Hydrophilic and Hydrophobic Substances and a Mixed Media Art Project

Engage students with a demo or video that shows "surprising" polar/ nonpolar differences–use Scotchgard on cloth or paper towel to create a pattern then dip into a colored solution. From a limited supply of art supplies, students discover the different water-soluble characteristics of nonpolar substances–oil pastels and crayons"”and with water-soluble substances"”markers, watercolors, acrylic paints, tempera. Students must then play with and discover new media to incorporate into their final "art" piece. By journaling, their discoveries and working with different methodologies and materials students develop a sense of the process of engineering a new system. Students display their art and comment on the hydrophilic and hydrophobic & polar and nonpolar nature of their new media.