It’s day 1 of our #5daySTEAMchallenge inspired by the summer games! For our first challenge, we are investigating the Olympic rings.

Do you know why there are five rings?

Do you know why the colors blue, yellow, black, green and red were chosen?

Let’s find out…

The Olympic rings symbol was designed by originally designed in 1912 by Baron Pierre de Coubertin who helped co-founded the modern games and is known as the “Father of the modern Olympics”.

The five rings represent the five continents (Africa, America, Asia, Australia and Europe).  The five colors represent every country participating in the games.

Now that we know more about the Olympic rings let’s set up a science activity inspired by the colors of the rings.

STEAM Challenge: Can you use absorption to mix colors inspired by the Olympic rings?

Materials: Paper towel strips,  Five Small Bowls, Water, Food Coloring (Red, Yellow, Blue, Green, and Black)

Fill each bowl with water. Add a couple of drops of food coloring of one color into each bowl and stir.

Connect each bowl of color with a paper towel strip. We placed a paper towel where the colors intersect in the Olympic rings. 

Ask your child to predict what they think will happen?

Observe what happens to the colors and the paper towel strips. What happens when the two colors meet together?

Once the paper strip is filled with color take it out to dry.

Compare and contrast different types of paper towels or even toilet paper. Which is more absorbent?

Activity Extension: Use your leftover colored water to paint your own Olympic ring work of art.

For more Olympic Ring inspired STEAM challenges check out our Loose Parts Challenge