38 Fun candy science experiments for middle school

by | Oct 26, 2023 | Science

Integrating candy science experiments isn’t just a treat for the taste buds—it’s a powerful tool that transforms the learning experience for both students and teachers.

The combination of education and confectionery brings science to life in a way that captivates the imagination, fostering a love for discovery and exploration. In this blog post, we’ll delve into the many reasons why using candy science experiments is more than just a sugar-coated indulgence—it’s a pedagogical strategy that engages students, makes complex concepts tangible, and offers educators a dynamic and enjoyable way to impart knowledge.

So, let’s unwrap the secrets behind the sweet science of learning with 38 Fun candy science experiments for middle school!

candy science experiments for middle school

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Reasons to use candy science experiments

Using candy science experiments to teach scientific concepts can be an engaging and effective way to capture students’ attention and make learning more enjoyable. Here are several reasons why incorporating candy into science lessons can be beneficial:

1. Tactile Learning: Handling and manipulating candy can provide a hands-on, tactile experience for students. This kinesthetic approach can enhance learning by engaging multiple senses and reinforcing scientific concepts through physical interaction.

2. Visual Representation: Candy can serve as a visual representation of abstract scientific concepts. For example, using different colored candies to represent different elements in a chemical reaction or molecular structure can make these concepts more tangible and easier to understand.

3. Motivation and Engagement: The novelty of using candy as a teaching tool can spark students’ interest and motivation. It adds an element of fun to the learning process, making students more likely to actively participate in class activities and discussions.

4. Real-world Application: Many scientific principles can be illustrated using examples from the real world, and candy provides a familiar context that students can relate to. Exploring concepts like density, solubility, and chemical reactions using candies makes the science more relatable and applicable to everyday life.

5. Demonstrating Processes: Candy can be used to simulate and demonstrate various scientific processes and can help make complex topics more accessible.

6. Group Collaboration: Candy-based activities often lend themselves well to group work. Students can collaborate on experiments, share ideas, and problem-solve together. This fosters teamwork and communication skills, which are valuable in both science and everyday life.

7. Memory Enhancement: Associating scientific concepts with the enjoyment of eating candy can create positive memories and associations. This can contribute to better retention of information as students may remember the lesson more vividly.

8. Incorporating Creativity: Candy provides a creative medium for students to express their understanding of scientific concepts.

9. Sensory Experience for Special Needs Students: For students with sensory processing issues or special needs, using candy science experiments can create a more inclusive learning environment. The various textures, colors, and tastes can cater to different sensory preferences.

Important note: While doing candy science experiments can be effective, it’s essential to ensure that it aligns with educational goals, dietary considerations, and any relevant policies or guidelines in the learning environment. Always remember to conduct a risk assessment for all class activities and experiments.

40 fun candy science experiments

40 Fun candy science experiments

 

Cool candy science experiments:

CHEMISTRY (middle & high school)

 

1. Candy Molecule Models:

  • Objective: Model molecular structures using different candies.

  • Procedure: Use candies to represent atoms and build simple molecular models.

  • Candy suggestions: mini marshmallows, different colored jelly-type lollies

 

2. Candy Chromatography:

  • Objective: Separate colors in candy coatings using chromatography.

  • Procedure: Dissolve candy coatings in water and observe the separation of colors on filter paper.

  • Candy suggestions: jelly beans (the black ones work especially well)

 

3. Candy pH Scale:

  • Objective: Test the pH of different candies using pH paper.

  • Procedure: Dip pH paper into candy solutions and match the colors to the pH scale.

  • Candy suggestions: peppermints, skittles,  popping candy

 

4. Candy Solubility:

  • Objective: Investigate solubility by dissolving different candies in water or different liquids.

  • Procedure: Test the solubility of various candies and observe dissolving rates.

  • Candy suggestions: peppermints, skittles, jelly beans, pop rocks

 

5. Candy Conservation of Mass:

  • Objective: Explore the conservation of mass by observing candy dissolving.

  • Procedure: Weigh candies before and after dissolving to demonstrate mass conservation.

  • Candy suggestions: peppermints, skittles, sugar molecules

 

6. Modelling Le Chatelier’s Principle

  • Objective: Model how a reaction reaches equilibrium

  • Procedure: Use m&ms to model reactants and products as they reach equilibrium

  • Candy suggestions: m&ms, skittles

 

7. Modelling Le Chatelier’s Principle

  • Objective: Model how an equilibrium is disturbed

  • Procedure: Use m&ms to model reactants and products after a disturbance as they re-reach equilibrium

  • Candy suggestions: m&ms, skittles

 

8. Atomic Structure:

  • Objective: Model atomic structure

  • Procedure: Assign different colored lollies to represent protons, neutrons, and electrons. Students model atoms of various elements

  • Candy suggestions: m&ms, skittles

 

9. Electron Configuration:

  • Objective: Model electron configuration

  • Procedure: Assign different colored lollies to represent protons, neutrons, and electrons. Students model atoms of various elements and arrange electrons into the electron shells.

