Colorful Candy Science Experiments

Candy science is a fantastic way to demonstrate scientific principles using something kids love, candy! With these simple Colorful Candy Science Experiments, the biggest challenge is not eating all of your science supplies. These easy science projects are perfect for preschool, pre-k, kindergarten, first grade, 2nd grade, 3rd grade, 4th grade, 5th grade, and 6th grade students.

Candy Science

With Halloween coming there is a lot of extra candy around and if you are like me, you want to find ways to use up some of that candy without adding to your waistline. Thankfully, candy science is a fantastic way to explore science principles. Not only are these candy science experiments fun, but these hands-on simple science projects smell amazing, but the results are often beautiful and colorful! These science experiments using candy are perfect for preschoolers, kindergartners, grade 1, grade 2, grade 3, grade 4, grade 5, and grade 6 students.

For this set of candy science activities we wanted to explore what happens to different candies in water. The results were stunning rainbows that elicited lots of exclamations and wows from the kids! You will use lollipops, skittles, M and M’s, and other hard candy!

Candy Science Experiments

To do this Colorful Candy Science activity you will need the following materials. Chances are you have most of these supplies already in your home:

• A white shallow bowl or dish (or a clear one on a white cloth works, we want to be able to really see what is happening).
• Skittles
• M&Ms
• Lollipops
• Warm water

Candy experiments

For our first test we decided to see what Skittles would do in the warm water. After some testing we discovered that it was best to have the Skittles on the plate, then add water to get the most beautiful designs and separation of colors.

Simple Science Experiments

Next we wanted to see if other candies would do the same thing, so we tested it in the same way, but using lollipops. The colors were not as intense but they behaved in the same way, with beautiful patterns emerging.

Next up we tested another favorite candy of ours, M&Ms. Again the colors behaved in the same way.

Skittle experiment

The science behind why the colors do not mix is known as water stratification. Each color creates a water solution that has slightly different properties such as density, salinity, and oxygenation. This creates a barrier that prevents the water from mixing and is why salt water and fresh water do not mix.

Candy Science Race

Next up we decided it was time for a Candy Science race! We wanted to see which would dissolve faster, the Skittles or the M&Ms.

We lined up our candies on opposite sides of our dish, then carefully added our warm water. Instantly, we saw a difference. The Skittles were much brighter.

Science experiments with candy

Then after about a minute we had a clear winner. The Skittles created brighter colors and reached the middle of the dish faster.

Candy science projects

After all of this Candy Science we were inspired to create another experiment using dissolved lollipops. They smelled so good, we had to keep experimenting!

Food science experiments for kids

Use items commonly in your kitchen to try these food experiments for kids, but note they are NOT all edible!

• Plastic Milk Experiment with free worksheet
• Exploding Watermelon EPIC project to learn about potential energy
• Kids will be so impressed with this super cool Lemon Volcano
• Kool Aid Rock Candy  science experiment you can EAT!
• Learn about the 5 sense for kids with lots of projects including an edible skin model
• This colorful oil and water experiment is super simple, but so FUN
• Volcano Watermelon Experiment – Summer Activity for Preschoolers
• Use jelly beans for this hands-on STEM Easter activity for kids
• Learn how to make frost in a can
• Discover the Archimedes bath tub concept using candy with this simple water displacement experiment
• Try the classic bouncy egg experiment with a twist
• Learn about types of rocks with edible rocks

• Learn about density with this Rainbow in a Jar
• Use chemistry to inflate these balloons with with Pop Rocks Experiment
• This silly dancing raisins experiment always makes kids giggle!
• Kids will love this jelly bean taste test experiment
• Use celery for a hands-on pollution experiment for kids
• This Egg Drop Project STEAM activity is all about protecting the egg
• Magic Milk 4th of July Science
• Make an edible Jello Cell Model
• Use eggs to try these air pressure experiments for kids
• You can’t eat them, but these magic melting snowballs experiment is loads of fun!
• Make your own Peep Experiment
• Try making butter science experiment for science you can EAT
• Whip up a fizzy lemonade science experiment for another fun science project you can taste
• You’ve got to try this pretty, colorful candy skittles experiments
• Or check out over 100 Food Science Experiments

 

Science for Kids

Looking for lots more fun, science experiments for kids? You’ve GOT to try some of these outrageously fun science experiments for kids! We have so many fun, creative and easy science experiments for elementary age children:

• 100 Amazing Food science experiments for kids – arranged by type of science
• Spinning Tree Dance Science Fair Projects
• Colorful Capillary action science experiment (also known as walking water)
• Amaze kids with these 12 Hands on Science experiments with batteries
• 24 Epic Solar system science projects to try this week
• Fun Water balloon science experiment that explores density
• Easy Ping Pong Ball Bernoulli’s experiment
• 50 Fun Preschool science experiments the whole family will want to try
• Simple Galaxy science project
• Easy and Fun Dancing Raisins Experiment
• Learn about weather as you find how to make a weather vane
• Eye opening Eye science experiments
• Easy-to- make Air pressure science project
• Amazing POP rocks science experiment is one of our all-time favorite science experiments we like to do during the summer are
• Stunning Chromatography Flowers are so pretty you’ll forget it was as science project!
• How to Make a Lava Lamp – super easy and SO cool!
• 30 Simple machines science projects kids will want to try
• Easy, fascinating, and colorful project answering Why do Leaves Change Color Experiment

   

• Free Printable Animal Classifications for Kids Cootie Catchers
• 19 Edible science experiments – which delicious project will you try first?
• HUGE Free Solar System Unit (coloring pages, hands on science projects, worksheets, and more!)
• Pipe Cleaner Constellation Activity (As seen on Good Housekeeping!)
• Teach kids about conductivity with this fun squishy circuits projects
• Amazing, Heat Sensitive,  Color Changing Slime
• Life Cycles for Kids (from penguin to sunflower and spider to turkey we have LOTS of life cycles to explore and learn about)
• EASY, Colorful Oil and Water Science Experiment
• Kids will be amazed as you change colors of white flowers with this Dying Flowers Science Experiment
• This super cool Lego Zipline is fun and simple to make
• Human Body Project
• Check out this super cool look INSIDE a Volcano Project
• Exploding Watermelon – science experiment that explores potential and kinetic energy with a big WOW moment!
• Memorable Life Size Skeletal system science project – includes free printable template
• Lego Electricity Science Experiments
• Find LOTS more Easy Science Experiments for kids of all ages!