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Gummy Bear Osmosis

data table for gummy bear experiment

Check out our FUN Gummy Bear Osmosis experiment!

This is a simple and fun experiment for children 12 and under (and their moms).

A quick safety note: 

Don’t let your kids eat the gummy bears after they’ve soaked in the various solutions. The ones in baking soda and vinegar will taste awful, and they will all contain bacteria as your kids will be handling them and then putting them back in the fluids.

AND, if you have a cat like we do, the cat might lick from the containers and/or drop a hair or two among the various solutions.

BTW – because of our cat, I did talk about the importance of strict scientific procedures and how data can be contaminated.  My kids know that our experiment was more of a fun experiment – and that some contamination undoubtedly occurred.

Just a thought – you might want to buy TWO bags of gummy bears – one for the experiment and one for nibbling.

_____________________________________________________________________

Some educational info before you start (so you can explain the science to your kids):

Most sugary candy dissolves in water.  In fact, you might want to try this experiment first, so your kids understand that this is true.

Gummy bears are an exception – they don’t dissolve in water .  This is because they’re made with gelatin . When gummy bears are made, gelatin and water are heated and mixed (like when you make gelatin at home). As the mixture cools, water leaves the candy  and the candy hardens and becomes gummy/chewy.

When you put a gummy bear in water, it is a solute , and the water molecules are a solvent. Since the gummy bear does not contain water (remember, the water was removed when the gummy bear was made), water now moves into the bear by the process of osmosis . Osmosis is the process whereby water moves from a greater concentration of water to a lower concentration of water (from a container of water to the candy bear).

Also, gummy bears have a semi-permeable membrane – their surface has holes in it and these holes allow small, non-charged particles like water in, but don’t let larger particles (like sugar) out.

At the beginning of the experiment, there is less water and more gelatin inside each gummy bear. As time passes, this changes, as the gelatin makes the gummy bear act like a sponge, absorbing water rather than being dissolved in it (like other candies).

Try the  Gummy Bear Osmosis  experiment and see what happens!

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This Gummy Bear Osmosis experiment takes less than an hour to set up, but the actual experiment runs for 48 hours.

Materials You Need for the Gummy Bear Osmosis Experiment

  • Gummy Bears
  • A glass container for each liquid/solution
  • One tablespoon of salt
  • A tablespoon of sugar
  • One tablespoon of baking soda
  • Kitchen scale
  • Paper towels
  • Clock or timer
  • Gummy Bear Experiment Sheet (included at the end of this post, although the spacing is slightly different)
  • Gummy Bear Scientific Data Table (included at the bottom of this post)

Instructions for the Gummy Bear Osmosis Experiment

  • Label each glass with its contents: water, salt water, sugar water, etc.
  • Fill the glass labeled water with one-half cup plain water.
  • Fill the glass labeled salt water with one-half cup water. Thoroughly mix in one tablespoon of salt (make sure all the salt is dissolved).
  • Fill the glass labeled sugar water with one-half cup water. Thoroughly mix in one tablespoon of sugar (again, make sure all the sugar is dissolved).
  • Fill the glass labeled baking soda water with one-half cup water and thoroughly mix in one tablespoon of baking soda.
  • Fill the other containers with their respective liquids.
  • Select a gummy bear for each glass.
  • Measure the length, height and width of each gummy bear, weigh each gummy bear and write this info on the Gummy Bear Scientific Data Table.  If your scale isn’t able to weigh just one gummy bear you can still do this experiment. Visually, your kids will be able to see the difference in the bears pre- and post-experiment.
  • Check – and write down the time.
  • Now, add a gummy bear to each glass.
  • Wait 12 hours.
  • Remove the gummy bears from their respective glasses.
  • Let your kids ooh and ahh and talk about the differences in the bears.
  • Now, measure and if you can,weigh each bear. Use the Gummy Bear Scientific Data Table to write down your results.
  • Put the gummy bears back in their solutions.
  • Check back after 24 hours and again measure and weigh each gummy bear.  Again, give your kids plenty of time to talk about the results.
  • Again, put the gummy bears back in their glasses.
  • Check back after 48 hours, measure and weigh each gummy bear. Use the Gummy Bear Scientific Data Table to write down your results.

What did you discover?  Did your gummy bears GROW – by A LOT!?! Which gummy bears grew the most, without losing shape?

Explain scientifically what happened., check out our experiment below., this is the beginning of it..

Gummy Bear Osmosis Science Experiment - How to Homeschool

(our cat lost interest quickly)

Gummy Bear Osmosis Experiment – After 12 hours

Gummy Bear Osmosis Science Experiment - How to Homeschool

Gummy Bear Osmosis Experiment – After 24 hours

data table for gummy bear experiment

Our water gummy bear has lost part of its leg!  And I can clearly see gummy particles in some of the water solutions.

But our vinegar gummy bear isn’t a blob yet, and I’ve heard that’s what happens. I’m getting a little worried – did we do something wrong?

