Rainbow Skittles Experiment Science Activity for Kids
This Skittles rainbow science activity is so easy to do and incredibly fun! It even comes with free recording sheets to add to your science lesson plans!
Rainbow Skittles Experiment
If you are looking for a simple science experiment that your kids can do with ease, then this rainbow Skittles activity is going to be perfect for you!
You only need 3 simple supplies and you will be good to go.
*Note: This should be done with adult supervision at all times.
Our kids chose to do the experiment over and over again with different Skittles colors and patterns. It’s easy to wash the plate off and create a new pattern to experiment with!
If you want to try this fun candy rainbow activity too, keep on reading for all of the instructions.
Setting Up the Skittles Science Experiment
Supplies Needed:
- Skittles (Try different colors and flavors!)
Instructions:
- Grab your plate and organize the Skittles in a circle around the edge of the plate. Kids can try different color patterns each time they do the experiment!
- Gently pour water in the center of the plate. Warm water works better than cold. Make sure there is enough water to go past the Skittles while filling the plate.
- Wait and watch the Skittles colors move towards the center of the plate with beautiful rainbow streaks.
- That’s it. It’s so quick and easy!
The Science Behind this Rainbow Science Experiment:
Skittles are coated with sugar and food coloring. When you add warm water to the Skittles, the sugar and food coloring start to dissolve. They have similar amounts coated on them so they dissolve at similar speeds and stay in their lanes.
The sugar is moving to areas of water with lower sugar concentration. If the water is poured in the center, this is happening for each Skittle at relatively the same speed.
I hope your kids have a great time with this fun Skittles rainbow experiment!
To get the Skittles rainbow recording sheets, click the button below!
Check out these other science activities for kids.
Try this super simple Oobleck recipe that only requires two household ingredients!
This awesome rainbow Walking Water Science Experiment is a favorite for kids of all of ages!
You can also make a rainbow of flowers with this super cool color changing flowers experiment !
This rain cloud jar science experiment give children a chance to explore clouds and rain in a hands-on and engaging way
The kids will get a kick out of this super cool dancing raisins science experiment !
Skittles Rainbow Science Experiment
When it comes to candy, my kids are huge fans. They went to a summer parade and came back with more candy than they even get at Halloween, which means I had to come up with a way to use it up fast, or they would eat it all in about three days.
We’ve wanted to make a candy rainbow for some time now, and the haul came with the perfect candy for this: Skittles! We used our Skittles to make the Skittles rainbow science experiment and learned a bit more about dissolving, absorption, and how colors mix.
Transform candy into a rainbow within seconds with the power of dissolving.
- Skittles or other bright candy
- White bowl or plate
Spread the candy into a pattern inside the bowl or plate. My kids love rainbows, so they chose to align the skittles as closely to a rainbow as they could.
Pour about a quarter of an inch of warm water into the center of the bowl.
Watch as the color slowly spreads out from the Skittles toward the center of the bowl.
Shake up the bowl and watch the colors mix.
Leave them alone for a few more minutes, and the colors start to separate again!
My kids thought perhaps it was the different flavors of the candy that made the colors remain separated, but we never found out the official explanation. Perhaps you can figure it out!
Skittles Rainbow Science Experiment Explained
Candy is full of dye (usually), which means the combination of dye and sugar dissolves quickly in water. Skittles are particularly good for this experiment because they are colorful and dissolve even faster than other candies. When placed in a shallow pan of water, the dye quickly dissolves and starts to absorb into the water, making a colorful rainbow. Ask your kids if they can figure out why the colors stay separated.
More fun science for kids:
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Skittles Rainbow Experiment
This easy to do, cost effective and extremely fun and exciting Skittles Rainbow Experiment is a fun science experiment for children to complete, providing lots of opportunities for investigation as well.
This cool science experiment is so much fun! Kids will enjoy creating a lovely rainbow with some of their delicious candy. This is a great experiment to complete, especially when children receive lots of candy during different events throughout the year.
To create a bright, colourful rainbow, you will need:
- a white plate or bowl
- Skittle Experiment Worksheets
Skittles Rainbow Experiment Instructions
To create a colourful rainbow, you will first need to place your white bowl or plate somewhere flat where it will not get bumped or disturbed.
If using the experiment worksheets, print out a copy of them for each child. There are a couple of different worksheets to choose from, depending on the age of your children, so choose the best one for them.
Then, place the skittles onto the plate or in the bowl, alternating the colours as you go.
You can get as creative as you want with the pattern that you place the skittles in. You can also use the colours you want, be it two, three or five different colours, it is all up to you.
Gently begin pouring around an inch of water in the middle of the plate until it reaches all of the candies, and just barely covers them.
Watch what happens!
Keep watching and see if anything changes, depending on the length of time you leave it be.
Why Do the Colours Spread?
As you probably already know, skittles are coated in sugar and food colouring/dye, so when you pour water on the skittles, this coating dissolves and spreads. The sugar and food colouring/dye dissolve into the water and then spread through the water, turning it into the colour of the skittle that it comes from.
Why Don’t The Colours Mix?
It has to do with water stratification. The sugar and food colouring/dye that dissolves into the water and spreads has different masses with different properties that create a barrier, causing the different colours not to mix.
