Your house is stocked with Easter Candy. What are you going to do with all of it? A Science Ingenuity Challenge of course! This challenge asks: I wonder what happens when color coated candy gets wet? Do different types of candies react to water differently?
The Candy Color Ingenuity Challenge is a simple experiment. Kids of all ages love to watch what happens when color coated candy gets wet. For this experiment all you need is a flat bottom plate with a rim, different types of color coated candy such as M&M’s jellybeans, and Skittles, and water – all things you have around the house! This experiment is so fun to watch, your kids will want to try it several times.
Find a spot to set-up the experiment where the plate won’t get bumped. Moving the plate during the experiment will alter the results. Have your child place one type of candy all the way around the rim of the plate. The candies should be close together.
Very gently and slowly pour water into the edge of the plate. Pour slowly enough that the candies don’t move. Pour just enough water onto the plate to cover the bottom of the plate – but not too much. The water should cover the bottom of the candies, but the candies shouldn’t float.
Observe what happens. What do you see? Is there a change to the color coating of the candy? Is there a part of the candy that is not changing? Why?
Try the experiment again, this time with a different type of candy or try arranging the colors of the candy in a pattern. What happens? I wonder if the results will be the same or different? I wonder what would happen if I used a bigger plate and made two rings of candies? Easter colored M&M’s are covered in muted pastel colors not bright primary colors. I wonder what will happen to those colors when the candies get wet?
You could also change two other variables and see what happens. I wonder what would happen if I tried this with a candy that is not candy coated? I wonder what would happen if I used different water temperatures? Are the results the same? Try again with hot and cold water.
This simple experiment is easy and addicting. Be ready to do it over and over!
Post pictures or videos of your experiment on your social media with #IAmIngenious. Tag Ignite so we can repost your photos and videos!
I can’t wait to find out what you learn form this challenge!
Beth
Comments