Gummy Bear Osmosis Experiment – After 48 hours

data table for gummy bear experiment

A lot of the gummy bears are falling apart after 48 hours!  I originally planned to check again after 72 hours – but they just won’t make it!  The vinegar gummy is a blob (yeah!), and the water and soda gummy bears are literally falling apart. This gummy bear osmosis experiment was so much fun for the kids!

From http://mirada.oursciencefair.com/SchoolHome.aspx

Gummy Bear Osmosis Science Experiment - How to Homeschool

I’ve included the forms I used below – in case you’d like to use them ____________________________________________________________________________

GUMMY BEAR SCIENCE EXPERIMENT

Gummy bear osmosis.

Gummy Bear Osmosis Science Experiment - How to Homeschool

TAP WATER                                                                                                            

DISTILLED WATER

SALT WATER                                                                                                         

BAKING SODA WATER

SUGAR WATER                                                                                                     

SODA                                                                                                                        

_____________________________________________________________

                                                                       

Scientific Data Table

Gummy Bear Osmosis Science Experiment - How to Homeschool

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Gummy Bear Experiment

Osmosis can be a difficult concept for kids to understand. I’ve always found that visual explanations really hit home with kids and help them to understand. Today we have a growing gummy bear experiment that is a perfect compliment to our Gummy Mummy experiment that explores the science of desiccation and diffusion. Because gummy bears are made of gelatin they will not dissolve in water like other candy will. They will however absorb liquids and change in shape and size. We’ve set up an experiment with four different liquids to see the difference in how the gummy bears are able to absorb each and how they change over the course of the day.

Great Growing Gummies – Gummy Bear Osmosis Experiment

What you will discover in this article!

Gummy Bear Science - Osmosis Experiment

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What is Osmosis?

Scientifically, Osmosis is when solvent molecules (usually water) cross a semipermeable membrane from an area of lower solute concentration to an area of higher solute concentration. This creates equilibrium between the solute and solvent, balancing the concentration of solutes on both sides of the membrane. Osmosis is a passive process in that it requires no energy from the cell to occur.

Now – that’s a lot of big words and concepts so let’s break down that vocabulary:

Solvent : substance able to dissolve other substances. Solute : a dissolved substance Membrane : a thin, soft flexible sheet or layer especially of a plant or animal part Semi-Permeable Membrane : a membrane that only allows certain substances to pass through. Concentration : the amount of a component in a given substance. Equilibrium : a state of adjustment between opposing or divergent influences or elements

Gummy Bear Osmosis Lab

Gummy Bears Small Clear Bowls or Jars Water Sparkling Water White Vinegar Oil

I like to start this in the morning so you can check on it throughout the day and see the changes in the gummy bears.

STEP 1: Lay out four bowls on the table and put a gummy bear in each bowl. Then beside each bowl put another gummy bear of the same color so you can compare the two easily over the course of the day.

STEP 2: Measure equal amounts of each of your solvents. We used a quarter of a cup of water, sparkling water, white vinegar and oil and poured them over the gummy bears in the bowl.

data table for gummy bear experiment

STEP 3: This is a great time to have a discussion about osmosis and have your kids make predictions about what they think is going to happen in each bowl and why. What effect might each substance have on the gummy bear? Have the kids write down their predictions.

STEP 4: Set a timer for an hour and let the bears do their thing.

STEP 5: Check back each hour for the rest of the day and write down observations over the course of the day.

Gummy Bear Osmosis Experiment Results

Now the exciting part… the results of our experiment! Let’s take a look at the results individually first.

Gummy bear soaked in water

When gummy bears are soaked in water the bear will swell and grow in size. This is because the water will flow into the gummy bear through its semi-permeable membrane. The sugar molecules try to spread and dissolve but they can’t get out of the gelatin so they expand resulting in the gummy bear expanding.

Sparkling Water

Gummy Bear soaked in Sparkling Water

Will have a similar result to water. The only difference is that the addition of carbon dioxide to the water can have an acidic effect on the bears which would cause the outside to soften allowing more water to be able to pass through the bear and it swells up more. You will also be able to observe the carbon dioxide bubble sticking to the outside of the bear.

White Vinegar

Gummy bear soaked in vinegar

White Vinegar will have an acidic reaction with the gummy bear softening the outside of it, however the liquid is not as easily absorbed into the bear as water so the gummy may get softer but will not change in size as much as the bears soaked in water.

Gummy bear soaked in oil

Because oil is polar it doesn’t mix well with water or other substances. The oil will have very little effect on the bears and you will not see much change if any at all. This gummy bear will also retain its color the best because the oil isn’t breaking down the bear or being absorbed into it so the structure and color will remain the same.

Comparing the Results

The most fascinating part of this experiment is comparing the results of the different solvents. Set the gummy bears out side by side with their controls so you can visually see the differences.

data table for gummy bear experiment

To get really scientific with your results, which is perfect for your older kids or kids needing more of a challenge, have them weigh and measure the gummies and compare results with the controls and each other.

You can also dissect the gummy bears and view them under a microscope to look for microscopic changes.

Extension Ideas

I think your kids will love this Gummy Bear Lab experiment on Osmosis! Encourage your students to get creative and add other variations like adding things like salt or baking soda to the water to see if it changes the results. Or try other solvents.

