Get ready for a sweet and colorful science adventure with the Skittle Heart Experiment, perfect for Valentine’s Day or any day you want to add a bit of magic to your learning!
This visually stunning experiment is not only a treat to watch but also a great way to explore concepts of water solubility and color mixing.
Let’s dive into this simple and delightful activity that’s sure to capture the hearts of both young and old.
Materials Needed
- Small bowl with a flat surface (like a small pie pan)
- Skittles candy
- Heart-shaped cookie cutter (or any shape you prefer)
Steps to Sweet Science
- Pattern Play: Arrange the Skittles in a colorful pattern around the outer edge of the bowl. You might want to follow a sequence like two red Skittles, followed by two purple ones, and so on. A rainbow pattern would also be beautiful. Get creative with your patterns!
- Center Stage: Place the heart-shaped cookie cutter in the center of the bowl. This will be your centerpiece for the color show.
- Magical Pour: Carefully pour water into the cookie cutter until it just covers the Skittles. Watch as the colors begin to dissolve and create a beautiful, swirling pattern that fills the bowl outside the cookie cutter.
What’s Happening?
- The Science Behind the Colors: Skittles are coated with food coloring and sugar. When you pour water over them, the coating dissolves and spreads into the water. This happens because sugar and food colorings are soluble in water. The movement of water, through a process called diffusion, carries the dissolved colors outward, creating a stunning visual effect.
Variations to Try
- Temperature Effects: Experiment with water at different temperatures to see how it affects the speed at which the Skittles dissolve. Does warm water work faster than cold water?
- Color Combinations: Try different color patterns or use different shapes for your cookie cutter to see how it changes the design that forms in your bowl.
- Candy Science: Not just Skittles! See what happens when you try this experiment with other colored candies. Do they dissolve at the same rate? Do they create the same vivid colors?
Learning Extensions
- Color Mixing Lesson: This experiment is a perfect opportunity to teach about primary and secondary colors. What happens when certain colors mix? Can you predict what color will result from different combinations?
- Discuss Diffusion: Explore the concept of diffusion further by discussing how molecules move from an area of high concentration to an area of lower concentration, illustrated vividly by the spreading candy colors.
This Skittle Heart Experiment is a fantastic way to combine art, science, and a little bit of culinary fun. It’s a perfect classroom or at-home activity to do with your kids.
Happy experimenting, and may your day be as colorful as your science! 🌈
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Calie Herbst, Editor-in-Chief of Milwaukee With Kids, has spent over a decade combining her experiences as a parent of three to create a hub for Milwaukee’s family adventures.
Her decade-long teaching career in Milwaukee Public Schools and academic background, including a Master’s in Teaching from Marquette University and dual B.A.s in Sociology and Spanish from the University of Wisconsin – Madison, fuel her passion for inclusive and engaging family content.
Calie is also a recognized voice in local media, contributing to WISN Channel 12 News, WTMJ Wisconsin Morning News, Fox 6’s Real Milwaukee, and B93.3.
Discover more about Calie’s journey and editorial approach on her About Page and Editorial Policy Page.