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What other ways could you complete this experiment?
- Try using water of different temperatures such as cold, warm and hot
- Try using white vinegar or soft drink such as lemonade instead of water
- Try using different candies and see if they work the same
- Is there any way you could speed up or slow down this process?
- What happens to the ‘s’ on the skittles?
- Anything else that you can think of?
Dissolving candy is such a fun experiment for children to complete. Why try these other fun and exciting experiments – dissolving candy canes experiment or even this gummy bear experiment.
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March 17, 2024 at 9:12 am
Lovely please share the experiments worksheets
March 17, 2024 at 5:43 pm
To get the experiment worksheets, click on ‘Skittle Experiment Worksheets’ in the list of items that are needed for the experiment.
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Rainbow Skittles - A fun and easy science experiment for kids!
MORE FUN SCIENCE EXPERIMENT VIDEOS
Supplies for the rainbow skittles experiment.
- A bag of skittles
- Warm water
Rainbow Skittles Experiment
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Skittles Rainbow Experiment – Science Activities for Kids
Are you looking for a simple, exciting science experiment your kids can enjoy and learn from? The Skittles Rainbow Experiment is a great way to introduce them to scientific concepts, and the best part is that it only requires a few basic items.
This fantastic activity involves utilizing Skittles candy, a plate, and some warm or hot water to create a marvelous display of colors. When the sugar in the Skittles dissolves, it releases vibrant colors into the water, forming a stunning rainbow-like pattern . This experiment is a visual treat for your kids and provides an opportunity to teach your children about dissolving, absorption, and color mixing.
Skittles Rainbow Experiment
Engaging and easy to set up, the Skittles Rainbow Experiment is an excellent activity for a rainy day or as part of a science curriculum. Give it a try and have fun while inspiring your kids to learn more about the fascinating world of science.
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Background on Skittles and Color
Skittles are well-known for their vibrant and colorful appearance. These small, round candies have a hard sugar shell on the outside, dyed with various colors to give them their unique and eye-catching look. Each color represents a different flavor, making Skittles a tasty and visually appealing treat.
The Science Behind Candy Colors
Understanding the science behind Skittles’ colors can help you appreciate the candy even more. The outer shell of Skittles is coated with a mixture of sugar, food coloring , and a waxy substance to maintain its round shape. The food coloring in the shell is comprised of dye, determining the hue of each candy.
Here’s a simple breakdown of the key components of Skittles and their purpose:
- Sugar : Provides sweetness to the candy
- Food coloring : Creates the various colors of the candy shell
- Waxy substance : Protects and maintains the shape of the candy
When you place Skittles in a circle on a plate and pour warm water over them, the combination of sugar and dye molecules starts to dissolve. This dissolution creates a visually impressive rainbow effect as the colors merge into one another, demonstrating simple scientific concepts like dissolving and color mixing.
As you explore the fascinating world of Skittles and color science, remember that each component of these candies contributes to their visual appeal and scientific intrigue. By understanding the role of colors in Skittles, you can fully appreciate the candy’s vibrant appearance and potentially uncover new, fun ways to experiment with them.
Skittles Rainbow Experiment: A Step-by-Step Guide for Colorful Results
The Rainbow Experiment Explained
Objective of the skittles rainbow experiment.
The Skittles Rainbow Experiment is a fun and easy science experiment that demonstrates color dissolving principles and color mixing. The objective is to create a visually appealing rainbow from Skittles candy by dissolving their outer colorful coatings using warm water. This activity suits children of all ages and encourages learning about dissolving and color blending.
Principles of Color Dissolving
In this experiment, you’ll need:
- Skittles (various colors)
- A plate or bowl (preferably white)
Science Project Ideas
Step 1: Arrange the Skittles in a circle around the edge of your plate or bowl. You can create or organize different color patterns.
Step 2: Pour a small amount of warm water into the center of the plate, just enough to cover the bottom. Warm water helps the sugar coating dissolve faster due to its higher temperature and energy.
As the colored sugar dissolves in the water, you’ll notice that the colors begin to spread toward the center of the plate, creating a mesmerizing rainbow effect. The sugar in the Skittles’ outer coating is water-soluble, dissolving readily in water. The color-dissolving principle at work in this experiment relies on the fact that colored sugar coatings dissolve at different rates in water, depending on how close the colors are to each other on the plate and the temperature of the water used.
As the colors spread and mix, you may observe secondary colors forming where two primary colors meet. This reveals the blending of colors, and it’s a great way for kids to learn about color theory hands-on.
Science Activities for Preschoolers
Give the Skittles Rainbow Experiment a try, and enjoy watching the captivating display of merging colors while learning valuable principles of color dissolving and sugar dissolving in water.
Preschool Science Experiments
Required Materials
- 1 package of Skittles (Can be any variety – I used the “sweet and sour” variety for this project)
- small white plate
- 1 cup of warm water
Directions:
On the small plate, line the Skittles up around the middle. Try to create a pattern of colors with the Skittles for best results.
Slowly pour the water into the center of the plate. Pour enough to cover the bottom of the Skittles.
The colors from the Skittles will start to move towards the center of the plate and come together.
Observe what happens until the colors fade out.
