Diffusion science experiment using candy. This lesson explores how the color of candy moves through water. We’re using Skittles® to show diffusion and learn about concentration gradients.
Materials needed:
Skittles® candy in several colours
plate
water
magnifying glass (optional)See all the ready-made science and math thematic teaching units in our Play Academy’s Science and Math Pathway and make your teaching easier!
Begin by sorting the Skittles® into colors. Place the candy around the outside of a plate in a color pattern. You can choose how many of each color to use and what pattern to create but use at least 2 or 3 colors. Gently pour water into the centre of the plate. Pour carefully so you don’t cause the Skittles® to move, and until the plate is filled with a shallow layer of water. 
Look closely at the sweets.
What can you see happening? You might like to use a magnifying glass to get a close-up look. You’ll notice the colour of the candy begins to spread into the water. Keep watching and observe how the colour spreads. Over a short period of time (just a few minutes) the change increases.
Until soon, the whole plate of water is filled with colour.
Think like a scientist
As you’re watching the water change color, you can talk about the science behind it. Great science always starts with questions, so encourage your children to wonder. Maybe they have answers to their questions, maybe they want to alter their experiment to test out their ideas, maybe they want to do some research to get more answers. All of this wondering and experimenting is developing your children’s minds to think like scientists.
