It is the perfect season for a peppermint science experiment. Be sure you grab more ideas for winter fun on my page Winter Season Unit Study.
Besides peppermints are plentiful in the stores and can be found in canes, discs, and even spoon shapes.
This dissolving candy cane experiment is a simple and fun way to demonstrate the process of dissolution.
Dissolution is the process by which a solid substance dissolves into a liquid.
Dissolution is an important process in nature and is responsible for a variety of phenomena, such as the formation of caves and the weathering of rocks.
In this experiment, you will observe how a candy cane dissolves in different liquids over time, record your hypothesis, variables, process, and results in your science notebook.
You can use any shape and size of peppermint candies that you like for your experiment.
But you will want to keep them uniform throughout so that your results are more accurate.
For today’s purpose we used a fun candy cane shape.
Too, I am not just going to show you a single activity and move on.
I have lots of fantastic peppermint science experiment ideas for you as well as some crafts, facts, and videos to make it a fun little unit for you and your child.
5 PEPPERMINT FACTS
- Peppermint is a hybrid mint, a cross between watermint and spearmint and the scientific name for it is Mentha × piperita.
- Peppermint grows to a height of 1-3 feet and is native to Europe and Asia but has become cultivated in many parts of the world including North America.
- In early history peppermint was mentioned throughout Greek mythology, by Roman philosophers, and Monks in the Middle Ages.
- Peppermint is used in a variety of products, including candy, gum, toothpaste, tea, and is also used in traditional and holistic medicine to treat a variety of ailments, such as indigestion, nausea, and headaches.
- Handmade striped red and white candy canes were first introduced in 1900 while the first machine to make candy canes was invented in 1921 by Brasher O.
PEPPERMINT SCIENCE EXPERIMENT AND ACTIVITIES
- Candy Canes: How it’s Made shows the process from the first ingredient to the packaging of candy canes.
- Test out your child’s STEM skills with a Building Peppermint Candy Towers Challenge that encourages critical thinking and problem solving.
- Prewriting skills are so important and preschoolers love sensory activities, a Peppermint Writing Tray is the perfect fun way to practice letters, numbers, and shapes.
- Build up the fine motor skills in small growing hands by making and playing with a Peppermint Playdough Recipe to roll, pinch, press, and form.
- Whether you have tried crystal growing activities or not the Crystal Candy Canes You Can Make
- The Fizzing Candy Canes Experiment is not only a great science experiment but makes a fun seasonal decoration.
- For older kids I think these Peppermint Shower Steamers would be a fun and useful hands on science exploration. They can be made to keep or gift to friends and family.
- While you have candy canes or peppermints on hand make up a batch of Crock Pot Peppermint Hot Chocolate to enjoy, cooking is science!
Too, look at more candy science.
MORE FUN CANDY SCIENCE
- Hands-on History: Make Maple Snow Candy – Pioneer Activity
- Two Fun Candy Cane Hands-on Science Winter Experiments
- How to Spark Learning with a Candy Cane Maze STEM Activity
- 5 Fun Candy Science Experiments and Unit Study & Homemade Lollipops
- Fun Candy Corn Stem Activity Which Liquid Dissolves Candy Corn Faster
- Fun Chocolate Unit Study and DIY Chocolate Candy Bar Activity
Finally, look at how to do this peppermint science experiment.
PEPPERMINT SCIENCE EXPERIMENT
The results of the experiment will show which liquid dissolves the candy cane completely the fastest. You can simplify the experiment by simply timing how long it takes for one candy cane to dissolve in water.
You will need:
- Candy canes
- Clear glasses
- Water and at least 3 other liquids
- Stopwatch or timer
- Ruler
- Science notebook
First, have your child make a hypothesis on which liquid they think will melt the candy canes the fastest and record it in their science journal or on a sheet of paper for just this experiment.
Fill the glasses with water, and your other liquids.
Some ideas are milk, vinegar, hot water, cold water, room temperature water, rubbing alcohol, clear soda, oil, etc.
List each of your liquids in the science journal as well.
Measure the length of the candy cane, record it.
Place each of the candy canes into different liquids. Make a label for each one so similar ones don’t get confused.
Start the stopwatch or timer.
Observe the candy canes as they dissolve. You will notice almost immediately the red begins to dissolve and your liquid turns pink.
The hot water especially creates changes so quickly.
Every minute or two, measure the length of the candy canes and record your observations.
Continue observing the candy canes until they are completely dissolved. Don’t forget to record your findings.
As the candy canes dissolves, you will observe the following changes:
- The candy canes will become smaller in size.
- The water will become colored.
- The candy canes will become softer and more pliable.
- The candy canes will eventually disappear completely.
By varying the conditions of the experiment- using different brands of peppermint, different liquids, and various shapes you can learn more about the process of dissolution and the idea of variables in an experiment.
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