Sweet Science

What Matters For Kids® Lesson Sweet Science

Candy Discoveries

Supplies needed for today’s experiments:

● One 9-12 oz clear cup - short and wide mouth is best ● 3 skittles per student - 3 different colors is best ○ m&ms work just as well ● Water to fill cup 2/3 full ● Coffee filter or 1/4 sheet of paper towel - either works ○ you could try both and see what the results are! ● 1 black jelly bean ○ an alternative is a brown m&m or any other black or brown shell candy, closest to black is best. Again, try a few different ones to discover what works best! ● A plate - white would be best to be able to see color change, but any light color will do ● A large flat plate, tray or platter ● 3 different kinds of candy or more if you’d like - have a variety of sour and sweet ● 3 or more small bowls or cups, one for each of the different types of candy you chose ● Water to cover the candy in the bowls or cups ● A spoon to scoop out the liquid from each candy bowl - must either be rinsed off between candies, or use a different spoon for each candy ● Baking soda - about 1 tsp per candy

Preparation at least 15 min before the class:

○ In individual cups or bowls, crush any of the candy that can be crushed, break up the rest as best you can. ○ Fill the cup to just cover the candy to keep it as concentrated as possible

Here are some extension activities that you and your child can do to continue your exploration from today’s lesson:

Experiment: Density Rainbow Supplies: ● Skittles in the following colors O R s ugar and food coloring to make a rainbow in place of Skittles ○ 5 red Skittles ○ 1tsp sugar + red food coloring ○ 10 orange Skittles ○ 2tsp sugar + orange food coloring ○ 15 yellow Skittles ○ 3tsp sugar + yellow food coloring ○ 20 green Skittles ○ 4tsp sugar + green food coloring ○ 25 purple Skittles ○ 5tsp sugar + blue food coloring ○ 6tsp sugar + purple food coloring

● A bowl or cup for each color of Skittles or colored sugar water ● 3 tbsp of warm water for each bowl or cup ● Clear straw

Experiment: 1. Put the Skittles separated by color into each bowl or cup; or add the sugar with the food coloring if you are using that instead. 2. Add the 3 Tbsp of warm water to allow the color to dissolve off of the Skittles. a. If the candy is not dissolving, stir quickly. (The waxy film floating on the surface can be removed or ignored; it won't affect the experiment.) 3. Put the straw down into the red about 1/8 of an inch then hold your thumb on the top of the straw to hold the water in there. Don’t take your thumb off. 4. Pull the straw out of the red, still holding your thumb on the top so no water escapes, now move to the orange and put the straw in a little lower than the red that is already in the straw, then remove your thumb and put it back on really fast. 5. Next, move your straw to the yellow and put it a little lower than the orange and do the same process taking your thumb off and on really quick. 6. Don’t move your thumb until you are in the next color and the straw is a little lower than the last color. Do the same process with your thumb off then on again quickly. 7. Continue through all of the colors, least dense to most. 8. Lift up your straw, what do you see?

What is happening? Since the red water with less candy/less sugar is less dense, it floats on top of the denser layers below it like oil on water. Unlike oil and water however, the sugar water layers will eventually mix together, muddying the color. Admire it while it lasts!

Try it backwards starting with the purple, do you think it would work? Why or Why not?