Secret-Message
1 Minute
Secret message on paper for kids: learn how to write hidden notes using wet and dry paper and reveal them in water. An English science activity.
- Soaking paper in water and placing a dry sheet over it
- Writing a message with pencil on the dry paper to make an imprint
- Letting the wet paper dry and soaking it in water to reveal text
What this lesson teaches
A secret message on paper can be created by transferring pencil pressure through a dry sheet onto a wet sheet underneath. The message disappears when the sheet dries and reappears when it is placed back in water.
What you need
- Two sheets of paper, one smaller and one larger
- A bowl of water
- A pencil
- A smooth glossy surface such as a notebook cover
Steps
- Soak the small rectangular paper thoroughly in a bowl of water.
- Lay the wet paper flat across a smooth glossy surface.
- Place the larger dry sheet of paper directly over the wet paper.
- Write a message on the dry sheet using a pencil.
- Remove the dry top sheet and let the wet paper dry completely.
What happens
Writing with a pencil leaves a faint imprint on the wet sheet beneath the dry paper. As the wet sheet dries completely, this impression becomes invisible and leaves a plain white surface. Submerging the dry sheet in water again makes the hidden writing reappear clearly.