Ingredients
- 3 fresh leaves, each about 2 to 4 inches long, preferably from different trees or plants
- 3 small clear glass jars, 4 to 8 fluid ounces each
- 3 tablespoons of 70% rubbing alcohol, 1 tablespoon per jar
- 3 coffee filters, basket style, each about 6 inches wide
- 1 pencil, standard wooden size
- 1 pair of child-safe scissors, 5 to 6 inches long
- 1 wooden craft stick, about 4 1/2 inches long
- 1 tablespoon measuring spoon
- 1 shallow bowl, at least 6 inches wide, for warm water
- 2 cups warm tap water, about 100 to 110 degrees Fahrenheit
- 1 sheet of newspaper or 1 reusable plastic table covering, about 24 by 18 inches
- 1 pair of disposable nitrile gloves, adult size, for handling rubbing alcohol
- 1 roll of paper towels, for small spills
- 1 permanent marker, optional, for labeling the jars
Instructions
- Cover the table with the newspaper or reusable plastic covering before you set anything down to prevent mess.
- Choose three fresh leaves with different colors or textures, avoiding leaves with mold or a waxy coating.
- Put on the nitrile gloves and pour 1 tablespoon of 70% rubbing alcohol into each jar.
- Tear or cut each leaf into pieces about 1/4 inch wide, keeping each leaf in its own pile.
- Place one leaf pile into its labeled jar and crush the pieces against the bottom for about 2 minutes until the alcohol looks lightly tinted.
- Repeat with the other two leaves, using the clean end of the craft stick for each sample.
- Cut each coffee filter into a strip about 1 inch wide and 6 inches long. Fold the top 1/2 inch of each strip over the pencil.
- Lower one filter strip into each jar so the bottom edge touches the alcohol without touching the crushed leaves.
- Set the jars inside the shallow bowl and pour warm tap water around the outside of the jars.
- Watch the strips for the first few minutes, then leave them undisturbed for 30 to 45 minutes to see the colors spread.
- Remove the strips when the colored area has climbed about 4 inches and lay them flat on a clean paper towel for 30 minutes to dry.
- Write the leaf name and date on each strip and compare the bands from different leaves.
Notes
Be cautious with rubbing alcohol as it is flammable. Keep it away from heat sources and use adult supervision during the experiment.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
