Hooked on Science: Straw worm

Is there a worm in your straw? Using a few materials from around the house you can turn your straw wrapper into a worm.

Materials

* Straw with paper wrapper

* Water

Instructions

STEP 1: Using your fingers, completely scrunch the wrapper to the end of the straw.

STEP 2: Remove the scrunched up wrapper and place it on a flat surface.

STEP 3: Using the straw and your finger, slowly add a few drops of water to the scrunched up wrapper and observe.

Explanation

Each time you added a drop of water, the paper absorbed the water, causing the scrunched up wrapper to look like it was moving on the flat surface.

Jason Lindsey is a science outreach educator with Hooked on Science. Check out his website www.hookedonscience.org for webcasts and experiments that might get you hooked on science.