  • Candy suggestions: m&ms, skittles

 

10. Molecular Bonding:

  • Objective: Model covalent bonding

  • Procedure: Use candies and toothpicks to model how atoms form single, double and triple covalent bonds.

  • Candy suggestions: jelly candies, mini marshmallows

 

40 fun candy science experiments

Candy science experiments: PHYSICS

11. Density of Candy:

  • Objective: Explore density by comparing the sinking and floating of different candies.

  • Procedure: Drop various candies into water and observe which ones sink or float.

  • Candy suggestions:

 

12. Calculating density:

  • Objective: Calculate density of various candies.

  • Procedure: Weigh candy and place in water to measure displacement and determine volume.

  • Candy suggestions: variety of candy that fits in a measuring cylinder e.g. jelly beans, jelly candies

 

13. Candy Bar Math:

  • Objective: Practice math skills by measuring and calculating with candy bars.

  • Procedure: Use candy bars to teach concepts like fractions, decimals, and percentages by practicing cutting it up.

  • Candy suggestions: family block of chocolate, or any individual candy bar

 

14. Candy Air Pressure:

  • Objective: Demonstrate air pressure using candies and a vacuum pump.

  • Procedure: Use a vacuum pump to observe how candies expand in a low-pressure environment.

  • Candy suggestions: marshmallows, gummy bears

 

15. Candy Heat Transfer:

  • Objective: Investigate heat transfer by melting candies with various heat sources.

  • Procedure: Melt candies using methods such as microwaving or hot water baths.

  • Candy suggestions: chocolate, starburst,

 

16. Candy Sound Waves:

  • Objective: Visualize sound waves using vibrating candies on a speaker.

  • Procedure: Place candies on a speaker and observe the patterns created by sound vibrations.

  • Candy suggestions: sprinkles

 

17. Conduction

  • Objective: Investigate heat transfer by conduction

  • Procedure: Melt chocolate and use it to stick candies at various intervals along a metal rod. Leave to set. Heat from one end using a Bunsen burner and observe the candies fall off in order of distance from the flame. Time each one and graph.

  • Candy suggestions: melted chocolate, candy raspberries or gummy bears.

 

18. Energy Transfer:

  • Objective: Observe the transfer of kinetic energy.

  • Procedure: Position lollies in a row, and roll a marble towards them. Observe how the energy transfers from the marble to the lollies, demonstrating the concept of energy conservation.

  • Candy suggestions: gumballs, gobstoppers,

 

19. Candy Heat Insulation:

  • Objective: Understand heat insulation by comparing how different candies melt in the sun.

  • Procedure: Place candies of various types in the sun and observe melting rates.

  • Candy suggestions: chocolate buds,

 

20. Candy Friction:

  • Objective: Investigate friction using candies on different surfaces.

  • Procedure: Slide candies on various surfaces and observe friction effects.

  • Candy suggestions: variety pack

 

40 fun candy science experiments

fossilization with chocolate

Simple candy science experiments:

EARTH SCIENCE

Some of my favorite candy science experiments are in Earth Science. Due to the nature of the subject, there often aren’t as many experiments or hands-on learning opportunities in comparison with physics and chemistry. However, using candy is a great way to model various concepts and geology information.

21. Earthquake impacts:

  • Objective: Explore engineering concepts by building structures using candy bars.

  • Procedure: Use marshmallows and spaghetti to create stable structures. Test these structures further to model the impact earthquakes have on building structures.

  • Candy suggestion: marshmallows

 

22. Candy Rock Formation:

  • Objective: Simulate the rock cycle using heat and pressure on candy.

  • Procedure: Heat and reshape candies to represent the stages of the rock cycle.

  • Candy suggestions: starburst squares

 

23. Candy Rock Types:

  • Objective: Compare the different types of rocks (sedimentary, igneous and metamorphic)

  • Procedure: Find a type of chocolate or candy to represent each rock type and explain the features of the candy and it’s similarities to that rock type

  • Candy suggestions: sedimentary rock: Kit Kat (has layers), igneous rock: cadbury bubbly or aero (air bubbles), metamorphic rock: marvellous creations (mixture)

 

24. Make conglomerate:

  • Objective: To model the formation of conglomerate sedimentary rock and small and large clasts.

  • Procedure: Combine all the candies together and ‘cement’ with melted chocolate.

  • Candy suggestions: rice bubbles, maltesers, marshmallows, sprinkles, coconut, tiny teddies, melted chocolate,

 

25. Candy Superposition:

  • Objective: Explore geological layers by creating edible rock layers with candies.

