DIY: Vanishing Colours | Tinkerer Box Blog

DIYs » Stem Activities » Chemistry » Age 3 - 5 » Vanishing Colours

Vanishing Colours

Stem Activities

Ages: 3-5

Less than 30 minutes

Grownup needed

Save PDF

Make artwork disappear before your eyes with just a glass of water, a sealable bag, and your creativity! Let's learn how to do this fascinating experiment!

Materials Needed

White paper
Marker pens
Pencil
Scissors
Sealable plastic bag
Ruler

A flat lay arrangement of craft supplies on a light woodgrain table. The supplies include a blank sheet of white paper, a small clear plastic bag, a clear plastic ruler, a gray pencil, a pair of black scissors, and four white markers with colored caps (black, green, yellow, and orange). The items are neatly arranged, suggesting preparation for a craft project.

Step-by-step tutorial

Step 1

Use the ruler to measure the size of the sealable bag.

A small, empty, clear plastic bag with a zipper seal lies on a light woodgrain table. A clear plastic ruler is positioned below the bag, likely to indicate its size.

Step 2

Cut a piece of white paper to match the size of the bag.

Two hands are shown cutting a piece of white paper with black scissors. The paper rests on a light woodgrain table and has a black line drawn on it, guiding the cut. The hands are holding the paper and scissors in position to cut along the line. This image likely depicts a step in a craft or DIY project.

Step 3

Using marker pens, draw a Christmas tree or your favourite character on the cut paper.

A hand holds a white marker and colors a drawing of a Christmas scene on a small white piece of paper. The drawing depicts a decorated green Christmas tree with a yellow star on top, a snowman wearing a red Santa hat and scarf, a wrapped present, and falling snow. The paper rests on a light woodgrain table. Another hand is visible, holding the paper steady.

Step 4

Place the drawing inside the sealable bag and seal it completely.

Two hands are placing a drawing into a small, clear plastic bag with a zipper seal. The drawing depicts a Christmas scene with a decorated tree, a snowman wearing a Santa hat and scarf, a present, and falling snow. The bag is being sealed to protect the drawing. The background is a light woodgrain surface.

Step 5

Use a marker pen to trace the outline of your drawing on the outside of the bag.

A hand holds a black marker and adds details to a drawing enclosed in a clear plastic bag. The drawing, visible through the bag, features a Christmas tree, a snowman with a Santa hat and scarf, a present, and falling snow. Another hand holds the bag steady. The bag and drawing rest on a light woodgrain table. This image seems to depict creating a simple, protected Christmas decoration.

Step 6

Lower the bag vertically into water and watch carefully as the colours disappear.

A hand holds a sealed clear plastic bag containing a drawing of a Christmas scene. The drawing features a decorated Christmas tree, a snowman wearing a Santa hat and scarf, and a present, all against a snowy backdrop. The bag is partially submerged in a clear container filled with water. This image likely depicts a step in a craft project, perhaps creating a floating Christmas decoration.

The Science Behind It:

In air, light travels without refraction, allowing you to see both the details on the paper and the bag. However, when your drawing goes underwater, everything changes! Underwater, light must travel through water first, then through the plastic bag, before reaching your eyes. Due to the refraction of both water and the plastic bag, light changes its path. Since your eyes are almost directly above the drawing, you can't see it anymore. The details on the outside of the bag remain visible because water refracts light less, allowing these marks to still reach your eyes.

Who Are We?

We’re a passionate team of scientists, engineers, and educators dedicated to delivering hands-on fun. Our mission is to inspire creativity and confidence in the next generation of young innovators.