In Ms. Rankin’s fifth grade class, students have entered their science unit where they’re learning about matter. They discovered how everything is made of matter, and matter is made of atoms. When these atoms combine, they make molecules. Students investigated how different atoms form to make molecules that represent items we see in our everyday lives–and they did so using candy gumdrops!
In groups, students designated a certain colored gumdrop to an atom, and using toothpicks they put these atoms together to make replicas of molecules. They started with simple molecules, like oxygen and water, and then explored more challenging molecule combinations like sodium chloride (table salt) and acetone.
This lab helped students discover how atoms form to make molecules, and how everyday items we use, eat, or drink are formed from these molecules. Students had a blast learning about and building these candy molecules–but beware, the students claim that these candy molecules did not taste as good as they looked.