This week, creativity and curiosity collided in the most beautiful way as the children explored the fascinating process of making Marbled Card with Stephanie from Heritage in Schools. During this lesson science met art—and the results were both stunning and educational!
Paper marbling is an ancient art form with roots stretching back to 10th-century Japan, where artists developed a technique known as suminagashi, or “floating ink.” While our young artists didn’t quite travel back in time, they did tap into this rich history using some delightfully modern tools: shaving cream and water-based paint.
But what made this activity extra special was the science behind the magic.
Shaving cream, it turns out, is more than just fun foam—it’s a surfactant. That means each of its molecules has a hydrophilic (water-loving) end and a hydrophobic (water-repelling) end. When the children added drops of paint onto the shaving cream surface, the paint didn’t soak in. Instead, it sat beautifully on top, interacting only with the hydrophilic parts of the molecules.
Once their colorful designs were ready, the children pressed pieces of card gently onto the surface. In a flash, the paint transferred from the foam to the card, capturing the beautiful, swirling, marbled pattern.
It was a perfect blend of scientific exploration and artistic expression—and the children were fascinated. From experimenting with color combinations to understanding the science behind surface tension and molecular behavior, this hands-on activity proved that learning really can be beautiful.
