 2018 at 6:54 pm

    I just wanted to let you know, you’re one PATIENT and very well mannered woman.
    I don’t understand how people can ask the same question back to back, when, not only is it in the description under the experiment, but the person above/below them asked THE SAME questions!!
    oy vie.

    Anyways, I love that I came across your page. My 1st grader is going to be doing this experiment for his class and I’m so excited for him. Such a fun and simple project for both visual and hands on learners!

    Thank You!

    Reply
    • Megan Sheakoski says

      April 6, 2018 at 11:15 am

      Awwww! TY!!!!! You are so sweet! He is going to have so much fun doing it for 1st graders! They will love it!!!

      Reply
  30. Tiffany says

    March 24, 2019 at 4:05 pm

    This activity was so cool! I will need to get different paper towels next time though. It took a few days for the color to actually soak up the towel, maybe a bit too thick 😆. Thank you!

    Reply
    • Megan Sheakoski says

      March 26, 2019 at 9:16 pm

      It’s crazy how that can make a difference isn’t it! I have timed photos saved on my IG profile @CoffeeandCrayon under walking water if you want to see how fast it goes for me!

      Reply
  31. Nara Kim says

    July 8, 2020 at 2:09 pm

    Awesome! how long does it take for the experiment to work?

    Reply
  32. Anna says

    February 15, 2021 at 5:46 am

    I don’t understand how people can ask the same question back to back, when, not only is it in the description under the experiment, but the person above/below them asked THE SAME questions!!

    Reply

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