Observing the Results
In the Skittles Rainbow Experiment, you’ll witness a beautiful and colorful display of patterns that can help you understand some fascinating scientific concepts.
Focus on observing the results and the connection between colors and science.
Colors and Science
When you perform the Rainbow Skittles Science Experiment, you will notice a beautiful rainbow forming as the colors mix in the water. As the Skittles dissolve, their colors migrate from the edges of the plate toward the center. This creates a stunning visual effect, illustrating a pattern of layered colors .
Pay close attention as they interact to create a colorful rainbow . The mixing of the colors and the formation of patterns are primarily due to water density and the properties of the individual colors.
Water density plays a crucial role in creating the patterns observed in this experiment. Warm water can dissolve Skittles more effectively, allowing the colors to spread and mix. The layers you observe result from different densities; for instance, less dense colors will float above the denser ones to create stratified layers.
Another aspect to observe is how the different flavors of Skittles correspond to their colors. The experiment lets you see which colors are present in each flavor and how they can influence the final rainbow pattern. As you watch the colors travel through the water, you may notice that specific colors mix together while others maintain their hues.
When performing the Rainbow Skittles Science Experiment , focus on observing the following aspects:
- The beautiful and colorful patterns formed
- The movement and mixing of colors
- The role of water density in the creation of layers and patterns
- The correspondence between colors and flavors
As you conduct this experiment, enjoy the process and appreciate the captivating visuals it creates. Use this opportunity to deepen your understanding of the scientific principles at play.
Scientific Concepts for Kids
The Skittles Rainbow Science Experiment is a fun, educational, and easy-to-conduct science activity that children of all ages can enjoy. It is especially suitable for toddlers and preschoolers as it helps them grasp basic scientific concepts while engaging their natural curiosity.
Educational Value of the Experiment
1. Color Mixing and Dissolving: When you place the Skittles in warm water, their colorful shell dissolves, and the colors start to spread outward. This process demonstrates the effect of warm water on the candy and the way colors mix and blend to create new shades.
2. Fine Motor Skills Development: As kids arrange the Skittles in a circular pattern, they practice their fine motor skills using their pincer grasp. This is important for their overall development and helps with handwriting, buttoning clothes, and other daily tasks that require dexterity.
3. Introduction to Chromatography: Though simple, this experiment introduces an essential scientific technique called chromatography, which separates the components of a mixture based on their different rates of migration. In the Skittles experiment, kids can observe how different colors move at varying speeds to create a rainbow effect.
4. Hypothesis & Prediction: To add educational depth to the experiment, ask children to hypothesize and predict the outcome before adding water. Will the colors mix? Will a rainbow form? This stimulates critical thinking while teaching kids the scientific method.
The Skittles Rainbow Experiment proves that science can be fun and enjoyable for kids. Try it with your children, and watch them develop their scientific understanding , curiosity, and motor skills.
Skittles Science Variations and Extended Learning
Altering conditions for different effects.
You can modify the Skittles Rainbow Experiment to observe how different conditions affect the results.
- Temperature of water : Experiment with hot water instead of room temperature water and observe the differences in the rate of color spreading.
- Using vinegar : Replace water with vinegar and notice if the acidity impacts the speed or quality of the rainbow formation.
- Adding food coloring : Introduce food coloring into the water to observe any changes in the color interaction between the Skittles and the water.
- Sugar and food coloring mixture : Create a new mixture by combining sugar and food coloring in various proportions to see how this altered solution affects the Skittles.
Conducting these variations will provide further understanding of the experiment and help you and your children draw conclusions on the impacts of different conditions.
Fun Science Experiments
If you enjoyed the Skittles Rainbow Experiment, consider trying these additional experiments to expand your scientific knowledge:
- Water Xylophone Science Experiment : Utilize water, food coloring, and glasses to see how you can make music. This water xylophone is an exciting sound-based science experiment. Learn how sound travels through sound waves.
- Classic Science Experiment : Explore classic science experiments like baking soda and vinegar volcanoes , growing crystals , or creating slime . These activities are excellent ways to learn the scientific method and form hypotheses around your observations.
Remember the goal is for your children to stay curious and strive to learn more through experiments and investigations.
The Skittles Rainbow Experiment is a remarkable science experiment demonstrating the concept of stratification and the diffusion of coloring in water. Following a simple step-by-step process, you can create a visually stunning rainbow effect using Skittles and water.
During the experiment, you will begin to observe the dissolution of the candy’s outer coloring into the water, forming a mesmerizing rainbow pattern .
Here’s a quick summary of the steps involved in the experiment:
- Place the Skittles in a circular pattern on the edge of a dish.
- Pour a small amount of warm water into the center of the dish.
- Observe the dissolution of colors from the Skittles and watch as the rainbow unfolds.
This colorful experiment offers a chance to introduce kids and students to the fascinating world of science in a playful and engaging manner. Explaining the magic behind this rainbow science experiment can pique their curiosity and love for science early on in their educational journey.
Remember : The Skittles science experiment can be a starting point for further inquiry into related topics like diffusion, solubility, and color mixing. Encourage your young learners to ask questions and explore related concepts to help them develop a stronger foundation in science.
