12 Candy Cane Science Experiments

Candy canes are everywhere this time of year. Do you decorate with them? Do you eat them? What do you do with the leftovers? Try these candy cane science experiments with your kids this season.

Candy Cane Science Experiments

Dissolving candy canes are probably the most popular candy cane science experiment. Check out our Dissolving Candy Cane Science Experiment and test how fast will candy canes dissolve in different temperatures of water? We used mini candy canes for this. Be sure to download the free printable to record your data.

A Mom With A Lesson Plan did a similar Christmas science experiment with large candy canes.

Test how candy canes dissolve in different liquids like Science Sparks did. Besides water, what else would you use? Try vinegar, milk, fruit juice, oil, etc. Does the type of liquid make a difference in how the candy canes dissolve?

Dancing Candy Canes – Use the baking soda and vinegar reaction to make candy cane pieces dance.

Design an experiment to test how strong is a candy cane? Science Sparks has the details.

Learn how to bend your candy canes with this science idea from Preschool Powol Packets.

Turn your candy canes or peppermints into different shaped ornaments by melting them in the oven. Get the instructions at Left Brain Craft Brain.

Make peppermint fireworks – This is a twist on the dissolving candy cane experiment. When you use peppermints, you’ll see what looks like fireworks in the bowl. Playdough to Plato shows us how.

Peppermint Oobleck – Use peppermints or candy canes to make this fun red and white striped sensory play from Little Bins for Little Hands.

Hot Cocoa Science – Adding candy canes (among other things) to the hot cocoa makes for a fun way to incorporate some science to the hot cocoa making and drinking by practicing observation skills, measuring, making predictions, and investigating.

Fizzing Candy Canes – For a festive twist on a standard baking soda and vinegar exploration, add some candy canes. Find out what happens at Teaching Mama.

Candy Cane Sensory Bottle – Lemon Lime Adventures created this great sensory bottle for an 18 month sibling while her older brothers were conducting a dissolving candy cane experiment. Scroll to the bottom of the post to check it out.

Do you have any candy cane science experiments to add to our list? Leave a link in the comments or share on our Facebook page!

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This post was originally published on November 23, 2015.