Want more osmosis experiments? Try this Rainbow Water Beads Experiment or the Bouncy Egg Experiment which involves a chemical reaction and osmosis.

Want more gummy science? Check out our Gummy Mummies . Or make your own gummies! You can check out these recipes on the site: Valentine’s Day Gummies , Star Wars Gummies , Rainbow Dragon Egg Gummies .

5 Days of Smart STEM Ideas for Kids

Get started in STEM with easy, engaging activities.

The Gummi Bear Experiment

Background information:.

Cells will lose or gain water based on the solutions they are in. A gummi bear can serve as a model for the cell. If it is placed in different solutions, it will gain or lose water. In this activity, you will soak your gummi bear overnight in three different solutions, then record your observations about changes that occurred.

Materials Needed (not all may be used):

Gummi bears Beakers or cups Salt, Sugar, Distilled Water Scale (optional)

The Question:

Will a gummi bear lose or gain water in each of the following solutions:

  • distilled water
  • sugar water

The Experiment

Design an experiment to answer the question. Sketch your design below and have it approved before you continue. Sketch how you will set up your cups with the gummi bears.

Construct a data table based on how you plan to collect data to answer the experimental questions. Your table should consider that you will need to collect data today and then tomorrow after the bears have soaked over night.

Set-Up Your Experiment

Use the materials provided to set up your experiment. Be sure to label your cups or beakers so you know which one is yours tomorrow

Summarize what happened in each of your solutions. Your description can include sketches showing how your gummi bears looked before and after. Be prepared to share your results with the class.

Related Experiments with Osmosis

Observe Diffusion in a Bag  – model diffusion using a plastic baggie, iodine and a beaker.   This  article  explains what happens.

Transport Across the Cell Membrane  – simple diagram shows how molecules enter the cell through diffusion, facilitated diffusion, and osmosis

Observing Osmosis  – use an egg, vinegar, corn syrup, will take a few days

Salt and Elodea  – quick lab to observe the effects of salt water on elodea cells

  • Elementary Homeschool

Gummy Bear Science Project

data table for gummy bear experiment

Are you wondering what a gummy bear experiment is? What liquid makes a gummy bear grow? Or what happens when you put gummy bears in water?

Did you know a gummy bear will grow when placed in a variety of liquids by using the process known as osmosis? Since the gummy bear water was removed when it was created, when you place a gummy bear in water the water will move into the bear by osmosis. But in which liquid will the gummy bear grow the most? Find out as we use the scientific method in this gummy bear science experiment !

Undoubtedly, this is one of our favorite science experiments of all time, we call it Gummy Bear Osmosis.  One of our contributors, Jordyn C. Jordyn , performed this gummy bear osmosis experiment with her children, and we will share her results with you below, but if you’d like to perform your own experiment, here is what you will need.

Scientific Terms to Know For the Gummy Bear Science Experiment

  • osmosis – passing of a material (like water) through a membrane (a gummy bear)
  • equilibrium – a state where opposite forces are balanced so one isn’t stronger than the other
  • membrane – a thin, soft layer of material that separates two things
  • cells – basic building blocks of all things
  • semi-permeable – only certain, small molecules can get through
  • solute – a substance that dissolves (like sugar in water)
  • solvent – a substance that is able to dissolve other substances (like the water that dissolves the sugar)
  • gelatin – a food ingredient made from collagen that makes liquids become squishy solids (like jello, marshmallows, gummies, etc.)
  • gummy bear – a gelatin substance with no water

Science Behind the Gummy Bear Experiment Explained

This science experiment lab is supporting the concepts of osmosis, equilibrium, solutions, solutes, and solvents . A solution is a homogenous mixture of one or more substances. The parts that are mixed to achieve a solution are called the solute and the solvents .

In most cases, a sugary substance (sugar or even sugary candy) will dissolve quickly and easily in water. When you dissolve sugar in water, the water becomes the solvent and the sugar is the solute . While there can only be one solvent in a solution, but there can be many solutes (gummy bears, sugar, candy, etc).  However, in this science lab, we will be using water and several other types of solvents like vinegar, milk, saltwater, or other solvents (liquids) you have on hand to use in the experiment.

What Is Happening In this Gummy Bear Experiment

In this experiment, the water or liquid can enter the gummy through the membrane without letting out the sugar. The change that will occur to the gummy bears is osmosis and the process that it uses is equilibrium .  This process of equilibrium allows water to diffuse from a higher area of concentration to a lower area of concentration. For a visual explanation, you can watch this science experiment video , or use this Gummy Bear Chemistry PowerPoint .

The point of this science lab experiment is to understand the process of osmosis and equilibrium . Watch this video on osmosis before the experiment to help the kids understand the background concepts thoroughly. Then take time to print out the Gummy Bear Osmosis Lab Printables or the Science Experiment Journal Kit at the bottom of this post.  In additon, you may also want to discuss the concept of semi-permeable membranes and, if your homeschoolers are old enough, you could even try this experiment using eggs and other solvents as well! In fact, we really enjoyed this osmosis experiment using eggs .

