About This Project

A 5–10 minutes craft for ages 3–7, using supplies you likely already have — Tape, Sharpie Markers, and Food Coloring.

GlueStick supports kids from setup to cleanup. After they choose a project, we guide them through gathering the supplies, making it, and cleaning up when they're done. We'll even help them share it safely with trusted family and friends.

Ad-free and kid-safe library — designed by a mom who wants kids to explore and create independently.

Project Tags
  1. 1

    Find Supplies

    Do you have everything you need?
    Create a free GlueStick account to track supplies and see if you have what you need at a glance. Leave your kids tips about where supplies are stored in your household so they can set up and clean up their creative spaces independently.
    00:00
    A cartoon of Tape
    Unknown cupboard quantity You have: unknown
    A cartoon of Sharpie Markers
    Unknown cupboard quantity You have: unknown
    A cartoon of Food Coloring
    Unknown cupboard quantity You have: unknown
    A cartoon of Zipper Storage Bags
    Unknown cupboard quantity You have: unknown
    A cartoon of Water
    Unknown cupboard quantity You have: unknown
  2. 2

    Make Rain in a Bag

    Your creative buddy says:
    "Are you as excited to make this as I am?"

    Step 1: Draw a line on your bag

    Use permanent markers or paint pens to draw a line about 2 inches from the bottom. This will be your fill line. If you want, decorate your bag with sunshines, rainbows, or clouds.

    Step 2: Fill the bag

    May need grown-up help
    Fill the bag with water up to the line. Add 1-2 drops of blue food coloring if you want it to look more like an ocean.

    Step 3: Seal the bag tightly

    May need grown-up help
    Make sure the bag is sealed tightly. You don't want any water to be able to escape. You can try holding it upside down over the sink to test it.

    Step 4: Tape to a window and watch!

    Tape the bag flat against a sunny window. Observe: Check on it over the next few hours or over a few days. How does it change? Does the water level ever go below the line you drew? If yes, where did the water go?

    Step 5: What's happening in the bag

    Your bag is showing four steps in the Water Cycle: - Evaporation: Water warms up and turns into invisible water vapor. - Condensation: Tiny droplets form on the inside of the bag. - Precipitation: Droplets get bigger and slide down like rain. - Collection: Water gathers back at the bottom. Try putting one bag in a sunny window and the other in a shady one. How do the bags compare?
  3. 3

    Clean up

    Put things away so your space is tidy for next time.

    Tidy up our space

    Put away our supplies

    Check off each supply when it is put away — and any clean-up tips underneath are done too. You might find a fun surprise!

    • A cartoon of Tape
      Where they belong:
    • A cartoon of Sharpie Markers
      Where they belong:
    • A cartoon of Food Coloring
      Where they belong:
      • — Don't forget! Replace all the food coloring caps.
    • A cartoon of Zipper Storage Bags
      Where they belong:
    • A cartoon of Water
      Where they belong:

    Update what we have left

    Did we run out of anything while making this project? Update our supply cupboard so that we know exactly what we have for next time.

    This project could unlock 2 creative buddies. Sign in to unlock them.

  4. 4

    Save

    Your creative buddy says:
    "I love how you stuck with your creative ideas!"

    Made something awesome? Keep going.

    Your first project is free. Create your free GlueStick account to keep making — and discover projects you can do with the supplies you already have.

Use what’s already at home

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