Spring is almost here and one of our favorite parts of spring is when all the beautiful and colorful flowers start blooming. So when we decided to try a little experiment with colors, it made perfect sense for us to use flowers as our inspiration. The result of our science experiment was a beautiful bouquet, perfect for Mother’s Day.

This Spring Flowers Chromatography Science Project is for kindergarten through grade 3.

Spring Flower Chromatography Science Project is a fun spring activity for kindergarten, first grade, 2nd grade, and 3rd grade.-min

Flower Crafts for Kids

Spring Flowers Chromatography Science Project

Kids love mixing colors and learning how to combine colors to discover amazing new results. But what about separating colors? Pulling colors apart to see what colors came together to create a color. Now separating your child’s mixed up paint colors, slime or play dough, isn’t going to happen, but through a special scientific process called chromatography, you can split colors into their original hues.

Chromatography – the science behind color separation

Colors are made up of many different molecules that mix together to create the single color registered by our eyes. But through the process of paper chromatography we can separate the molecules of the different colors so our eyes register all the colors that mixed together. We start with one color, then by adding water, it spreads the colors out. Different molecules move across paper at different rates. As a result, components of the first color separate allowing us to see the colors that created it.

Note: You will need to use secondary or tertiary colors for this to work. This can be a great way to teach how we have these different categories of colors and why.

chromatography science project using coffee filters, washable markers, pipe cleaners

Supplies to do Spring Flowers Chromatography Science Project

Coffee Filters
Water
Washable (or water soluble) Markers in secondary and tertiary colors
Small syringes (think of the type that come with baby medication) or pipettes
Plates or a plastic table cloth are recommended to protect your table
Pipe cleaners in green

set up for chromatography science project using coffee filters and washable markers

Flatten out some coffee filters. Then create a circle or simple line design in the middle using any secondary or tertiary color you wish.

Add about 0.5 mL of water to the center of your coffee filter. Watch to see what happens!

add water and watch the science activity unfold

Your colors should start spreading and separating as the water travels along the filter. If you want your color to spread a little farther, add another drop or two of water.

Let the filters dry completely.

Now is a great time to explore what colors came out of the ones you started with.

Building Spring Flowers Chromatography Science Project

Once the filter papers are completely dry, bundle them into flower like shapes and attach green pipe cleaners to the bottom to create the stems. You’ve just created a beautiful spring bouquet of flowers with science and a little art. Keep them for yourself or gift them as a wonderful spring present, perhaps for Mother’s Day!