Floating Colors: The Science of Surface Tension through Japanese Marbling

Floating Colors: The Science of Surface Tension through Japanese MarblingHosted by Wildflower Data and Learning
Ages 8 and up

Come explore the magic where art and science meet on water! In this hands-on holiday workshop, children and families will create beautiful Suminagashi-style marbled Christmas ornaments—an ancient Japanese art that dances with the science of surface tension.

Participants will gently drop inks onto water and watch them swirl, spin, and bloom into mesmerizing patterns that capture the invisible forces shaping our world. Through guided activities, kids will:

• Discover how surface tension lets inks float and spread across water’s surface
• Experiment with soap and surfactants to see how lowering surface tension changes the motion of colors
• Learn how molecular forces can create the ripples, rings, and waves that make each ornament one of a kind

Each participant will design and take home their own marbled piece, blending creativity with a real science lesson that comes to life before their eyes.

Join us for a festive experience where curiosity and color collide—and where science spins into art!