DIY: Spinning Snake | Tinkerer Box Blog

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Spinning Snake

Stem Activities

Ages: 3-5

Less than 30 minutes

Grownup needed

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Spark children's scientific curiosity with a spinning snake! This 'magical' experiment helps children explore the fascinating science of surface tension.

Materials Needed

Origami paper
Washing-up liquid
Marker pen
Pencil
Scissors
Water
Plate

Arranged on a clear plastic tray are several art supplies: a pale yellow sheet of paper, two white markers with light blue and yellow caps, a pencil, and a small beige squeeze bottle. A clear glass of water and a pair of blue-handled scissors sit beside the tray on a marbled surface.

Step-by-step tutorial

Step 1

Draw a coiled snake on the coloured paper using a pencil.

A hand holding a gray pencil begins to draw a spiral on a square sheet of pale yellow paper. The paper rests on a marbled surface. The hand starts the spiral from the center of the paper and continues to draw outwards in a clockwise direction. The video focuses on the process of drawing this spiral shape.

Step 2

Carefully cut out the snake using scissors.

Two hands hold a square of pale green paper with a pencil-drawn spiral on it. One hand holds the paper steady while the other hand uses scissors to cut along the spiral line. The background is a marbled surface.

Step 3

Use the marker pen to draw eyes and patterns on the snake.

Two hands are shown interacting with a light green spiral cut from paper. One hand holds the spiral flat while the other hand draws small green dots along the spiral's edge with a green marker. Orange dots are already present on the spiral. The spiral has a small, simple face drawn at the center, giving it the appearance of a snake. The background is a marbled surface.

Step 4

Pour a cup of water into the plate.

A hand pours water from a clear glass into a clear rectangular tray. The water creates ripples and spreads across the tray's surface. The tray sits on a marbled background.

Step 5

Apply one drop of washing-up liquid to the back of the snake's head, being careful not to get any on the snake's body.

Two hands work together to apply glue from a beige squeeze bottle to the end of a light green paper spiral decorated with orange and green dots. The spiral is partially unfurled, and the end being glued has a simple face drawn on it, resembling a snake.

Step 6

Place the snake in the water with the washing-up liquid side touching the water surface. Watch carefully as your snake magically begins to spin.

A light green spiral shape, resembling a coiled snake with a small, simple face at its center, is placed on a clear plastic tray. The tray rests on a marble surface. Water is poured onto the tray, causing the spiral snake to uncoil and seemingly come to life, moving slowly across the tray's surface. The video demonstrates a simple science experiment illustrating the principles of buoyancy and surface tension.

The Science Behind It:

The secret of the spinning snake lies in 'surface tension differences'. Water's surface tension keeps water molecules tightly bound together, like an 'invisible film'. When washing-up liquid enters the water, it breaks the surface tension, creating a force that moves from high to low tension. The coiled snake, experiencing uneven forces, rapidly spins on the water's surface.

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