Some experiments need fancy equipment. This one needs paper towels, a few jars of water, and a quiet afternoon.
The Walking Rainbow is one of those rare activities that genuinely surprises children — and adults. You set it up, walk away, and come back to find colour has moved. It feels like magic. The science behind it is just as fascinating.
It's also beautifully open-ended: there's predicting, observing, recording, and a little artwork waiting at the end. Perfect for curious minds from preschool through to primary school.
What your little learner will discover
- That mixing primary colours creates something new — and a little unexpected
- How scientists think: predict what will happen, watch carefully, then explain what you saw
- That water can travel upwards — and why that matters in the natural world
- The science behind it: capillary action — the same process that pulls water from a plant's roots all the way up to its leaves
