Experiment:

Sand Column
Does water go uphill? Here's an experiment that you can do with a clear plastic drinking straw filled with beach (or washed) sand.

1) make a support for the sand-filled straw from a paper cup by cutting off the top three-fourths of the cup, but leaving one tall section to which the straw can be taped.
2) tape the cup to the table so that it does not tip when the sand is poured into the straw
3) make a tape loop and use it to attach the straw to the tall remnant of the cup
4) make a narrow paper funnel for pouring the sand into the straw
5) fill straw with sand
6) introduce drops of water one at a time at the base of the straw
7) observe the travel of the water (allowing time between drops)