Materials Required:
l Pail
l Seaweed
l Shallow pan
l Water
l Finger-paint paper (paper with one glossy side)
l Glass pane, smaller than the shallow pan
l Scissors
l Pencil
l Paper toweling
l Book
Procedure:
If you live near the ocean or if you go down to the sea during the summer or on a vacation, you can make an interesting picture from seaweed.
- Take a pail to the beach and collect some seaweed. Look for various types of green, brown, and red seaweed.
- When you get home, fill a shallow pan about halfway with water, then cut the finger-paint paper to the same size as the glass pane.
- Set the glass pane in the pan of water and press the paper, glossy side up, onto the glass. Make sure at least ¼ inch of water covers the paper.
- Now, arrange your seaweed on the paper. The layer of water will support the plants and allow them to assume their natural shape. Use the tip of a pencil to position them wherever you want on the paper.
- Spread some paper towels on a flat surface. Slowly and gently lift the glass pane from the pan. (Do not tilt it or the seaweed will run off the edges.) Carefully slide the paper from the glass onto the paper toweling.
- Place 2 or 3 paper towels over the seaweed and lay a heavy book on top. Let the experiment sit overnight. The next day, when you take away the book and paper towels, you will find a beautiful picture.
This Is What Happens:
Seaweed is a collection of living plants that grow in the ocean. The seaweed contains a type of natural glue that helps it to stick to the white paper. After you arranged the seaweed on the paper and the paper towels absorbed the excess water, the plants remained firmly attached to the paper.
