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The dissolving Skittles experiment is one example of a simple kitchen experiment that teaches little ones about dissolution without realizing it. Traditionally, this experiment involves placing Skittles on a plate and adding water to observe the colors spread. To personalize, the teacher can supply water of varying temperatures or liquids like vinegar or soda to see which dissolves Skittles fastest, encouraging hypothesis-making.

There are a lot of experiments I liked to do in my kitchen or at school. The first one is a combination of cornstarch and water! I am not sure the exact term for this concoction, but it allows students to interact with solids and liquids and make observations about different textures. Another experiment I enjoy is good old vinegar and baking soda,  which allows students to examine chemical reactions! Lastly, my favorite, allows students to examine how animals protect themselves during winter using blubber or fat! You cover your students hand with crisco or vegetable fat, and submerge their hand in ice water. While the water is still chilly, it allows students to feel the difference that protective layer makes. 

 Two years ago, I had the incredible opportunity to attend the Science and Cooking program at Harvard, which transformed the way I teach by making science more engaging and relatable for my students. I’ve implemented many of the concepts from the program in my classes with great success. If you’d like to learn more, feel free to check out this link: Science and Cooking at Harvard.

Hi Kathryn, I am a preservice secondary science teacher. I really like the idea of this experiment and how it can be tied to real-world things! Thanks for sharing this!

I love experiments like the Skittles one because they allow students to observe general behavior and reactions to certain things. One of my favorite experiments is the celery or white flowers in dyed water. Watching the change in color helps students see how different parts of a plant support the whole plant and its growth.