For the Kids: Flower Watercolor Paint

By: Alexus Robertson

The beauty of science is it can be seen every day in the world all around us. Life is one big science experiment and if done correctly a parent can inspire curiosity, ignite the imagination, and nurture the mind.

Does that sound like a big ask?

Feel somewhat overwhelmed with the idea?

No need for that. Just have fun with it!

I came across this amazing activity to make flower paint out of just that, flowers! This activity is so simple, interactive, and, best of all, completely free to do. Everything you need for this activity you should be able to find around your house, even if your house happens to be in the middle of the desert, like mine.

What you need:

• Flower petals

• Small bowls

• Boiling water

• Stirring stick

Step 1: Grab some flowers.

Step 2: Take some petals and toss them into a bowl.

Step 3: Pour in enough boiling water to cover the petals.

Step 4: Start grinding and smashing them up. You should see the color take infuse into the water right away and it will get darker the longer you let the petals sit in the water.

Step 5: Paint!

Additional Options:

• You can add a binder, such as honey, to the petal water to make the paint thicker.

• Another tip from a blogger is to add a little baking soda to the mixture to shift the color darker (this is due to the alkaline pH balance shifting with the addition). You can also add a little lemon juice and the acid will turn the paint a yellow that is almost neon.

• You can leave the petals in or strain them out.

• Another tip from a different blogger is to boil the water with the petals in the water for a more saturated and intense color.

• Adding vinegar can improve the color of reds and purples.

I hope everyone finds this activity as fun and beautiful smelling as we did.

Written By:

Alexus Robertson

Assistant Director, Administration

Center for Gender Equity in Science and Technology