Today's Science Activity to Celebrate the Fall Equinox
September 22, 2026
Good afternoon,
Today, in Science, we rang in the fall equinox with a fun sun-printing, leaf color changing activity! We used turmeric + isopropyl alcohol to make a photosensitive ink that we then used to make our prints. Once the ink was "cured" in the sun, we dipped it in a baking soda + water bath. Here are some of the results:
This is one of my favorite experiments of the year because it is so simple and can be recreated in so many fun ways! You can print with cut paper, leaves, flowers, lace, etc.!
If you'd like to recreate this at home, here is how to do it:
Turmeric Anthotype Sun Printing
Materials
Turmeric
Isopropyl Alcohol (NOT rubbing alcohol)
Borax or Baking Soda
Coffee Filter
Water
Paintbrush
Thicker paper (like a notecard, cardstock, or watercolor paper)
Something to cover your workspace (like cardboard or newspaper)
Something that casts a shadow. We used leaves and flowers in class but you can also cut shapes out of paper, use things like lace, etc.
A piece of glass- you just need something clear to hold it down while it is in the sun
Procedure
**TURMERIC STAINS!!! Please make sure you are not wearing clothes that cannot get dirty & you are not using materials that you don't want to be yellow forever!!**
Collect various objects that you would like to print. (You can use leaves & flowers, but you can also use things like doilies or lace, etc.)
Place a coffee filter over a disposable plastic cup & add about 5 TBSP of turmeric.
Pour 1/4 C. isopropyl alcohol over the turmeric and the coffee filter so the alcohol/turmeric mix drips into the cup.
Move the coffee filter & dip paintbrush into the ink
Paint a thin layer of the turmeric ink over your paper (MAKE SURE YOU ARE WORKING IN A DARK SPACE-- this ink is photosensitive, which means it will start bleaching if you are in the light.
Place your objects that you want printed in whatever design or pattern you'd like, cover with a piece of glass so it stays in place, & move it to a sunny spot outside
While you are waiting, create a mix of borax (about 5 TBSP) and water (about 4 cups) in a container that will fit your paper.
Wait for 1-2 hours so your design can be imprinted into the ink.
When your print is done, grab your paper, remove the materials on top and dip the whole paper in the borax solution to watch the magic happen!
Let the paper dry completely indoors/ not in direct sunlight.
If you have any questions about this please let me know!
