2026–27 · Backup lesson · Spring 2027
Test a Wick for Moving Water
Adult extension of: Capillary Action: Water Climbs
Unscheduled alternative · available resource
Observe water rising through a paper strip and compare two possible wick materials under similar conditions. Use the result to investigate a small watering aid while keeping the paper model distinct from the full water-transport system of a plant.
Curriculum skill focus: Plant water movement, visual tracking, cause-and-effect, observation
01 · Learning
Objectives
- Mark and compare a visible wetting front over time.
- Keep strip dimensions and immersion depth consistent.
- Explain one limit of using a paper wick as a model of plant transport.
02 · Preparation
Materials
Paper towel strips and a second safe absorbent material; clear cups; water with optional food coloring for visibility; ruler; clips; timer; tray; labels; dry control strip; plant-stem diagram; no tasting.
03 · Practice
Adult project
- 1
Inspect a dry paper strip and choose a practical question about moving water into a small planter. Predict whether water can rise above the cup’s waterline and select setup, timing, measuring, or observation roles.
- 2
Cut or provide strips with matching length and width, label the materials, and mark equal immersion depths. Keep a dry comparison strip nearby and set cups at the same water level.
- 3
Secure one end of each test strip in the water while the remaining section extends upward. Start timing and mark the starting waterline, ensuring that the strip is not being wetted by a spill or a dropper from above.
- 4
At fixed intervals, record the highest clearly visible wet region or its approximate height. If color spreads unevenly, distinguish the colored boundary from any farther clear wetting and avoid false precision.
- 5
Compare materials at the same elapsed time. Discuss how water interacts with narrow connected spaces and fiber surfaces, then use a stem diagram to explain why a living plant’s water transport involves additional structures and processes.
- 6
Choose whether a wick prototype merits a longer trial with a suitable container. Record checks for moisture, drainage, and overflow before using it with a valued plant, then empty cups and dry the work area.
Evidence & interpretation
What the investigation shows
Capillary movement arises from interactions among water, surfaces, and narrow spaces, including adhesion and cohesion. Water transport through plant xylem also involves transpiration-driven tension and other factors; a paper strip alone does not explain transport through an entire tall plant.
Practical connection
Why this work matters
Wicking helps explain absorbent cloths and some self-watering systems, which still require moisture checks and appropriate design.
Participation by choice
Individual access options
- Use clipped pre-cut strips or direct a partner while choosing the comparison and observation times.
- Observe against a plain background, use enlarged photographs, or receive spoken height readings.
- Choose a dry record-keeping or design role, decline wet textures or dyes, and request a break without needing to handle the sample.
Review & transfer
Reflect on the work
- What evidence shows water rose above the original waterline?
- Why would this paper experiment be an incomplete explanation of how a tall plant moves water?