Are you looking for a simple science experiment to do in your classroom? This M&M Rainbow Science Experiment is a fun and easy way to teach children about mixing colors and creating new colors. This is also the perfect experiment to teach your students how sugar dissolves when mixed with warm water.
Getting The M&M Rainbow Science Experiment Ready:
You Will Need:
- M&M’s
- Plate
- Warm Water
This simple science experiment requires very little preparation. Simply, arrange the M&M’s in a circle near the edge or rim of a glass or plastic plate.
Don’t use a paper plate for this experiment. The water will soak through it and the colors will not blend correctly.
Then, fill a cup with warm water.
This activity is perfect for a classroom full of children because most of the supplies can already be found in most classrooms.
Doing The M&M Rainbow Science Experiment:
To begin this simple science experiment, have one child slowly pour warm water in the middle of the plate. As the water moved from the middle of the plate to the rim, it touched the M&M’s and begins to dissolve the sugar.
Within seconds, children can watch as the colors begin to move toward the center of the plate.
In my classroom, I like to set this science experiment up at each table. You have one student pour the water, one student with a stop watch to time how long it takes for the colors to blend, and one student to record the data. If you have Kindles or Ipads in your classroom, you can also have one student take pictures of the experiment.
The Science Behind The M&M Rainbow Science Experiment:
The chocolate inside of M&M’s are covered by a hard, crunchy shell that is made up of sugar and different colored dye. When the warm water mixes with the sugary shell, the sugar dissolves and the different colored dye begins to run and blend.
This M&M Rainbow Science Experiment is one of my students’ favorite activities all year long. They love to learn and watch how sugar dissolves and colors mix.
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Would this work with skittles too?
I think so. You might want to test it first just to be sure. Good luck!
My three kids 3, 6, 9 just loved this we had to do three times ,we used light colored M&M’s from Easter and dark colored from Halloween .