USA Science and Engineering Festival

Join us at USASEF April 28-29 in Washington, D.C.!
Learn about the candy experiments booth, USASEF highlights, and volunteer opportunities here.

Party Tips

Whether you're the entertainment at the school Halloween party, your kids have way too much candy to eat, or you're planning a birthday party for your young scientist, these tips will help you put on a successful Candy Experiment party.


If you're attempting a density rainbow, put your Skittles in water right away and allow plenty of time for them to dissolve.  You may want to dissolve two sets in case you need a backup.

Suggested Experiments:
  • Acid Test
  • Floating M's
  • Color Separation (Chromatography)
  • Dissolving Hot/Cold
  • Sink/Float
  • Creation Station: making funny candy sculptures from candy you're not experimenting on
  • Free-for all: let kids sink, float, stir, smash, microwave, stick
Candy:
  • M&M's for chromatography (include black or brown)
  • sour candy for testing acid
  • candy for dissolving
  • candy to see what sinks and floats (bring marshmallows, 3 Musketeers, or Kit Kats for floating)
  • anything else anybody wants to test

Recommended supplies:

  • coffee filter paper, cut into rectangles, for chromatography
  • pencils to label chromatography paper with colors and children's names (or mark them before the presentation)
  • a few containers for chromatography, filled with 1/2 inch of water (test first to ensure the chromatography paper fits standing upright)
  • white plates for viewing chromatography paper
  • baking soda for acid testing
  • spoons for adding soda and mixing
  • cups/bowls for experiments (as many as you can bring)
  • ice and hot water for dissolving
  • sink to empty and rinse cups
  • pitchers of water to refill cups
  • paper towels for cleanup 
  • garbage can for wrappers
Questions, comments, or experiment ideas?  Email

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