Easy Peppermint Science Experiment

Just in time for candy season, we have this easy peppermint science experiment! Take those leftover peppermint candies and try out this fun, colorful activity, and introduce your kids to world of chemistry.

If you’re looking for more fun activities, check our bigger list of Summer STEM Activities.

Who knew that you could combine a fun learning experiment like this with a simple mint? The kids are going to love this unique activity and you will, too! Just save up those peppermints and get ready to be wow!

This is such a great activity to prove that science doesn’t have to be stressful or hard. A simple activity about science doesn’t have to be difficult. This is the proof!

Easy Peppermint Science Experiment

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Easy Peppermint Science Experiment

The best part about doing various learning at home is that you have the flexibility to do really cool projects like this one! Once the kids see how fun and easy this is, they’re going to want to do it on their own, too.

Let them take over and be the scientist of this fun activity. This will build their confidence and have them wanting to learn even more and do more activities just like this.

>> See more simple homeschool science experiments

Why teach science?

Science exploration and experimentation is so important to early childhood development. When we do these fun science experiments with our kids, we’re teaching them incredibly important life skills! We help them practice careful observation, and learn how to make predictions.

They learn how to ask questions, think about the answers and form their own opinions. And we can teach them how to communicate their thoughts as we discuss what we’re doing with them.

If you love this activity, you must try this Catapult STEM Activity with Popsicle Sticks.

What’s going on:

In this peppermint science activity, we’ll be observing what happens when you place peppermint candy in warm water. It’s best to use a colorful candy, so you get a more visual reaction. The brighter the color, the better the reaction.

The peppermint candy is made of sugar. And sugar dissolves in water. Warmer water helps dissolve the sugar faster. As the candy sits in the warm water, the sugar is slowly dissolving into the water, taking the food coloring with it.

Easy Peppermint Science Experiment

Chemically, the molecules of the sugar are bonded together to form the hard candy. But when you add water and heat, those bonds break, and the sugar molecules get suspended in between the water molecules. The food coloring was bonded in with the sugar, so those molecules also get suspended in the water.

So as the sugar disappears into the water, the food coloring spreads out from the candy, streaking the water. You get these cool patterns around the candy! They’re really almost magical looking – so cool!

Adding water to the Peppermint Science Experiment

Before you start

Before you set up your experiment, ask your child what they think will happen. Will nothing happen? Will the candy disappear? Guide them in making a prediction. Then you can get started.

You can even have them write down their thoughts so that they can come back to them afterward and alter or add to them. Have them be like a real scientist and jot down notes and ideas, too.

Peppermint Science Experiment

During the experiment

While the experiment is happening, talk about their senses of observation. What do they see? Maybe you can ask them to draw a picture of their experiment. What about hearing? Can they hear the candy melting?

You can taste and smell this experiment safely. The water should taste sweet and maybe even a little minty. And it should definitely smell minty.

The fun thing about this experiment is that you can change up the kind of candy that you use, too. I like to use this type of mint but you can use red mints as well. If you’re feeling really brave you can do a combination of the mint colors and see what happens! This will give the kids even more learning fun to be able to mix and match the colors.

Simple Science Experiment with peppermint candies on a plate

You can even feel in this experiment. The warm water, the smooth hard mint, then the stickiness of the water or mint as it’s dissolving all make for great observations.

You could even use a timer with this experiment and different colors or shapes of candy. The options are endless on how you can change up the process of this activity.

Easy Peppermint Science Experiment

Peppermint Experiment Supplies

For this experiment, you’ll only need a few things:

  • a white ceramic plate (so you can better see the effects)
  • hard peppermint candies (the brighter the color, the better!)
  • warm water

Instructions:

  1. Unwrap the peppermint candies and put them on the plate. Leave about an inch between the candies, so you can see the individual reactions.
  2. Make a prediction about what will happen when you add warm water.
  3. Slowly pour warm water into the center of the plate, until the bottoms of the candies are under water. Don’t cover the candies tho! You don’t want them to float!
  4. Watch the colors from the candies move around the plate.
  5. Repeat with a different color, size, or shape. You can also vary the temperature or depth of the water. Do you get the same effect if the water is very cold?
  6. (Optional): use a timer to observe differences between candies, water temperature or water depth.
  7. Record your observations on paper. Was your prediction right?

Now you’ve got something to do with all those leftover Christmas candies! Turn them into science. Just when the kids thought that only candy could be eaten, this activity proves them wrong! When you can show the kids that there are fun ways to use science in ways that they maybe haven’t thought of, that’s when the fun really begins!

More Simple Science Experiments

Check out these great science activities to do with the kids. Keep it simple and let them be a part of the creativity. They’ll love knowing that they’re actively helping build these experiments and you’ll love knowing that they’re being creative and learning at the same time. Its’ a win win situation for all!

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