Additionally, it is a good idea to use the same color gummy bear throughout the experiment. We know colors are fun, but when you use different colors, that adds a variable to the experiment. Or in other words, it adds another option or reason for a difference in the end result. However, if we use all the same color and same size gummy bears, then the end results of our experiment will be more reliable.

Materials You Need for The Gummy Bear Science Project

  • Gummy bears (for experimentation and comparison…and maybe an extra pack for snacking)
  • A small glass for each water/solution
  • Baking soda
  • Paper towels
  • Kitchen scale

Instructions for Gummy Bear Experiment

gummy bear science experiment

  • Then, add a half cup of water to the tap water glass.
  • Then, add a half cup of water and 1 tablespoon of salt to the saltwater glass. Stir the salt until it is dissolved.
  • Next, add a half cup of water and 1 tablespoon of sugar to the sugar water glass. Stir until the sugar is dissolved.
  • Then, add a half cup of water and 1 tablespoon of baking soda to the baking soda water glass. Stir until the baking soda is dissolved.
  • Then, add a half cup of your soda of choice to the soda glass.
  • Next, add a half cup of vinegar to the vinegar glass.
  • Finally, add a half cup of milk to the milk glass.

**Any of these liquids can be omitted or changed according to your preference.**

  • Weigh and measure a gummy bear and record results.
  • Add one gummy bear to each glass of liquid.
  • Set a timer for 12 hours.
  • After the timer goes off, remove each gummy bear from its solution, weigh, measure, and compare to a new gummy bear.
  • Discuss the results and complete the worksheet (found below).

**To extend the experiment, return the gummies to their original glasses for an additional 12 hours and check results again.**

One Family’s Gummy Bear Osmosis Experiment

“Science is fun at our house, and we decided to try the dissolving gummy bear experiment. We decided to try different liquids and solutions to see if we would get different results. First, we measured and weighed the gummy bears and recorded our results. Next, we put a gummy bear in plain water, sugar water, saltwater, vinegar, milk, and baking soda water. We let them sit for 12 hours and then checked on them the next morning to see what had happened. Testing Our Gummy Bear Osmosis Lab Results We decided to try different liquids and solutions (further expanding on our solubility lesson a.k.a. gummy bear experiment) to see if we would get different results.  First, we measured and weighed the gummy bears and recorded our results. Next, we put a gummy bear in plain water, sugar water, saltwater, vinegar, milk, and baking soda water.  We let them sit for 12 hours and then checked on them in the morning to see what had happened. The results were quite surprising! The kids all wanted to know what had happened and why they hadn’t dissolved like other water experiments we had tried. Scientific Conclusions For The Gummy Bear Experiment The results were quite surprising to my kids! Instead of dissolving, the gummies grew, some to almost triple their original size! We compared our new gummies to their unchanged counterparts and noted our scientific observations including weight and measurements. The gummy bear that absorbed the most was the one put in plain water. The one that grew the least was the one put in saltwater. Interestingly, the gummy bears remained completely intact, just larger, with the exception of the one put in vinegar. The gummy bear we put in vinegar did expand, but lost all of its gummy bear shape and just became a blob. We believe that the acid in the vinegar dissolved the gummy bear completely. The answer to our gummy bear experiment was simple.   Osmosis !  I explained that osmosis is when a liquid (usually water) moves from one side of a membrane to another. Science is All About Trying Again I was met with blank stares and crickets….hmmmm….let’s try this again…..I told them to imagine themselves at the Haunted Mansion at Disney on a really crowded day. They take you into the little room and cram you all together before the ride starts. Think of how uncomfortable you feel pushing against other people, just wanting to get out, when finally they open the door and you are able to move away from other people and through the door.  This is exactly the same as osmosis .  You are water molecules , with the door being the membrane . The water molecules are all crammed up, so they move to where there are none of them, through the membrane. Then they got it!  I explained that the gummy bears were not solutes, they were actually polymers and therefore were able to absorb the water by osmosis.  Cool!! We got out our sheet and compared our new gummies to their unchanged counterparts and noted our scientific observations including weight and measurements.  You can clearly see that the gummy bear that absorbed the most was the one put in plain water, while the one that was the one put in saltwater changed the least. Interestingly, the gummy bears remained completely intact, just grew larger, with the exception of the one put in vinegar. We posit that the acid in the vinegar dissolved the gummy bear completely into this gummy blob. This science experiment was so easy and so much fun! The kids loved it, and it was awesome to see that they actually retained what they learned. It was the perfect way to bring in some fun STEM learning to our homeschool science. Our gummy bear science project was a success!” – Jordyn C. 

Gummy Bear Science Project Results. Why Did the Bears Get so Big?

Well, we already know from the introduction that water diffuses from an area of high concentration of water molecules to an area of low water concentration. At the beginning of the experiment, there is less water and more gelatin inside each gummy bear. As time goes on, this changes and the gummy bear begins to act as a sponge.

In the last part of this experiment, water moves into the Gummy Bear, clearly where there are fewer water molecules. Therefore, making it swell up. In fact, the water keeps moving until the water molecules are evenly spaced out (for example: when they have reached equilibrium). In the end, the molecules will stop diffusing when they reach equilibrium or when there is the same concentration of water molecules in the gummy bears as there are outside of the gummy bears.