The Skittles Rainbow Experiment is a visually captivating and educational activity that learners of all ages can enjoy. Try it, and don’t forget to share your experience with others. To stay updated with more exciting experiments and science activities , subscribe to get more educational resources.
Science Fun
Rainbow Skittles Color Science Experiment
In this fun and easy science experiment, we’re going to explore and investigate colors by making a beautiful rainbow with Skittles.
Instructions:
- Arrange the Skittles in a circle around the edge of the plate.
- Gently pour the warm water into the center of the plate until if fills up around the Skittles.
- Watch as the beautiful and colorful rainbow grows.
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How it Works:
The Skittle candies are coated with sugar and food coloring. The water dissolves the sugar and releases the food coloring which then slowly diffuses through the water.
Make This A Science Project:
Try other colorful candies. Try different temperatures of water. Try vinegar. Try adding salt to the water.
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Skittles Rainbow Experiment
Hey friends. Hope you’re having a great weekend. There’s nothing better than spending quality time with the kids. This week we’ll be exploring the wonders of science. Does your family love science experiments as much as we do? I love crafting with my kids, but the “ohhhhh’s and ahhhh’s” I hear every time we do a science experiment are priceless. Today we’re going to be making a rainbow with the Skittles Rainbow Experiment. Get ready for some serious fun—it’s going to be an absolute blast!
If you’ve been hanging out with us for a while, you know I’m all about keeping things simple when it comes to crafts for kids. Well, this science experiment is about as easy as it gets, and trust me, the kids are going to love this one! So, grab those Skittles, round up your young scientists, and let’s get right into the fun!
What You Need
- Skittles (experiment with the different colors)
Arrange your Skittles in a large circle around the plate. You can experiment with different color patterns. Alternate the colors in the same order, or do color blocking by placing the same colors next to each other.
Once your Skittles are arranged, pour warm water in the center of the plate until it gets to the edge of the candy. Watch the magic happen!
The Science Behind The Skittles Rainbow Experiment
Each Skittle candy is made up of sugar with food coloring. When we add warm water to the Skittles, something cool happens! The water starts to dissolve the sugar on the outside of the Skittles.
As the sugar dissolves, it lets the colors out, like a secret rainbow hiding inside each candy! Then, these colors start to spread out in the water, making a beautiful rainbow pattern. There are two scientific terms at play in this experiment we are going to explore.
This spreading out of the color is called diffusion , which is the movement of color molecules from high concentration of color (where the Skittles are) to areas of low concentration (other parts of the water). As the colored dyes spread out, they move along the concentration gradient . This process continues until the concentration of colored dyes is uniform throughout the water.
Concentration Gradient
The concentration gradient refers to the difference in concentration of a substance between two areas. In the Skittles experiment, it represents the difference in concentration of the colored dyes between the area where the Skittles are placed and the surrounding water. Initially, there is a high concentration of colored dyes around the Skittles and a low concentration in the surrounding water. This concentration gradient drives the process of diffusion .
So, when we watch the colors spread out from the Skittles, we’re seeing science in action! It’s like magic happening right in front of our eyes. And that’s why the Skittles Experiment is so much fun—it helps us learn about colors and how they move, all while we get to enjoy a tasty treat!
The reason the colors do not mix together is due to water stratification . Each color when dissolved creates a water solution with slightly different properties which creates a barrier that prevents the colors from mixing.
Explore Additional Fun Variations of this Experiment
– experiment with color variations (eg. different colored skittles, or arrange the colors on the plate in different patterns)
– try using cold water and note what happens and how long it takes for the rainbow to form in comparison to using warm water and hot water
– try using a different liquids to see how it affects the color spreading (eg. vinegar, milk, soda)
– once the colors have bled to the center of the plate add a sugar cube to the center and note what happens.
– do a comparison using different colored candies (eg. M&M’s, Smarties)
How fun was that?! I hope you enjoyed this science experiment as much as we did. Now that you’ve made a rainbow, it’s time to taste the rainbow…..with all the leftover Skittles!
Until next time
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Skittles experiment is a really quick and easy activity to set up and can be done again and again in slightly different ways to get all sorts of weird and wonderful results!
What you’ll need
How to do skittles science experiment.
Ready? Let’s go! First, you will need to arrange the skittles in a circle – try to make sure you have different colours next to each other. This is a great opportunity to get creative by trying different shapes and patterns of the sweets.
Next, carefully pour in some water into the middle of the circle until the Skittles are half submerged. Now sit back and watch!
Over the next few minutes, you will see coloured stripes form starting from the edge and gradually growing towards the middle of the circle.
The Science Explained
So what exactly is going on here? Why do Skittles dissolve in water? The first question we must ask ourselves is what is the crunchy, coloured layer of a Skittle made of? It is in fact made of sugar and food colouring. Water is able to dissolve (break down) the sugar into a sugar/water solution and this releases the colour.
In all solutions, the substance that does the dissolving is known as the solvent and the substance that is dissolved is known as the solute.
The final question we can ask ourselves is why do the colours go into neat stripes? Why do they not mix up? All Skittles look very similar but no two are identical. They have very slightly different amounts of sugar which means the section of water with one Skittle will have a very slightly different density to the section next to it.
The process whereby water gets split due to differences in density (or other things such as temperature) is known as stratification.
