Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Make Your Own Rock Candy

***NEEDS ADULT SUPERVISION***

Here's another fun project from Pinterest. Rock candy is so delicious. My sister's and I used to have this little store around our way and we'd each get our favorite color on the way home from school. Now a days my daughter finds it every now and then at Mars Supermarket or at Wockenfus candy shop at the mall. Anyways here's a chance to make some of your own. Enjoy!

Here's what you will need:
  • A wooden skewer (you can also use a clean wooden chopstick)
  • A clothespin
  • 1 cup of water
  • 2-3 cups of sugar
  • A tall narrow glass or jar

  • Directions:
    1. Clip the wooden skewer into the clothespin so that it hangs down inside the glass and is about 1 inch (2.5 cm) from the bottom of the glass. (as shown)
    2. Remove the skewer and clothespin and put them aside for now.
    3. Get a helpful adult!
    4. Pour the water into a pan and bring it to boil.
    5. Pour about 1/4 cup of sugar into the boiling water, stirring until it dissolves.
    6. Keep adding more and more sugar, each time stirring it until it dissolves, until no more will dissolve. This will take time and patience and it will take longer for the sugar to dissolve each time.Be sure you don't give up too soon. Once no more sugar will dissolve, remove it from heat and allow it to cool for at least 20 minutes.
    7. NOTE: While it is cooling, some people like to dip half of the skewer in the sugar solution and then roll it in some sugar to help jump start the crystal growth. If you do this, be sure to let the skewer cool completely so that sugar crystals do not fall off when you place it back in the glass.
    8. Have your friendly ADULT carefully pour the sugar solution into the jar almost to the top. Then submerge the skewer back into the glass making sure that it is hanging straight down the middle without touching the sides.
    9. Allow the jar to fully cool and put it someplace where it will not be disturbed.
    10. Now just wait. The sugar crystals will grow over the next 3-7 days.
    ***Want colored rock candy? Add food coloring to your sugar water and make sure sure that it is pretty dark in color for the best result.

    For further information visit sciencebob

    Books related to our project:

    Candy Experiments
    Brilliant use of Valentine's, Easter, Halloween, and other holiday candy! Fun, colorful, and full of surprises, Candy Experiments will have kids happily pouring their candy down the drain and learning some basic science along the way.  Candy is more than a sugary snack. With candy, you can become a scientific detective. You can test candy for secret ingredients, peel the skin off candy corn, or float an “m” from M&M’s. You can spread candy dyes into rainbows, or pour rainbow layers of colored water. You'll learn how to turn candy into crystals, sink marshmallows, float taffy, or send soda spouting skyward. You can even make your own lightning. Candy Experiments teaches kids a new use for their candy. As children try eye-popping experiments, such as growing enormous gummy worms and turning cotton candy into slime, they’ll also be learning science. Best of all, they’ll willingly pour their candy down the drain. Candy Experiments contains 70 science experiments, 29 of which have never been previously published. Chapter themes include secret ingredients, blow it up, sink and float, squash it, and other fun experiments about color, density, and heat. The book is written for children between the ages of 7 and 10, though older and younger ages will enjoy it as well. Each experiment includes basic explanations of the relevant science, such as how cotton candy sucks up water because of capillary action, how Pixy Stix cool water because of an endothermic reaction, and how gummy worms grow enormous because of the water-entangling properties. Available on amazon

    Candy Around the World

    Candy is an important part of history, culture and traditions around the world. From the Plum Crack Seed candy in China to Dulce de Leche from Mexico, the candies from around the world are as diverse as their culture. Did you know that children in Italy receive chocolate eggs filled with toys on Easter? Or that in Mexico they celebrate El Dia de los Muertos instead of Halloween? Candy Around the World takes the reader on an exciting confectionery tour around the world. Each chapter focuses on a specific region and provides an exciting look into the history and origin of their sweet treat. Designed for children and parents to read, explore, cook and learn together, Candy Around the World is filled with recipes, games, activities and fun facts to make learning about history and cultures around the world fun. This book is sure to be a delight for the entire family. Visit www.candyaroundtheworldbook.com for more games, science experiments, activities, recipes and more! Available on Amazon

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