Start Here: Print Your Gummy Bear Experiment Worksheet pdf

Obviously, every good experiment makes use of lab notes. Along with the steps above, we’ve compiled gummy bear experiment notes that will help you work through this experiment and learn the science behind it. This set includes Gummy Bear Science:

  • Terms to define
  • Experiment chart
  • Experiment Follow-up Questions

Additional Science Lab Experiments To Try After The Gummy Bear Experiment

If your kiddos loved doing this lab, then you’ll want to explore our collection of fun and free science-based lesson plans for kids who hate science ! We know how difficult it is to plan and execute science experiments while you are homeschooling multiple children. It’s so important to make the experience unbelievably fun homeschool science and to fun ways to bring science labs into everyday life. We have three homeschool science experiments that are sure to help you do that with minimal effort. Our simple home science experiments will have your kids laughing and wanting more. Try our science slime experiments and the soggy cereal science experiment as your next adventure in homeschool science labs!

data table for gummy bear experiment

Jamie Gaddy

Jamie Gaddy, B.S., M.Ed., Ed.D. has been a college education professor for over 17 years. Education has been a part of her life in both the classroom and as a principal. Six children later found her dissatisfied with traditional school and homeschool became the better fit. She is also a pastor’s wife, editor, and entrepreneur who now homeschools four of her six children in Georgia. Jamie loves to share about her homeschool experience to help other homeschoolers find success. Connect with her at [email protected] .

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Gummy Bears Osmosis Experiment - Cover Image

Gummy Bears Osmosis Experiment

Today we will combine two fun activities from our childhood: eating gummy bears and learning about osmosis just kidding about osmosis being fun, back then it was a hard concept to grasp. but in today’s experiment, we will show you how to learn this important concept in a fun and easy way, article contents.

What is Osmosis?

Osmosis is defined as the movement of water molecules from a solution with a higher concentration of water molecules to a solution with a lower concentration of water molecules, through a cell’s semipermeable (partially permeable) membrane . What do we mean by the concentration of water? It’s the proportion of the water in a solution. Let’s talk about that next.

Solvent, Solute, and Solution

Speaking about Osmosis, you will probably often hear about solvent, solute, and solution. So let’s see what they are.

Waht are Solvent, Solute, and Solution

A solvent is any substance that dissolves other substances that we put in it. The most common solvent is water . We know that if we, for example, add sugar to the water, it will dissolve. This is important since, in our organism, water dissolves ions and proteins in our cells.

On the other hand, in our example above, the sugar would be a solute . The solute is a substance dissolved in another substance. So, sugar (solute) dissolves in water (solvent).

And the product we get is called a solution . Solutions can have different concentrations , depending on how much solute we dissolve in a solvent. If we add more sugar to the water, it will be sweeter and denser, more concentrated. However, this solution will now have a lower concentration of water molecules, since there are other things (sugar) in as well.

To summarise – when sugar (solute) dissolves in water (solvent) we get a mixture of water and sugar (solution) .

What is Semi-Permeable Membrane?

Think of the membrane as a wall with gaps (it’s semipermeable!). When solutions on both sides of the wall have the same concentration, nothing interesting happens – there is an equal probability water molecules will move from each side of the wall so in the end concentration will stay the same.

However, if we change the balance on one side of the wall, for example, add salt to one side – water molecules will now move from the place where there are more of them (ordinary water) to a place where there are fewer of them (salted water).

What is Semipermeable Membrane and how does she function

This state of different concentrations is also called osmotic pressure and therefore the amount of liquid will increase on the side with more salt, and decrease on the side where the salt concentration is lower until the osmotic pressure is equalized. The goal is to reach equilibrium, a state where concentrations are the same on both sides.

Here, we have 2 explanations of the process:

  • The Mechanical explanation is that molecules of salt are blocking the movement of the water molecules so they are less likely to move from that side. 
  • The Chemical explanation is that salt molecules consist of ions – Na+ and Cl-. Since water molecules are also partially charged they are attracted to salt molecules and therefore don’t move through the membrane.

Why Is Osmosis Important?

Osmosis is essential for the survival of all living organisms . It allows nutrients and minerals to move inside the cells, through the cell membrane, and also for waste to move out of the cells. For example, plants absorb water from the earth through the process of osmosis.

Try to remember the last time you ate something salty, such as chips. You must have been very thirsty afterward. This is because salt prevents water from passing into the cell through the semipermeable membrane and no matter how much you drink, it is difficult to quench your thirst.

Let’s go now and demonstrate the osmosis process in a simple way using gummy bear candies and different solutions.

Materials needed for the Gummy Bear Experiment

Materials needed for the Gummy Bear Experiment

  • Gummy bears (gummy candies) . You can buy gummy candy in any grocery shop. We have used Haribo gummy bears and they worked well for our experiment. It is not important which gummy candy you use, but we have got reports that some types/brands of gummy candy won’t work well and will just dissolve. Best to have at least 4 gummy bears to make easy comparisons of all experimental results and the original gummy bear.
  • Water . 2 deciliters of water will be enough. We will add 1 deciliter to 2 of our glasses. 
  • Salt . One tablespoon of salt will be enough to act as a solvent and create a concentrated solution.
  • Vinegar . We will need 1 deciliter of vinegar to serve us as the second solution and we will add it to the last glass.
  • 3 glasses . Since we will have 3 experimental groups, we will need 3 glasses. In the first glass, we will add pure water. In the second glass, we will add water and salt. And in the third glass, we will add vinegar.

