Science Experiment: Bend Your Candy Cane!!

It's been just over a week since I published our first candy cane science experiment, and the kids had so much fun with it (and we have so many candy canes!) that I have another science project to share! 

Candy canes are formed into a shepherd's crook shape after the cooking process is complete. Then, the hot candy is bent.  When it cools, it is hard and very non-bending.  (Click here for more details!)  A little heat, though, can make it malleable once more.  We used this experiment to talk about melting and cooling.  We discussed other things that change when they get hot (like cheese, ice, and crayons).  We also love to talk about how things work and how they're made...even candy canes!!

Simple Supplies:

• candy canes
• aluminum foil
• cookie sheet
• optional: tongs

Easy How-To:

1- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and line a cookie sheet with aluminum foil.

2- Help your children unwrap the candy canes.

3- Let them try to bend one...even just in half to make a hill shape.

4- Ask them if they think heat would make any difference.  Help them record their prediction.

5- Place 1-2 unwrapped candy canes on a cookie sheet.  After the first batch, try building "forms" for the candy to melt around and predict how the candy will behave as it melts.

6- Put the candy canes in the oven.  Check them after 2 1/2 - 3 minutes.

7- Pull the candy canes out of the oven.  Let them cool for about a minute.  Be very careful with the hot candy and cookie sheet.  Be certain your children do not burn themselves. 

8- As soon as the candy is cool enough to touch (about a minute), take it off the aluminum foil and set it on a paper plate.  I peeled it off the foil and set it on the plates for the kids to touch.  Once it is cool enough for your children to touch, let them try to bend it again.  This is when I tied one in a knot (see the first picture!).   If the candy cools too much, it will be very difficult to separate from the aluminum foil and will crack again when they try to bend it.  It is important to pay very close attention to the candy as it cools.  

You can also use tongs to remove the candy canes from the aluminum foil and bend the candy canes while they are still hot.  See what shapes you can create!  There are more pictures of ours below!

9- If you cook your candy canes for about 10 minutes, the entire candy will melt.  This is very fun to experiment with different aluminum foil molds and see what kinds of "new" candies you can make!

I'd love to see what you make--feel free to leave me a link, load a picture on my PreschoolPowolPackets Facebook page, or send me an email!!

And here's a special shout-out to Candy Experiments for inspiring this particular experiment! 

And here are some more of my kiddos' creations:

Do you love Christmas-themed science?  If so, be sure to check out my eBook, 25 Christmas Science Projects for Kids!

I also have more than a dozen fun Christmas science experiments and Christmas STEM activities in this FREE collection. It's chock full of science projects, tactile learning activities, and more:

And for more Christmas activities, try the Magnetic Christmas Tree, Penguin Ornaments, Button Tree Ornaments, {FREE} Which One is Different Christmas Cards,  Sandpaper Christmas Trees, Easy Christmas Ornament for preschoolers, and 20+ Christmas Busy Bags & Bins! 

Happy Educating,

Carla

I may share at any of these parties!