In the wizarding world, piertotum locomotor can bring inanimate objects and artifacts to life – things like statues and armor. In The Deathly Hallows, Professor McGonagall uses it to animate all the armor during the Battle of Hogwarts. 

We are going to animate a figure in our activity using a dry erase marker and water. The ink in a dry erase marker is made of alcohol and pigments. The alcohol is soluble with water, but the solid pigments aren’t. We can use the dry erase marker to draw a figure on a glass surface. If we add water over the ink, the alcohol will mix with the water and the remaining solids from the ink will lift up from the glass. We can then see our figure float and dance around on the water. 

Here is what to do, 

  1. Gather supplies
    1. Dry erase marker
    2. Glass plate
    3. Water
    4. Straw and pipet (optional)
  2. Use the dry erase marker to draw a simple figure on the glass plate
  3. Use the pipet to drip water onto the plate over your figure (or gently pour the water). The water should lift the solid pigments up off the plate, animating your figure.  
  4. Use the straw to blow the figure or gently stir to make it come alive.

Watch here: