Halloween Candy Science: 

Dancing Raisins 

Floating Letters

Sink or Float Experiment 

Magic Pumpkin Science 

Candy Corn Science Experiments 

Pumpkin Catapults 

Candy Wrapper Crafts 

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Dancing Raisins:

Supplies:

  • Raisins (Seperate them if they are stuck together)
  • Clear Pop (i.e. Club, Sprite, 7-Up etc.)
  • Tall clear empty glass 

Instructions: 

  1. Fill the glass 3/4 of the way full with clear pop
  2. Drop 2-3 raisins into the glass. * Question(s) to keep in mind: What do you see? Are the raisins sinking or floating? 
  3. Wait and watch the glass. As you observe, you'll notice that bubbles will form on the raisins. The bubbles cause the raisins to slowly rise to the top of the glass. When the bubbles reach the surface the bubbles will pop releasing the rasin allowing them to return to the bottom of the glass. 
  4. The raisins will continue 'dance' until the pop goes flat. *Pop goes flat when all of the carbon dioxide has escaped. 

The Science Behind It: 

Density: 

When the raisins were initally dropped into the pop they sank to the bottom of the glass. Objects that sink are denser than the liquid they are in. The raisins are denser than the pop we placed them in. Objects that are less dense than the liquid they are placed in will float because the liquid is denser than the object. 

Carbon Dioxide Bubbles and Buoyancy:

Pop is a carbonated drink. Carbonated drinks get their carbonation from the carbon dioxide bubbles in the liquids. The carbon dioxide bubbles will attach themselves to the raisins increasing the raisins buoyancy. Once the carbon dioxide bubbles reach the surface the bubbles will pop releasing carbon dioxide into the air. After the bubbles have popped the raisins lose their buoyancy and return to the bottom of the glass.  The up and down movement of the raisins will continue until the pop goes flat (All of the carbon dioxide has escaped from the pop) 

Change it up:

Option 1: Change what 'dances" - instead of using raisins with a rough surface, try using blueberries or grapes to see if a smooth surface has any effect of the 'dancing'

Option 2: Change the liquid - instead of using clear carbonated pop, try dissolving 2tsp of Baking Soda into 1/2 cup of water. Add 6-7 raisins and then slowly pour 1tbs of vinegar into the baking soda and water mixture. Sit back and watch the raisns 'dance'. *Completeing the experiment this way could create a mess. One way to make clean up easier is by placing the cup with the baking soda and water solution into a pan or bowl before adding the tablespoon of vinegar. 

Sources: Cool Science Experiments Headquarters, Fun Learning for Kids & University of Nebraska Extension Saunders County  

Floating Letters: 

Supplies:

  • M&M or Skittles Candies 
  • Several small plastic or glass bowls 
  • Very Warm Water
  • Several Spoons 

Instructions: 

  1. Place one(1) M&M or Skittle of each color in individual containers
  2. Slowly pour water into each container to cover the M&M or Skittle
  3. Watch the colors dissolve *Question(s) to keep in mind: Which color dissolved first? Which color dissolved last? 
  4. After the candies have sat in water for a while, there will be a translucent shell and the letter 'm' or 's' will float to the surface of the water

The Science Behind It: 

The colored dyes of the M&Ms and Skittles are water soluble. Water Soluble - dissolve in water. The hard shell and edible paper 'm' or 's' are not water soluble. As the water soluble dyes dissolve the non water soluble shell and edible paper are left and seperate from the candy. The seperation from the candy allows for the floating 'm' or 's'. 

Sources: Floating Letters, Little Bins Little Hnads, & University of Nebraska Extension Saunders County 

Sink or Float Candy Experiment:

Supplies:

  • Candy - various pieces and the amount of your choosing 
  • Containers - enough for each piece of candy 
  • Water - enought to fill each container 1/2 way full 

Instructions: 

  1. Complete the table below with the candy selections and preditions of each candy. A free printable version can be found here. 
  2. Unwrap the candy 
  3. Place the candy one at a time into the container with water *Question(s) to keep in mind: What happened? Record your observations. 
  4. Remove the candy from the water. 
  5. Repeat steps 1-4 in a new container or rinsing out the orginial container using new water. 
Candy 

Prediction
Sink or Float

 Result
     
     
     
     
     
     

 

The Science Behind It: 

Objects that are densier than water (ex: sugar) will sink, while objects that are less dense than water will float. Density = mass of an object / by volume. Mass = how heavy and object is. Volume = the amount of space an object takes up. 

Sources: Reading Confetti & University of Nebraska Extension Saunders County 

Magic Pumpkin Science:

Supplies: 

  • Reese's Pieces 
  • Hot Water 
  • White Plate (Glass or Plastic) 

Instructions:

  1. Arrange the Reese's Pieces in the shape of a pumpkin on the plate
  2. Slowly pour enough hot water to cover the bottom from the outside edge of the pumpkin
  3. Watch the magic unfold!

The Science Behind It: 

The shells of the Reese's Pieces are made with food coloring and sugar. The hot water dissolves the sugar when the candies come into contact with hot water. As the sugar dissolves the colors will spread across the plate coloring in the pumpkin. 

Sources: Play Dough to Playto & University of Nebraska Extension Saunders County 

Candy Corn Experiments: 

Supplies:

  • Bag of Candy Corn 
  • 3 Jars/Glasses 
  • Warm Water
  • Microwave 
  • Freezer 
  • Lab Printable 

Instructions for 3 Different Candy Corn Experiments: 

Candy Corn and Water:

  1. Make predictions on the lab sheet
  2. Add warm water to Jar/Glass #1
  3. Add candy corn to the container
  4. Document any observations made on the lab sheet 

Candy Corn and Heat 

  1. Make predictions on the lab sheet
  2. Add candy corn to jar/glass #2 *DO NOT ADD WATER!
  3. Microwave for 45 seconds
  4. Document any observations made on the lab sheet 

Frozen Candy Corn

  1. Make predictions on the lab sheet
  2. Add candy corn to jar/glass #3 
  3. Freeze the container for a minimum of two (2) hours 
  4. Document any oberservations made on the lab sheet 

Sources: Coffee Cups and Crayons & University of Nebraska Extension Saunders County 

Pumpkin Catapults:

Supplies: 

  • 7 Craft Sticks (If little ones are participating, wider craft sticks are easier for small hands) 
  • 4 Rubber Bands
  • 1 Small Cap (Think like a milk jug cap or the cap of a juice bottle) 
  • Hot Glue Gun 

Instructions:

  1. Stack 5 craft sticks on top of each other binding them together at both ends with rubber bands. These 5 craft sticks will serve as the base and fulcrum. *Fulcrum = the point as which the lever will pivot.
  2. Take the remaining 2 craft sticks and stack them on top of each other binding them together with a rubber band on 1 end.
  3. Pry open the 2 craft sticks creating a 'V' shape. The end with the rubber band will act as the base of the 'V'.
  4. Place the stack of 5 at the very bottom of the 'V' securing it in place with another rubberband. 
  5. Glue the cap at the top of the 'V' a few centimeters down from the edge. 
  6. Try it out! Question(s) to keep in mind: Are there better ways of holding your catapult that make it better? What could you do to improve it?

Sources: Play Dough to Playto & University of Nebraska Extension Saunders County 

Clamshell Skittles:

Supplies:

  • Skittles
  • Microwave safe plate
  • Microwave
  • *Optional - Aluminum foil-lined baking sheet
  • *Optional - Oven 

Instructions:

  1. Place the Skittles on the plate and microwave them for 1-2 minutes. 
            Or
  2. Place the Skittles on the baking sheet in the oven at 350º for 5mintues *Question to keep in mind: Did the Skittles open like clams? What could be the cause of the Skittles opening up?

The Science Behind It:

The inside of Skittles are softer than harder outer shell. The insides also contain more water, causing the inside of the Skittle to heat up faster than the outside of the Skittle.

Did the Skittles open up? Do the open ones resemble a clam? Did the steam from the inside cause the outside to burst?

Sources: Parenting & University of Nebraska Extension Saunders County   

Candy Wrapper Crafts:

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Thank you to our friends at the University of Nebraska Extension Saunders County for these great Halloween Science Experiments!