Instructions for making Gummy Bear Osmosis Experiment

Check the video at the beginning of the article to see how to conduct this experiment. As mentioned in the required materials section, we used three types of solvent (water, salted water, and vinegar) but you can experiment with any type of solvent.

  • Prepare 4 gummy bears (one for every type of solvent, +1 for comparison). Gummy bears are excellent for this experiment because they are made out of sugar, water, and gelatine. Gelatine doesn’t dissolve in water, but it allows water to pass through so it functions as a semipermeable membrane.
  • Prepare your solvents. Put pure water in one glass, water with a big spoon of salt into the second glass, and vinegar into the third glass. 1 deciliter of liquid in each glass will be more than enough. You can also experiment with different mixtures, like oil, milk, or soda to see what will happen.
  • Put 1 gummy bear into each solution . Leave one gummy bear on the side so you can compare afterward. Leave the gummy bears inside their solutions for a few hours. Check every 3 hours to see the changes.

Results of the osmosis experiment

Results of gummy bear osmosis experiment

  • After 9 hours, we observed that the gummy bear left in pure water got much bigger than in the other solutions. The water went in! There is just a little bit of water in the gummy bear, so there was big osmotic pressure.
  • Gummy bear in salted water got just a little bit bigger . Osmosis at work! Salted water had a lower concentration of water than the pure one, so in this situation, less water went into the gummy bear.
  • In vinegar, the gummy bear got bigger , but it also started to fall apart, and that’s because of the acid in vinegar which can dissolve the gelatine.

What kind of solutions did you use and what are the results? Tell us all about your experiment in the comments!

What will you develop and learn?

  • Knowledge from chemistry and biology . Osmosis, semipermeable membrane, solutions, etc., all play a big role in the functioning of living organisms. Talking about them will help us in better understanding what is happening on the cell level.
  • What is osmosis and how does it work. Without osmosis, there would not be life. So understanding osmosis is important to understand biology.
  • Scientific method and conducting experiments. Here, we conducted a scientific experiment with 3 experimental variables (water, salted water, vinegar) and a control variable (gummy bear that we didn’t put into any solution). This enabled us to control every aspect that could influence the outcome of the experiment.
  • Learning by doing . We best learn through experience, and here, we conduct our own experiments. So new knowledge while having fun is guaranteed!

We hope you too were enjoying this experiment. If you are in the mood for more great activities, we have some to recommend.

  • If you are interested in learning about defusion, a similar process to osmosis, then you can check How to demonstrate diffusion with hot and cold water article.
  • We also recommend learning about oxidation and how oxygen reacts with electrons in the Apple oxidation experiment .
  • If you are interested in making your own sweet candy, you can learn How to make homemade sugar crystals (Rock Candy) .
  • And finally, if you are interested in learning about polarity, the chemical property of atoms, you can learn about it in a simple but fun Colorful milk polarity experiment .

Happy experimenting!

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Gummy Bear Science Experiment: DIY Science Project Ideas for Kids

Gummy bears sure are yummy, but they are tiny. What if you could grow a huge gummy bear? Do you think that’s possible? Will the large gummy bear be as yummy as the regular one? Perform the gummy bear science experiment with your little ones to find out. Science experiments for kids are a great way to help children understand difficult science lessons, like the concept of osmosis. 

Step-by-Step Instructions on Gummy Bear Science Experiment

Here is a step-by-step guide to performing the growing gummy bear science experiment at home.

What You’ll Need?

The growing gummy bear experiment is not only fun but inexpensive too. All you need are:

  • 3 gummy bears, one red, one green and one yellow (you can use any color of your choice)
  • 3 glasses filled with water
  • ¼ cup of sugar
  • ¼ cup of salt
  • Pen and paper

How to Perform Gummy Bear Science Experiment?

Setting up the expanding gummy bear experiment is very easy. Follow these instructions to perform the experiment:

  • Place the 3 glasses of water on your work surface. Ensure that the level of water in all 3 glasses is the same.
  • Add ¼ cup of sugar into the 1st glass of water. Stir with the spoon until it’s completely dissolved.
  • Now add ¼ cup of salt to the 2nd glass of water and stir till it is completely dissolved.
  • Using the ruler, measure the height, length and width of each of the gummy bears and write it on the paper.
  • Now, measure the weight of each gummy bear using the scale and note it down.
  • Now, add the red gummy bear into the glass with sugar and the green gummy bear into the glass with salt. Finally, add the yellow gummy bear into the glass with plain water. 
  • Note down the time and allow the gummy bears to sit undisturbed in their water bath for 12 hours.
  • After 12 hours, check the gummy bears. Take them out of the water and measure and weigh them.

What You’ll See?

