Sugar Science

Our Lunch Bunch enrichment group tried this super-simple, really cool science experiment today.  The idea came from a Mailbox Magazine (2009) preschool edition.  

Supplies: sugar cubes, colored water, tray or shallow dish

To begin, we asked our students to observe the properties of a sugar cube.  We used sugar cubes in class recently so the novelty has worn off a bit.  (Read: They are not as tempted to lick them as they are when they're first introduced!)

Then, we made a hypothesis about what would happen to the sugar when it mixed with water.  Many students thought that the cubes would "melt".  Others thought that the cubes would "get wet".  Good ideas!

Time to conduct the experiment!

This proved to be easier said than done!  The aluminum trays moved around a bit, and the cubes did not want to stack neatly.  In the end, each group was able to form some type of pyramid structure.

They tried to pour the water next to the cubes, and not right onto them.

The sugar cubes absorbed the water so quickly!

Of course, after the initial experiment, the students wanted to try adding more cubes to the puddle.  They didn't tire of watching the sugar cubes dissolve into the red water.

The sugary water provided a very cool sensory experience.  The last few minutes were spent swirling it around, feeling it between our fingers, and trying to get the last of the sugar to dissolve.

Just in case the winter weather has you cooped up inside the house this week, give this sugar cube experiment a try.  I guarantee that your kiddos will ask to do it over and over again!

Have fun playing and learning with your children.