Coffee Filter Painting - Learning About Semipermeable Membranes
In this STEAM activity, use coffee filters and paints to create art and learn about semipermeable membranes. This activity can be used with all grade levels. Preschoolers will love the art and high school students can use this with a study of osmosis.
Cost: $1
Materials
- 1 package coffee filters
- 1 set paints
- 1 pad watercolor paper
- 1 set paint cups
- 6 pieces plastic pipettes This will help keep the paints from mixing before dropping them on the coffee filter.
Instructions
- Fill the small plastic paint cups with water, then add watercolors from tubes for desired colors. We chose red, yellow, green, blue, and purple.
- Place a coffee filter on top of one sheet of watercolor paper. I also place a wipe-able place mat under the watercolor paper.
- Paint the coffee filter using the pipettes and watercolors. Drop one drop of water color at a time and watch how the paint spreads through the coffee filter. The paint moves due to capillary action.
- Your little ones might want to push down all the bubbles made when the paint is dripped on the coffee filter
- Slowly lift the coffee filter to see the final design on the watercolor paper!
- Here are the just-created designs before drying.
- Let the painting dry completely before displaying.