After 12 hours, you’ll see something magical in the 3 glasses. 

  • You’ll notice that the yellow gummy bear, which we put in the plain water, has expanded and grown into a big gummy bear.
  • The green gummy bear, which was in the salt solution, has barely grown. 
  • The red gummy bear, which was in the sugar solution, has shrunk.

Science Behind Gummy Bear Experiment

So, why did the 3 gummy bears behave differently? Let’s find out by learning the science behind the expanding and shrinking gummy bears.

  • Why did the gummy bear in plain water become bigger?

When the gummy bear is added to the plain water, it expands because of a process called Osmosis.

Gummy bears are made of gelatin, sugar, and flavoring, which are dissolved in warm water. A bit of the water leaves the solution as it cools leaving a firm but chewy candy bear. When you add the gummy bear into the water, the water moves into the gummy bear to balance the amount of water and sugar. With more and more water moving into the gummy bear, it expands and grows bigger.

  • Why did the gummy bears in the sugar solution shrink?

In the glass with the sugar solution, the concentration of sugar is greater than the amount of sugar in the gummy bear. So, the water in the gummy bear moves out to balance the concentration of sugar, which makes the gummy bear shrink.

  • Why did the gummy bear in the salt solution not grow much?

Salt molecules are much smaller than gelatin. So, the concentration of salt in the salt solution is greater than the salt content in the gummy bear. As a result, the water in the gummy bear moves into the salt solution to balance out the concentration of salt. This is why the gummy bear in the salt solution doesn’t grow much.

  • What is Osmosis?

Osmosis is the process where water molecules or any solvent moves from an area with a lower concentration of solute to an area with a higher concentration of solute to balance the 2 solutions.

Other Way to Perform Gummy Bear Science Experiment

Now that we know how gummy bears behave in water, sugar, and salt, let’s see how they behave with other solutions. Let’s perform the gummy bear science experiment with liquids other than water.=

Here is what you need to perform this experiment:

  • Gummy bears

How to Perform Gummy Bear Science Experiment for Kids?

Check out stepwise instructions on gummy bear science experiment for kids below.

  • Place the vinegar, milk and olive oil in 3 different bowls.
  • Now, measure the height, length, width and weight of each of the gummy bears. Note the measurements down.
  • Then, place 1 gummy bear in each of the 3 bowls. Note the time.
  • After 12 hours, check the gummy bears. Note down the changes in each of the gummy bears. 
  • Ask the children to check how the gummy bears behaved differently in each of the liquids.

Check Osmo for more experiments, activities, games, and worksheets to aid in your kids learning .

Frequently Asked Questions on Gummy Bear Science Experiment

Why should you do the growing gummy bears science experiment.

The gummy bear science experiment is a wonderful way to help little children understand the concept of osmosis.

What do you need for the expanding gummy bears experiment?

The gummy bear in the water science experiment is very simple and needs very few things. All you need are 3 glasses of water, gummy bears, sugar, salt, scale, ruler, pen, and paper.

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  • 3 gummy bears
  • 2 drinking glasses
  • Refrigerator
  • Something to heat water with (for example a microwave oven or a kettle)

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Short explanation

Long explanation.

  • How big will a gummy bear be after 1, 2, 4, 6, 12, 24, 48, 72 hours in water?
  • Does it matter if you cover the glass or not?
  • Is it possible to shrink a swollen gummy bear completely down to its former size again?
  • What other things swell in water?
  • What other things shrink in sugar water?

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Gummy bear osmosis

Follow FizzicsEd 150 Science Experiments:

You will need:

  • A packet of gummy bears
  • At least two bowls
  • Optional; sugar, stopwatch and either measuring scales or a ruler

A packet of gummy bears bext two white bowls, a glass of water and a salt container

  • Instruction

Pouring water into a bowl

Pour the same amount of water into each of your bowls. You’ll want enough water to be able to immerse your gummy bears in this activity.

Pouring salt into a bowl of water

Add salt to one of your bowls of water and leave the other with just plain water. You could also make another bowl with sugar added to it too as an extra experimental test.

Placing a red gummy bear into a bowl

Place a gummy bear into each of the bowls. Keep a gummy bear aside as a control for measuring against later. Now it’s time to wait!

Swollen red gummy bear in a bowl of water

Over time you’ll find that one of your gummy bears will start to swell. How big can the gummy bear get? That’s up to you to find out!

Swollen gummy bear vs normal gummy bear in a child's hand

Look at the difference! Do you know why this worked? Read below!

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What is happening?

The gummy bear experiment is all about osmosis. This is the process where water will move into areas where there is less water, i.e. from a dilute solution to a more concentrated solution. The gummy bear is semi-permeable to water (i.e it can let water molecules into it but not larger molecules), which means the water was able to move into the gummy bear.

This process happened much faster when the gummy bear was in pure water, as the water concentration difference between pure water and the gummy bear was the greatest. The gummy bear in the saltwater didn’t swell as quickly as the water concentration difference between the saltwater and the gummy bear was less different. We call this difference a concentration gradient. The gummy bear in the saltwater didn’t get as large either as the water stopped moving into the gummy bear once the water concentration in the gummy bear and the saltwater became the same.

