Floating Colors: The Science of Surface Tension through Japanese Marbling

Fun kids workshop where science meets art! Explore Japanese marbling and the science of surface tension hands-on creations.

Ages 6 and up

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.