West Babylon UFSD

Second graders at Santapogue Elementary School became budding scientists on Dec. 10 as they explored the fascinating properties of candy canes during a hands-on science investigation.

The second grade classes gathered for the experiment, beginning with a discussion about how scientists use their senses, make predictions and observe changes during an investigation. Students then worked in small groups to form hypotheses about what would happen when a candy cane was submerged in three different liquids: hot water, cold water and vinegar.

Before beginning, students recorded their predictions, using vocabulary such as dissolve, temperature, mixture and reaction, terms they have been learning during their states of matter unit.

As the candy canes were placed into the cups, second graders leaned in to observe the changes happening right before their eyes. They watched closely as colors swirled, stripes faded and the shape of the candy cane transformed at different rates depending on the liquid. Students compared results, discussed why hot water caused the fastest changes, and reflected on how temperature and acidity can affect dissolving.

The engaging activity allowed students to apply scientific thinking, collaborate with peers and connect their classroom learning to a real-world experiment, all while having fun.