Candy Cane Dissolving Race

What you need

• Candy cane, 1 (or 4 striped peppermint candies)
• Zip-top bag, 1
• Rolling pin, 1
• Clear cups, 4
• Water, half a cup
• Water, half a cup
• White vinegar, half a cup
• Cooking oil, half a cup
• Phone, 1
• Paper, 1 sheet
• Pencil, 1
• Crayons or markers, 1 (optional)

How to do it

Grown-up prep: Gather a candy cane, a zip-top bag, a rolling pin, four clear cups and the four liquids. Lay a towel on the table and set out paper and a pencil for sketching.

1. Snap off one small chunk, then put the rest in the zip bag.
2. Tap the bag gently with the rolling pin to make small pieces. Ask for help if you need it
3. Fill four cups halfway: cold water, warm water, vinegar and oil.
4. Label each cup so you know which racer is which.
5. Guess which liquid will win the race and which will lose.
   Ask: Which cup do you think will make the candy disappear first? Which one will be slowest?
6. Ready, set, go! Drop one candy piece into every cup at once.
7. Every two minutes, peek at each cup and sketch what you see.
8. Time's up! Crown the winning cup and check your guess.
   Ask: Why do you think the oil cup barely changed at all?
9. Bonus race: a whole chunk versus crushed bits in warm water.
10. Now challenge a friend to guess the winner! What could you race next?
    Ask: What other candy or liquid would you like to put in the next race?

Play it again

• Size showdown: race a big chunk, a medium chunk and a tiny bit in warm water.
• Stir or still: race two warm cups, stirring one and leaving one alone.
• Candy swap: try a gummy, a hard candy and a sugar cube in warm water.