Pumpkin Candy Science Activity for Kids

This pumpkin candy science activity is so easy to do and incredibly fun! It even comes with free recording sheets to add to your science lesson plans!

Pumpkin Candy Experiment

Pumpkin Candy Science Experiment

This simple science experiment is quick and easy. Your kids will love seeing the colors race to the middle of the plate! Our kids loved doing this experiment over and over again with variations of candy, pumpkin colors and patterns. It’s super easy to rinse off the plate and do the experiment again.

You only need 3 simple supplies. Just choose between Reeses Pieces and Skittles for the candy.

*Note: This should be done with adult supervision at all times.

Looking for a Rainbow Skittles version of this? Click here!

Pumpkin Green Candy

Setting Up the Pumpkin Candy Science Activity

Supplies Needed:

  • Plate
  • Warm water
  • Skittles or Reeses Pieces

Instructions:

  1. Grab your plate and organize the candy (Skittles or Reeses Pieces) in a circle around the edge of the plate. Add some brown or green pieces to the top to try and make it look like a pumpkin. Kids can try different color patterns each time they do the experiment!
Pumpkin Placement
  1. Gently pour warm water in the center of the plate. Make sure there is enough water to go past the candy while filling the plate.
Pour water onto the pumpkin
  1. Wait and watch the candy colors move towards the center of the plate with beautiful streaks.
  2. That’s it. It’s so quick and easy!
Pumpkin Water Moving 1
Pumpkin Colors Moving

Tips

  • Reeses Pieces work a little better as the coating comes off a little quicker with hot water than the Skittles.
  • The hotter you make the water, the faster the colors will combine in the center. Make sure there is adult supervision for the hot water.
  • You can pour the water in the center of the plate or from the bottom of the pumpkin. Both work. Try each way to see which works better for you.

The Science Behind this Pumpkin Candy Science Experiment:

Skittles and Reeses Pieces are coated with sugar and food coloring. When you add warm water to the candy, the sugar and food coloring start to dissolve. There are similar amounts of sugar coated on each piece of candy. So they dissolve at relatively the same speed and stay in their lanes.

The sugar is moving to areas of water with lower sugar concentration. Pour the water in the center to help the candy dissolve at relatively the same speed.

Video of Pumpkin Candy Experiment


I hope your kids have a great time with this fun pumpkin candy science experiment!

To get the Pumpkin Candy recording sheets, click the button below!

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Orange Pumpkin

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