How to take the experiment further
Why not try some changes of your own to this experiment? What do you think would happen if you used cold water or hot water instead? Do you think the colours would appear in the water faster or more slowly?
There are loads of other ways that you can make this experiment your own by trying other sweets, using oil or milk instead of water or even putting food colouring into bits of the water before the coloured stripes start to form!
Here is a video showing the same experiment we tried with M&M’S
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Skittles Rainbow Experiment : Delicious At-Home Science
If you love color, you'll LOVE this Skittles rainbow experiment ! It's a science and math activity all in one. The perfect way to use up left over holiday candy or a tasty way to teach your kiddos at home.
Candy Science Experiment Supplies
Gobstoppers
- White plates
Skittles Rainbow Experiment Set Up
To get your experiment set up you'll want a white background, like a plate. Arrange your candies in a color pattern. Rainbow color orders give the prettiest outcome but you can play around with others as well.
- M&Ms: Laid out in repeating rainbows
- Fruit Mentos: Alternating colors
- Skittles: Instead of a Skittle rainbow my kids wanted to see how the warm and cool colors would work together. We had WAY less green ones to work with.
- Gobstoppers: Single candy and rainbow plate
Candy Rainbow Experiment
First record your hypothesis. What do you think is going to happen?
- Which candy color will move fastest?
- Which will be brightest?
- How long will the rainbow stay intact before mixing?
- What do you expect to see?
Add Water and Watch the Rainbow
Once you have your candies set up on plates, slowly add a little water to the center of each, making sure the water reaches the candy but doesn't submerge it.
Does the waxy chocolate affect the dissolving shell? What happens to the chocolate in water? How long will the color rainbow stay intact before mixing?
How quickly does the color run? Do any colors move faster than others? How is the candy center affected by the water?
The Gobstoppers were interesting. knowing they are made up of different layers of color we hoped to create a ring of colors using a single piece of candy on the plate.
A little disappointing in the multiple color results, we tried them in a full ring and they performed much better! Turns out there's only 2 colors in the Gobstoppers now.
Candy Rainbow Scientific Review
After you've recorded the progress over a 5 minute period, come back and see what's become of the candy itself.
- How much has dissolved in the water?
- How much color still remains? Has it blended or it is still a distinct rainbow?
- Are colors created that weren't originally there?
- Is the candy still edible?
Candy Science Is Colorful
Would you enjoy making a few candy rainbows at home? Which candy will you choose and how will you decide to arrange them? The big question is after your Skittles rainbow experiment are you going to EAT it?
If you try it at home, please share and tag us @partieswithacause on Facebook , Instagram , and Pinterest . We love seeing all your hard work!
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Up next….Week 6: UNDER THE SEA From The Shop Related Posts Get your Healthy Food Susbstitution List for BEGINNERSIf you're ready to improve your lifestyle and the health of your family, join me in the "Healthy Hostess" movement. Where we serve great food to the people we love. With food that nourishes the body and events that feed the soul. Use this food subtitution list to plan more intentional holidays and gatherings. Collect healthier recipes, less stuff, and more meaningful memories, with me at Parties With A Cause. You are on your way to Healthier events! One food substitution at a time. You sure are a cool mom. My kids would be playing with that for hours.  We’ve had a lot of fun our leftover candy this quarantine. Thank you so much. I try to be cool. 🙂  I want to come visit your house, you do the coolest things! Love this simple and fun idea! With candy!!!!!! Winner You are welcome any time! We try and have lots of fun around here. They really loved this one especially since they got to eat a few of the extras. Submit a Comment Cancel replyYour email address will not be published. Required fields are marked * Submit Comment This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed . Nice To Meet You! Check out the latest
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 How to Make a Skittles Rainbow SKITTLES MAGIC RAINBOW SCIENCE EXPERIMENTSupplies needed to make a skittles rainbow.