  • Procedure: Create layers of jelly and put different candies in each layer to represent different types of  fossils.

  • Candy suggestions: jelly, choc chips, sprinkles, hard candies,

 

26. Modelling fossilisation

  • Objective: Model the fossilisation process

  • Procedure: Use melted chocolate and candy dinosaurs to model the fossilisation process.

  • Candy suggestions: milk chocolate, white chocolate, jelly dinosaurs

 

27. Modelling half-life

  • Objective: Model and graph the half-life of carbon-14

  • Procedure: Put candies in a container, shake and tip out, remove those face up. Repeat until only 2 left.

  • Candy suggestions: m&ms, skittles

 

Easy candy science experiments: BIOLOGY

 

  1. Classification
  • Objective: Create a dichotomous key to classify different lollies
  • Procedure: Provide a variety of candies and have students design a dichotomous key to classify them
  • Candy suggestions: any variety with enough similarities and differences to classify

 

  1. DNA Structure:
  • Objective: Model the structure of DNA
  • Procedure: Use toothpicks, long licorice and 4 different colors of mini marshmallows or jelly lollies (to represent ATCG) to model the structure of DNA.
  • Candy suggestions: licorice, mini marshmallows 

 

  1. Cell Division:
  • Objective: Use candy to represent chromosomes during mitosis.
  • Procedure: use lollies to represent the chromosomes and how they replicate in mitosis
  • Candy suggestions: musk sticks, licorice, nerd ropes,

 

  1. Food webs:
  • Objective: Model a food web using candy to represent different organisms.
  • Procedure: Use multiple types of candies to represent organisms and toothpicks to show the food chains in the food web. Students also practise creating a key.
  • Candy suggestions: variety pack

 

  1. Neurons:
  • Objective: Model a neuron 
  • Procedure: Build a model of a neuron using licorice as the axon, gummy bears as neurotransmitters, and different-colored candies as ions. Illustrate how signals are transmitted along the neuron.
  • Candy suggestions: licorice, gummy bears and nerds

40 fun candy science experiments

 

Candy science experiments: SPACE SCIENCE

 

  1. Edible Solar System:
  • Objective: Model the solar system and relative sizes of the planets
  • Procedure: Use differently-sized candies to represent the planets in our solar system. Arrange them in the correct order and distances from the “Sun” (represented by a larger candy).
  • Candy suggestions: variety of sizes of spherical candy such as gumballs, gobstoppers, skittles,

 

  1. Phases of the Moon:
  • Objective: Represent the phases of the moon
  • Procedure: Use Oreo cookies to represent the phases of the Moon. Demonstrate how the position of the “sun” (a light source) affects the appearance of the Moon’s surface, allowing students to understand lunar phases.
  • Candy suggestions: Oreo biscuits

 

  1. Meteor Impact Craters:
    • Objective: observe the impact meteors have on the surface of the earth
    • Procedure: Drop various sizes of candies onto a bed of flour to simulate the impact of meteors on planetary surfaces. Observe and discuss the resulting “craters” and how impact craters provide insights into the history of celestial bodies.
    • Candy suggestions: variety of sizes and shapes of candy such as gumballs, gobstoppers, skittles, nerds, 

    1. Constellation Creation:
      • Objective: Model constellations
      • Procedure: Use toothpicks and small, soft candies to create edible constellations on a flat surface. Discuss the mythology behind constellations and demonstrate how stars form recognizable patterns in the night sky.
      • Candy suggestions: mini marshmallows

      1. Solar Eclipse Simulation:
      • Objective: simulate the occurrence of a solar eclipse
      • Procedure: Use candies to represent the Sun, Earth, and Moon. Create a solar eclipse simulation by positioning the Moon (a smaller candy) between the Earth and the Sun, illustrating how shadows cast by celestial bodies result in solar eclipses.

       

      1. Star Life Cycle:
      • Objective: model different phases in the life cycle of a star
      • Procedure: Use different types of candies to represent the life stages of a star. Discuss how stars form, go through various phases, and end their life cycles. Relate the sizes and colors of candies to the characteristics of stars.
      • Candy suggestions: variety

      40 fun candy science experiments

      Conclusion

      Using candy science experiments can engage and excite students in a way nothing else can! It only seems right that we use that to our advantage to make learning in science fun!

      Students will have a great time experimenting with the candy, making it a memorable learning experience for them. A lot of the ideas above would also make great science projects for younger kids for further investigation. 

       

      Please comment with your favorite ways to incorporate candy science experiments below!

       

      Note: Always consult your school’s specific safety guidelines and policies, and seek guidance from experienced colleagues or administrators when in doubt about safety protocols. 40 fun candy science experiments

       

      About the Author

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      Katrina Harte is a multi-award winning educator from Sydney, Australia who specialises in creating resources that support teachers and engage students.
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