Paper Flower Blooms in Water

Petals slowly unfold. Ask students to predict what will happen. Place folded flower on water. Key idea: Water enters paper fibers, causing them to swell and relax folds. Ask: What is the water doing inside the paper? Safety and cleanup: Shallow tray only. https://www.google.com/search?q=%22Paper+Flower+Blooms+in+Water%22+science+demonstration+experiment