 HOW TO CREATE A SKITTLES RAINBOW HOW DOES THE SKITTLES RAINBOW EXPERIMENT WORK? THE SCIENCE BEHIND THE MAGICSkittles experiment faqs, why do you use warm water, why does the rainbow go towards the centre of the plate, why don't the skittles colours mix together, how long does the skittles rainbow last.  OTHER SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS FOR KIDS
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 Skittles Rainbow Science Experiment for KidsAll activities should be supervised by an adult. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links. Would you believe that Skittles can be used to teach science to kids? Yes! This Skittles Rainbow Science Experiment is a fun and easy way for kids of all ages to learn about Diffusion. Also, It is so much fun to watch the process as well as the result.  We love it when an activity involves minimal use of things, especially when we already have that at home. Your little one will love this simple Science experiment that takes a few minutes. Things you will need:
These are all you need to make this fun Experiment. Directions:Place Skittles in a circle along the rim of the plate. Create patterns by alternating colours.  Kids will get to practice using their fingers together to pick up and place the skittles on the plate. This action strengthens their fine motor skills. It’s both fun and helpful, especially if your child is a Toddler!  Add warm water to the middle of the plate such that it also touches the outer edge of the candies.  Now, Wait 30 seconds to watch the colours dissolve into the water.  Hot water releases colour faster than cold water. When you use cold water for this experiment, it takes longer for the colours to dissolve in water.  The results are stunning! You will see all the colours dissolve and move to the centre. When you mix paints, you can form new colours. Experiment with your finger to mix, swirl and create a whole range of new colours. Discover the magic of colour mixing!  Watch Video TutorialThe science behind this rainbow science experiment. Skittles are colourful candy treats that are coated with sugar and food colouring. When you add warm water, the sugar and colour start to dissolve. The sugar molecules move around to areas of lower concentration, so each Skittle will dissolve evenly and stay in its own lane. It’s like a tiny science experiment that’s fun to watch! More creative ways to do this experiment
Looking for more water Experiments like this? You will Love the Self Blooming flowers Science experiment Through this activity, they will get to observe the different colours of Skittles as they move through water, making an exciting discovery along the way. So why not give your kids a chance to expand their minds while having some delicious fun? Try out the Skittles Rainbow Science Activity today! To try this Later, Pin this image on your Science experiment ideas list!  Get Your ALL ACCESS Shop Pass here →  Skittles Rainbow ExperimentSt. Patrick’s Day, science and candy all in one perfectly simple science activity for kiddos to try this season. Our Skittles Rainbow Experiment is a fun twist on a classic science experiment . Why taste the rainbow when you can SEE the rainbow! Quick results make it super fun for kids to observe and try over and over again. SKITTLES RAINBOW EXPERIMENT FOR ST PATRICK’S DAY! SKITTLES RAINBOW FOR ST. PATRICK’S DAYOf course, you need to try out a skittles science experiment for St. Patrick’s Day! Do you remember our original Skittles Experiment ? I thought it would be fun to give the kids a shamrock theme science activity so we changed up the original a bit with colors and patterns. Our St Patrick’s Day Skittles Rainbow experiment is an awesome example of water density , and kids love this fascinating candy science project! Our candy science experiment uses a classic candy, Skittles! You could also try it with M&M’s and compare the results! Check out our floating M’s here too. EASY ST. PATRICK’S DAY SCIENCE ACTIVITY !We have a whole season of fun St. Patrick’s Day activities to try. Repeating experiments in different ways for young learners really helps to solidify understanding of the concepts being presented. Holidays and seasons present numerous occasions for you to re-invent some of these classic science activities like this Skittles Rainbow Experiment.  SKITTLES RAINBOW EXPERIMENTYou will want to set this experiment up where it won’t be bumped into but where you can easily watch the process unfold! Kids will have so much fun creating their own arrangements and patterns with the skittles. You should definitely have multiple plates handy! YOU WILL NEED:
Click below to get your quick and easy STEM challenges. A variety of new activities, which are engaging and not too long!  SKITTLES RAINBOW SET UP:
This is a great time to work in a little deeper learning, you can find information to teach your child about the scientific method here .
 Watch as the colors stretch and bleed out away from the Skittles, coloring the water. What happened? Did the Skittles colors mix? Note: After a while, the colors will begin to bleed together.  SKITTLES RAINBOW VARIATIONSYou can also try arranging the Skittles into a St. Patrick’s Day theme shape like a hat or rainbow! It’s a great hands-on activity for kids of multiple ages to enjoy (especially if there’s a bit of tasting involved). Remember you can try this with M&M’s too and compare or contrast the results. You can easily turn this into an experiment by changing some variables. Remember to only change one thing at a time!
WHY DON’T THE COLORS MIX?This Skittles Rainbow experiment demonstrates a process called stratification. The simple definition is that stratification is the arrangement of something into groups. While we were looking up information about stratification online some sources said that each color of Skittles have the same amount of food coloring that is being dissolved off the shell and so as it spreads it doesn’t mix when they meet. You can read about this concentration gradient here . CHECK OUT MORE ST PATRICK’S DAY SCIENCE:Easy Leprechaun Trap Ideas For Kids Leprechaun Trap Kits Pot of Gold Slime Recipe St Patrick’s Day Green Slime Recipe How To Make Rainbow Slime Leprechaun Trap Mini Garden Activity St Patrick’s Day Fizzy Pots Activity Popsicle Stick Catapult For St Patrick’s Day STEM Green Glitter Slime St Patrick’s Day Science Discovery Bottles Magic Milk Experiment Your kids will love this Skittles Rainbow Experiment!We have the best in St. Patrick’s Day science if you click here or on the image below. One Comment
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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:  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. Need More Science Ideas? Salt Painting Experiment Magic Milk Experiment Sink or Float Experiment Want science planned for you ALL YEAR LONG?!Do you want science planned for the ENTIRE CALENDAR YEAR !? This Endless Science Mega Bundle will save you so much time and keep your students engaged and excited about learning . This amazing resource contains 53 science topics including life science , physical science , earth science , and animal studies . You May Also Enjoy These Posts Leave a Comment Cancel replyYour email address will not be published. Required fields are marked * This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed . Subscribe to stay updated She Loves Science A Mom Inspiring with Science The Classic Skittles ExperimentFebruary 25, 2017 by Tracy Leave a Comment  Is it just me or is it now in style to get back to the classics… classic fashion, classic books, class acts? What makes something classic anyways? For kid’s science I have found that classic experiments are predictable, easy to set up, have a wow factor, and produce a ‘stick-ability’ in the minds of the beholders. So for Science Friday at Andrew’s preschool I knew this would be a perfect activity to do alongside learning about rainbows. How many preschoolers can say that they know what a rainbow tastes like? Hint: They think it tastes like sugar and honestly I’d like to think if I could taste a real rainbow it would taste a lot like sugar too! Here’s what you need:
When I am doing science with kids I always look for way to make it easy to clean up. This is probably the #1 reason I don’t do science at home every single day is because I don’t want to make a mess. But if all I need to do is fold up a paper plate when it is done then I’m all about it. Here’s how you do it:
What’s the science? For 3 year olds, we talked about what colors are in a rainbow, what pattern we should make for a rainbow, and guessed about why Skittles dissolve in water. For older kids, you can ask them to guess if the Skittles will dissolve faster in warm water or hypothesize on why the colors don’t initially mix together. The Skittles will dissolve faster the warmer the water because the warm water molecules are farther apart and able to fit the sugar molecules more quickly to form the solution. Here is an interesting article about why the colors don’t mix together in M&Ms similar to Skittles. (Sounds like another experiment in the making!)  Here’s a fast motion video but the effect will take a few minutes for the colors to join up in the center of the plate. Enjoy! Reader InteractionsLeave a reply cancel reply. Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked * This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed . Subscribe to our newsletter to get updates on all our latest product releases, sales, and some free goodies!  
