candy canes

Candy Cane Tree Experiment

December 20, 2022 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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This candy cane tree experiment is easy to set up and is sure to be a conversation piece. It works well as a Christmas science activity, and also fits a forest theme.

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Supplies To Collect

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For this simple science experiment, gather the following four supplies:

package of mini candy canes
one round striped candy
large flat white or cream-colored plate
flask of warm water

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The Candy Cane Tree Experiment

Design a tree on a plate with mini candy canes. Pour water into the plate and watch what happens. Your audience will be wowed!

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To perform this showy science experiment, start by arranging mini candy canes on a plate in a Christmas/coniferous tree design. The colorful and fruity candy canes above were a great find at a Dollar Store.

Next, set a round candy on top of the tree to be the tree topper.

Then fill a flask with warm water.

Carefully set the plate with the tree design on a table.

Now the experiment is ready to be performed. Invite participants to gather around the candy tree. Slowly pour water from the flask into the plate and invite everyone to watch what happens. It’s that simple!

Participants will be wowed at how the colors in the candy canes quickly spread through the water, making beautiful designs.

Watch the colors explode from the candy cane tree in this super simple science experiment everyone will love.

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Color changes will be instant. Over time the colors and their intensity will change.

Watch the colors move and change in this super simple science experiment everyone will love. The activity is a must-try.

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Note: This tree-shaped experiment can be done with standard-sized candy canes in a large ridged serving tray.

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The Science Behind The Candy Cane Tree Experiment

The candy canes are made of sugar. The water breaks the sugar molecules apart. Then the food colors move through the water from areas of higher sugar concentration (near the candy) to areas with less sugar (the center and rim of the tray.) When the sugar concentration is the same in all areas, the colors stop moving.

Water temperature is a variant in this experiment. Sugar dissolves more quickly in warm water, and food coloring moves at a faster pace.

Candy Cane Color Experiment Variations

Watch the stunning color changes in this super simple mini candy cane science experiment. Try it today!

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You can forgo making a tree shape with the candy canes, and spread a few around a plate instead. The color movement is just as interesting in this more basic version.

Watch beautiful colors emerge in this super simple science experiment with a serious WOW factor. Just thee supplies are needed to perform the experiment.

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And if you have been following my blog for a while, you may have discovered that I have done a few other candy/candy cane color experiments. Here are more variations:

Candy Cane Science Experiment

Blue Candy Cane Science Experiment

Shamrock Dissolving Candy Experiment

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This mini candy cane color experiment is a must-try. Just three supplies are needed for the simple science activity everyone will love.

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Blue Candy Cane Science Experiment

January 23, 2022 by Annette Kaminsky 1 Comment

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This blue candy cane science experiment is an offshoot of an earlier candy cane science post. I purposely saved blue striped candy canes to use in a few winter-themed variations of the easy-to-perform experiment. And yes…I am permanently hooked on candy cane science!

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Supplies To Collect

This blue candy cane snowflake experiment will wow little learners. It is easy to set up and shows immediate results.

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First up is a blue candy cane snowflake version of the experiment. To perform it gather the following three supplies:

six blue and white striped candy canes
large clear, white, or cream-colored plate with a rim
measuring cup (or cup) of warm water

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The Candy Cane Snowflake Experiment

Set the candy canes on a large plate in a six-sided snowflake design.

Let the science experiment begin with this blue candy cane snowflake!

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Slowly pour in warm water to partially cover the candy canes.

Invite participants to watch what happens.

An easy-to-do candy cane snowflake science experiment. All you need is water, candy canes, and a plate.

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While little learners watch the colors in the water spread during the experiment, slip in a few snowflake facts from the list below.

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Ten Fast Facts About Snowflakes

Snowflakes are made of many snow crystals that are stuck together.
The six-sided flakes come in symmetrical, hexagonal shapes.
About 200 ice crystals make up one snowflake.
There are six basic types of snowflakes.
Combinations of these types make 35 recognizable snowflake designs.
A snowflake’s shape is determined by the temperature and amount of moisture in the air when it was formed.
Snowflakes range in size, from teeny tiny to penny-sized.
Because they reflect light, snowflakes appear white. But they are actually translucent.
Every second, billions of snowflakes float down to earth.
Snowflakes fall at 3- 4 miles per hour or about 5 – 6.5 km per hour.

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Try this easy-to-do candy cane snowflake experiment today. It uses simple supplies and has immediate results. Snowflake facts are included.

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Early learners may wish to have a little taste of the resulting blue liquid. Unlike the strong mint taste of the Christmas candies, the blue water has a pleasant berry flavor.

Tip: If you have other candy cane colors available rather than blue striped ones, use them in the experiment instead. Snowflakes look beautiful in all colors!

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Blue Candy Cane Heart Experiment

For a simpler but equally striking version, form two candy canes into a heart shape on the plate. When water is slowly added, little learners will notice a different color pattern developing.

