Rainbow Fall Leaf Color-Changing Chromatography

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Materials

1 pack White coffee filters
6 markers Washable rainbow markers Use bold and vibrant colors
1 marker Clear pink marker
1 marker Clear blue marker
6 small cups Small cups for water
as needed cups Water Fill small cups with enough water
as needed sticks Craft sticks
1 pair Scissors For cutting the filters into leaf shapes

Instructions

Preparation

Start by coloring bands near the bottom of the coffee-filter strips with your markers.
Fill the small cups with a little water, ensuring to soak the bottom of the coffee filters without making them float.
Carefully place just the bottom edge of each coffee filter strip into the water.
Watch as the colors bleed and spread, creating a beautiful array of separated marker pigments.
After the filters dry, cut them into fall leaf shapes using scissors.
Arrange your colorful leaves into a lovely garland.

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Tips & Notes:

This project can also help children learn about color mixing and chemistry. Ensure to supervise kids during the cutting phase. If colors blend too much, reduce the submersion time in water.