Just a heads up-This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Affiliate I earn from qualifying purchases. If you buy something through one of my links-you won't pay a penny more-but I'll make a small commission. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.Purposeful play, rainbow rain science experiment, steam for kids. The Rainbow Rain Science Experiment is a variation of the popular Rain Cloud Science Experiment and is a simple and colorful way for kids to explore weather concepts! Has your child ever asked you to explain how or why rain falls from the sky? Well, this is the perfect hands-on way to teach your child all about how clouds create rain! This rainbow color weather experiment illustrates how rain falls from clouds once the rain inside the cloud becomes too heavy and falls to the ground due to gravity. Continue reading for the step by step directions, to shop this project and to get more fun and simple ways to explore Science with your child at home! Food Coloring Shaving Cream (Foam not Gel) Explore weather concepts Experiment with cause and effect Introduce new vocabulary words Hands-on learning experience Learn about the water cycle Explore clouds and rain Experiment with color mixing Shop this project! Rainbow Rain Cloud Science Experiment for KidsStep 1: add water, fill a vase or mason jar 3/4 full of water, step 2: create cloud, add shaving cream on top of the water to create a “fluffy cloud”, let the shaving cream settle for a couple of minutes before you begin, the thicker the layer of shaving cream-the longer the experiment will take, step 3: mix food coloring, in small bowls, mix food coloring and water-one for each color of the rainbow, if you can-use a different pipette for each color to avoid the colors from mixing and getting muddied, step 4: begin, using pipettes or droppers, invite your child to add the colored water to the shaving cream “cloud”, after a couple of minutes you will see the “rain” coming out of the cloud into the water , ask your child what they see, verbalize what you see, explain to your child the science behind the experiment (explanation below), step 5: continue, invite your child to continue adding colored water to the “cloud”, continue to observe and talk about you see, what is the science behind the rainbow rain experiment, how the shaving cream rain cloud experiment works. A cloud is formed when rain droplets combine together When the cloud gets too heavy and full- the rain droplets fall out of the cloud due to gravity. In the Rainbow Rain Experiment, the colored water acts as the rain. The shaving cream acts as the cloud. The clean water in the vase is the air. When the colored water “rain” gets too heavy it falls out of the shaving cream “cloud” and into the water “air”. How does rain fall from the sky?Water is everywhere on Earth Water Evaporates into the Atmosphere in the form of Water Vapor Water vapor rises and then cools causing Condensation Condensation is tiny water droplets The tiny water droplets gather together and form clouds Once the cloud is full of tiny water droplets and becomes too full or heavy- they fall out of the cloud and onto the earth (due to gravity) After the precipitation falls to the earth the whole water cycle begins again Rain Cloud experiment vocabulary wordsIntroduce these vocabulary words to your child while you’re conducting the experiment! Even if your child is young and won’t necessarily retain the new words-exposing even young children to advanced vocabulary will have a powerful effect on their literacy base as they get older. For older children, introduce the words, write the words down for them so they can see the spelling, and encourage your child to use the new words while you discuss the science experiment! Precipitation (release of water from the sky in the form of Rain, Sleet, Hail or Snow) Atmosphere (thin layer of gases surrounding our planet) Evaporation (when liquid changes to gas or vapor) Water Vapor (water in the form of transparent vapor) Condensation (when water vapor cools and turns into liquid form of water) Water Cycle (the process of water moving around from air to land) More Rainbow Activities! 10 Spring Books for Kids Rainbow Cupcake Science Experiment Rainbow Lava Lamp Science Experiment Rainbow Jello Science Experiment Rainbow Rice Sensory Bin Building Shapes Task Cards Kool-Aid Playdough Erupting Rainbow Volcano Hello there! I'm Sarah Britton and I am so excited you stopped by! Join me as we explore simple yet effective ways to create purposeful play opportunities for your child. Back to School 10 FramesSign up to our email squad and get your hands on this set of back to school 10 frame cards, this website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience. learn more here.. |
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Instructions: Grab your plate and organize the Skittles in a circle around the edge of the plate. Kids can try different color patterns each time they do the experiment! Gently pour water in the center of the plate. Warm water works better than cold. Make sure there is enough water to go past the Skittles while filling the plate.