This blue candy cane heart science experiment fits into winter and transitions nicely into Valentine's Day.

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A pretty blue candy cane science experiment that will wow little learners.

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The Science Behind The Color Movement

The candy canes are made of sugar. The water breaks the sugar molecules apart. Then the food colors move through the water away from areas of higher sugar concentration (near the candy) to areas with less sugar. When the sugar concentration is the same in all areas, the colors stop moving.

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Blue Candy Cane Sensory Tube

If you have broken candy canes saved that weren’t suitable to display or hand out over the holidays, use them in a sensory tube.

Candy cane winter sensory tube with ice cubes and snowflakes.

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To make the winter-themed tube above, freeze ice cubes and add them to a clear tube with a wide mouth.

Next, sprinkle in blue and white foam and gem snowflakes.

Gently drop in blue-striped candy cane pieces.

Then fill the sensory tube with cool water and tightly screw on the lid.

Invite little learners to play with the tube.

An icy blue candy cane winter sensory tube doubling as a float and sink experiment.

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Because the water in the tube is cool, it changes color at a slower pace than in the snowflake and heart versions of the experiment.

Float and sink experimentation happens naturally with this candy cane tube. The snowflake gems and candy cane pieces sink to the bottom and hang out there, while the foam shapes congregate at the top.

This eye-appealing blue candy cane sensory tube doubles as a float and sink experiment.

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Candy Cane Science Experiment

January 1, 2022 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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This Christmas I went on a candy cane hunt, primarily to add a few of these festive treats to my preschoolers’ party bags. Although easy to find in the past, I visited three different stores before I spotted some.

Candy canes had been brought up in class discussions, so I thought the children would be excited to discover them in their party bags. As I tried to give one child extra candy canes for his siblings, I noticed that he was furiously trying to give his original ones away. It turned out that he immensely dislikes them! So needless to say, there were a few candy canes leftover at school after the holiday celebrations.

So then came Plan B…the decision to use some for this easy-peasy candy cane science experiment.

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Supplies To Collect

Gather just three supplies for an easy-to-perform candy cane or candy experiment with a WOW factor.

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The supplies for this science experiment couldn’t be any simpler. Gather the following three things:

white or cream-colored dinner plate with a rim
cup of warm water
two large candy canes

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Conducting The Candy Cane Science Experiment

Try this candy cane Science experiment today! It is easy to do and has immediate results.

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Place two candy canes in the center of the plate in a heart shape.

Slowly pour in warm water to a level just beneath the plate rim.

The food coloring will immediately diffuse from the candy canes, and the color patterns will change right before your eyes!

This experiment can be tried with other colors of these treats. The red, pink, and white color scheme below would work perfectly for Valentine’s Day.

This easy to perform heart-themed candy cane science experiment is perfect for Valentine's Day. Give it a try!

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Variation Of The Candy Cane Experiment

There was a second candy escapade this holiday season, as a type of striped, spherical, Christmas candies I purchased turned out to be much too hard. I tasted one, and it just wouldn’t dissolve in my mouth. I imagined students choking on the candy on the drive home from preschool, and didn’t want to risk that. As you might have guessed, the super hard candies didn’t make the treat bag cut.

Conveniently, these holiday candies work in the same science experiment. In the picture below, the candies are arranged next to the rim of a plate. When warm water is added, green and red food colors slowly move through the liquid away from the candies. The process is so slow, the colors blend to make a rich brown hue soon after they spread. Since little learners love mixing colors to make brown, they would be excited to see this!

An oh-so-easy Christmas candy science experiment. Can't you smell the candy already?

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The candies can be placed a little farther apart around the plate rim, so the colors don’t mix as quickly when water is added. Or they can be spread apart as in the picture below. Then moving red and green colors are visible a little while after warm water is added.

Try this Christmas candy Science experiment today! It is easy to do and has immediate results.

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Tip: If the colors in the candies dissolve at a snail’s pace, as in one of my experiments, you can choose to use hot water. This will speed up the scientific process. Make sure little learners observe what happens only with their eyes, keeping their hands and bodies away from the plate.

After the science experiment is finished and the liquid is cool, you may wish to let your little charges taste a teaspoon of colored water. It will have a strong mint taste.

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A simple Christmas candy science experiment with quick results. Can't you smell the candy already?

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Explanation Of This Candy Cane/Candy Experiment

The candy canes and candies are made of sugar. The water breaks the sugar molecules apart. Then the food colors move through the water from areas of higher sugar concentration (near the candy) to areas with less sugar (the center of the plate.) When the sugar concentration is the same in all areas, the colors stop moving.

Water temperature is a variant in this experiment. Sugar dissolves quicker in warm water, and food coloring moves at a faster pace.

This science experiment is so easy to set up and has immediate results, perfect for little learners. And participants get to use their senses of sight, smell, taste, and touch. Try it today with candies or candy canes!

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This easy-peasy candy cane heart science experiment shows immediate results and brings the WOW factor, perfect for little learners!

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