Peanut Butter Playdough
Don’t go too nuts, but this edible playdough will have you playing with your peanut butter and eating it too. Any time you mix ingredients to have them form a new texture, it’s an easy way to talk about chemistry. For this recipe you’ll need:
1 cup creamy peanut butter
1 cup light corn syrup
1 cup powdered sugar
2-3 cups powdered milk (just the dry powder)
vanilla wafers for ears (optional)
Rock & Crystals
Learn about crystals and how they form before making your own rock candy.
How does popcorn come from corn on the cob? Discuss this and so much more about the wonders of popcorn all while enjoying it right from the bag.
Teach your kids about metamorphic rocks and the rock cycle by pressing warmed Starbursts together. Using different colored candies will make it easy to teach about layering.
Moon Cycle Oreos
Learning the different phases of the moon cycle doesn’t get much tastier than this! Carve (orrr…lick) the frosting on black and white Oreos to make an easy display of the 8 phases.
Gummy Bear Genetics
Understanding genetics just got unbearable fun! Use different colored gummy bears to show how genes are passed from one generation to the next. You can find grizzly deals on bulk gummy bears on CandyStore.com.
Solar Oven S’mores
Pizza boxes, aluminum foil, and cling wrap will make for this melty experiment about heat and energy. Solar oven s’mores are always a hot project in my classroom and I keep going back for s’more year after year!
Teach children about the Scientific Method and making predictions by watching the S magically float off of candy Skittles. I LOVE the reaction this experiment gets from kids (and me too)!
Gum Drop Engineering
Kids will love to put their engineering hats on with this gum drop experiment. Spaghetti or cooking skewers can be used in place of toothpicks if you’d like to make taller structures.
Using cookies and few “excavating” tools will have the process of weathering play out right before your eyes. No eroding brains around here!
One of my students’ favorite science lessons each year is understanding how cream turns into butter. They love watching the transformation as they take turns shaking a jar full of cream and they especially love sampling the butter on fresh bread at the end! Michael’s sells mason jars in any size and shape you might need.
Jelly Bean Solubility
Dissolving jelly beans in various liquids is a fun way to put some extra spring into your scientific endeavors. Which liquids will dissolve the jelly beans the quickest and most efficiently? Why?
Check out these websites for more information about all these tasty science experiments and products:
Peanut Butter Playdough via Six Sisters’ Stuff
Rock Candy from Happiness is Homemade
Popcorn Experiment and Lesson Ideas from Tinker Lab
Rock Cycle Starbursts via Lemon Lime Adventures
Oreo Moon Phases shared by Thrillist
Gummy Bear Genetics found on Geek Families
Bulk and Specialty Candy sold on CandyStore.com
Solar Oven S’mores shared by Desert Chica
Float S-Kittles via Parenting Chaos
Gum Drop Engineering found on How to Adult
Cookie Erosion via E is for Explore
Homemade Butter shared by Little Bins for Little Hands
Mason Jars sold at Michael’s
Jelly Bean Solubility shared by Mrs. Jones’ Creation Station
Since you’re already here…check out these other fun science projects for kids:
10 STEM Challenges for Kids of All Ages