• three paper towels (damp but not dripping)

• 1 strip wax paper (slightly larger than one piece of paper towel)

• cookie sheet

• 2 paper clips

• warm, sunny day

• Make sure all three paper towels are damp (but not dripping)

• First paper towel- lay it flat on the cookie sheet

• second paper towel- roll it up like a hot dog (use a paper clip to keep it rolled up)

• Third paper towel- place it on top of the wax paper then roll both up together with the wax paper on the outside (use a paper clip to keep it rolled together)

• Place the cookie sheet with all three towels outside in the sun for a few hours

Essential questions:

• What happened to the towels after a few hours? Is there a difference in the way they dried?

• Which one retained (or kept) the MOST water? Why do you think that is?

  • How do you think the paper towel and wax paper might represent a cactus?

Here is a fun craft idea if you're up to it!

• Toilet paper/paper towel rolls or rolled up construction paper

  • can you tell about how many you might need?

  • are they all the same size?

• green and white paint (if using paper towel rolls)

• scissors

• CHALLENGE: How could you add protective "thorns" to your cactus?