How to do the Rainbow Skittles Science Experiment rainbow. Step 1: Place the Skittles in a circle around your dish at the edge of the plate. If working with younger kids, they will be strengthening their fine motor skills while doing this. They will also use their pincer grasp to place the skittles onto the plate.
Skittles Rainbow Science Experiment
Arrange Skittles. Arrange the Skittles in rainbow order all around the edge of the plate. The order we chose was: purple, blue, green, yellow, orange, red. 3. Add Warm Water. Slowly pour some hot water into the middle of the plate and let it spread all the way to the edge, where the Skittles are positioned.
Skittles Rainbow Experiment Instructions. To create a colourful rainbow, you will first need to place your white bowl or plate somewhere flat where it will not get bumped or disturbed. If using the experiment worksheets, print out a copy of them for each child. There are a couple of different worksheets to choose from, depending on the age of ...
Rainbow Skittles Experiment. Place skittles in a circle on a plate. You could have fun at this stage trying out different colour combinations and making different shapes with the skittles. Once you have laid out all the skittles carefully pour some warm water into the centre of the plate. Wait a few seconds and you will start to see the colour ...
The Skittles Rainbow Experiment is a great way to introduce them to scientific concepts, and the best part is that it only requires a few basic items. This fantastic activity involves utilizing Skittles candy, a plate, and some warm or hot water to create a marvelous display of colors.
Plate Warm water (just enough to cover the surface of the plate) Directions: 1️⃣Place skittles in a pattern of alternating colors, along the inside edge of the plate. 2️⃣Pour warm water in the middle to cover the surface of the plate. 3️⃣Watch as the colors of the skittles slowly melt off of the candy and flow to the center of the ...
Rainbow Skittles Color Science Experiment
The Science Behind The Skittles Rainbow Experiment. Each Skittle candy is made up of sugar with food coloring. When we add warm water to the Skittles, something cool happens! The water starts to dissolve the sugar on the outside of the Skittles. As the sugar dissolves, it lets the colors out, like a secret rainbow hiding inside each candy!
First, you will need to arrange the skittles in a circle - try to make sure you have different colours next to each other. This is a great opportunity to get creative by trying different shapes and patterns of the sweets. 2. of 3. Next, carefully pour in some water into the middle of the circle until the Skittles are half submerged.
Making a Skittles rainbow is a quick, colorful kitchen science experiment that will thrill the kids and engage their creativity. This is an dazzling and simple experiment for kids that teaches about color mixing and how sugar dissolves in water. Perfect for St. Patrick's Day science activities or just for fun at home!
This is a simple science experiment with Skittles that every child has to try. Make a circle with skittles on a plate, add warm water and enjoy the rainbow! ...
To get your experiment set up you'll want a white background, like a plate. Arrange your candies in a color pattern. Rainbow color orders give the prettiest outcome but you can play around with others as well. Skittles: Instead of a Skittle rainbow my kids wanted to see how the warm and cool colors would work together.
Do you love science and candy? If you do, this Skittles rainbow science experiment is for you. It's easy - as long as you don't eat all of your materials ahe...
2. Slowly pour water into the centre of the plate. If you pour it too fast the skittles may float out of place which will distort the rainbow. A few seconds after the water reaches the edge, the rainbow will start to appear. My 7yr old poured the water onto the plate for our experiment and then the girls eagerly waited for the rainbow to appear.
Add warm water to the middle of the plate such that it also touches the outer edge of the candies. Now, Wait 30 seconds to watch the colours dissolve into the water. Hot water releases colour faster than cold water. When you use cold water for this experiment, it takes longer for the colours to dissolve in water. The results are stunning!
SKITTLES RAINBOW SET UP: Set out a bowl of skittles or you can let the kids sort them out themselves! Let your child have fun arranging them in a pattern around the edge of a plate alternating colors in any number they like- singles, doubles, triples, etc…. Pop in a St. Patrick's Day shaped cookie cutter to the center of the plate just to ...
Empty and dry off the plate. Make a circle of candy around the plate again. Put a small pile of sugar (about a quarter teaspoon) directly in the middle of the plate. Slowly pour warm tap water near the center of the plate (but not directly onto the pile of sugar). Watch the plate closely for a few minutes.
3D Print a Rainbow with Sand and Glue. In this fun science experiment, students simulate the additive process of 3D printing by making small 3D printed sculptures using sand and glue. No 3D printer is needed for this experiment! Students can use favorite colors of sand for their creations—or try making a rainbow stack like the example shown.
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 ...
The Classic Skittles Experiment
Using pipettes or droppers, invite your child to add the colored water to the shaving cream "cloud". After a couple of minutes you will see the "rain" coming out of the cloud into the water. Ask your child what they see. Verbalize what you see. Explain to your child the science behind the experiment (explanation below)