Looking for a fun activity that's part craft, part science experiment, and guaranteed to get a few "whoa!" moments? This paper towel flower experiment is one of our favourites because it's incredibly simple to set up, uses supplies you probably already have at home, and teaches kids about science without feeling like a lesson.

The best part? Watching the colours magically spread through the flower petals as the water travels upwards.

What You'll Need

• Paper towels
• Washable markers (water-based work best)
• Scissors
• A glass or jar
• Water

How to Make Paper Towel Flowers

Step 1: Cut Your Flowers

Fold a paper towel like an accordion into a folded strip. Cut that strip in half and cut out a simple flower shape on one end. When you unfold it, you twist the base and secure it with some tape. You'll have a delicate paper towel flower ready to decorate.

Don't worry about making it perfect, every flower looks beautiful once the colours start moving.

Step 2: Decorate Your Flower

Use washable markers to colour your flower. Encourage kids to experiment with:

• Rainbow petals
• Patterns
• Dots and stripes
• Different colour combinations

Leave a small section at the bottom of the stem uncoloured, as this is where the water will be absorbed.

The Fun Part: Watch the Science Happen

Fill a glass with a small amount of water.

Place the stem of the flower into the water so only the stem is touching.

Now wait...

Within a minute or two, you'll start to see the water climb up through the paper towel. As it moves, it carries the marker ink with it, spreading the colours across the petals like magic.

Kids love watching the flower slowly transform before their eyes.

Why Does It Work?

This experiment demonstrates capillary action.

Paper towels are made from thousands of tiny fibres with even tinier spaces between them. Water naturally moves through these tiny spaces, almost like it's climbing a ladder.

As the water travels upwards, it dissolves the washable marker ink and carries the colour with it, creating beautiful patterns across the petals.

This is the same process that helps:

• Plants draw water from their roots to their leaves.
• Trees transport water many metres into the air.
• A sponge soak up spills.
• A paper towel absorb water from a bench.

Questions to Ask Your Kids

Turn the experiment into a mini science investigation by asking:

• Which colour travelled the fastest?
• What happens if you use different marker colours?
• Does more water make a difference?
• What do you think will happen before you put the flower in?
• Can you make two flowers with different designs and compare them?

Encouraging kids to make predictions helps build curiosity and scientific thinking.

Extend the Learning

Once they've mastered flowers, try experimenting with other shapes:

• Butterflies
• Hearts
• Leaves
• Rainbows
• Stars
• Trees

Each one creates slightly different colour patterns as the water moves through the paper towel.

Why We Love This Experiment

Sometimes the best learning happens when children don't realise they're learning at all.

This activity combines creativity, fine motor skills, observation, prediction and science into one simple project that takes just a few minutes to set up.

It's inexpensive, mess-friendly, and exciting enough that many kids immediately want to make another flower to test a different design.

If you're looking for an easy screen-free activity that sparks curiosity and creativity, this paper towel flower experiment is hard to beat. Sometimes all it takes is a paper towel, a few markers, and a little bit of water to create a little everyday magic.