Application

Within your body, the cell membrane controls what enters and leaves your cells using osmosis. The different concentrations of sugar, proteins, DNA, and water between the inside and outside of the cell allow for the materials to flow in and out of the cell. But unlike our gummy bears, which are semi-permeable, our cells are selectively permeable; meaning that this process only allows specific material to enter and exit the cell membrane.

Variables to test

  • Try differing amounts of salt or sugar in the water. Can you predict the change in size as the salt or sugar concentration in the water increases?
  • What happens if you try hot, warm and cold water?
  • Does the colour of the gummy bear matter?

More on variable testing here

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17 thoughts on “ Gummy bear osmosis ”

Like the one on Osmosis and sinking the boat. Simple and easy for Content Language Integrated Learning in elementary school of Taiwan.

We’re glad that you enjoyed these experiments Joseph! There are over 150 free experiments on this site , all designed for elementary students using simple materials. Lots to do for curious minds!

Hi, I did this with a Yr 5 class. I am a casual teacher and there was no work left so as part of the day we did this. It does require a bit of time to set up and sit. We started in the middle session and looked at the results at the end of the day. We did instructional writing (Literacy), we measure the gummi bears before and after in cms (Measurement), we looked compared sizes before and after and engaged in scientific thinking on what else we could test this way. We had a wonderful time making predictions and then the students put the gummi bears back into the solutions to see what would happen overnight. In between other activities, this experiment kept the student focus throughout the day. Thank you Fizzics!

That’s fantastic to hear Katherine! We love that science can be used for multiple student outcomes and this is certainly a great experiment to watch over time. Love it 🙂

Glad you liked this science activity!

Good experiments to start basic chemistry ideas for my grandson.

That’s great to hear Sharon! We’re glad that you have found these free experiments useful for your family 🙂

What would happen if sugar was used instead of salt? Why would it Expand or Decrease size?

Try it out! This experiment is about water moving from higher concentration of water to lower concentration of water. Adding salt or sugar to the water still should change the water’s movement. Let us know the results!

Would this be good for a science fair

Sure would! Let us know how you go 🙂

This website helped me deffenitily

We’re glad it did, thanks for using it!

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Science Project Ideas

data table for gummy bear experiment

Gummy Bear Experiment

The gummy bear experiment is a fun activity that teaches the basic concept of osmosis to the little ones in an easy manner. They will also be thrilled at the idea that their favorite gummy bears could teach them a lesson or two in science.

Gummy Bear Experiment

Gummy Bear Science Project Instructions

Hypothesis for growing/shrinking gummy bears.

When a gummy bear is placed in a hypotonic solution (e.g. water) then it will increase in mass and volume. On the other hand, its mass and volume decrease when placed in a hypertonic solution (e.g. salt water). Hypertonic refers to a higher concentration of solutes and hypotonic is just the reverse.

Things Needed

  • Physical balance or digital weighing machine
  • Sieve, plastic fork or screen
  • Graph paper
  • Measure the dimensions (length, breadth and height) of the bear with a scale. Measure its mass with the balance.
  • Fill the bowl with water.
  • Completely immerse the gummy bear in the water.
  • Let the bowl sit overnight in a place away from direct sunlight.
  • Next day, lift the bear from the water with a plastic fork, sieve or screen.
  • Record the dimensions and mass of the bear again.
  • Do the same observation each day for a couple of days more.
  • Plot a graph with the time in hours along the X-axis (the dependent variable) and the mass or weight of the gummy bear along the Y-axis (independent variable). Check the nature of the graph.

Things You Can Try

  • Set up a series of bowls on the table and fill them with different solutions like that of baking soda, vinegar, salt, distilled water, etc. Make similar observations as above for each one of them. Compare your results.
  • Also, check if the taste and/or color of the bears have changed.

Gummy Bear Experiment Osmosis

Gummy Bear Osmosis Video

How does it work.

The ingredients of gummy bears are sugar, water, and gelatin, with little water content. Due to the process of osmosis, i.e., the movement of water molecules through a selectively permeable membrane from an area of high concentration to that of a lower concentration, the bear starts to grow. However, it doesn’t get dissolved as the gelatin is insoluble in water.

On trying out the different ideas, you will find that the degree of expansion of the candy depends on the liquid on which it is kept. However, vinegar, which is actually an acid, can dissolve the candy .

This simple trick can prove to be a cool science fair idea. The kids will be enthralled to display their knowledge to the audience in a fun way.

References:

https://biozone.weebly.com/uploads/2/7/4/2/274298/gummy_bear_osmosis.pdf

https://tinkerlab.com/incredible-growing-gummy-bears/

https://www.childrensmuseum.org/blog/saturday-science-growing-gummy-bears

https://www.homeschool.com/blog/index.php/2014/04/homeschool-science-gummy-bear-osmosis/

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Osmosis Experiments With Gummy Bears

Osmosis Experiments With Gummy Bears

Gummy Bear Science Experiments

Gummy bears offers kids a way to get interested in and understand osmosis – something about the brightly colored, tasty candy captivates young students. In osmosis experiments with gummy bears, the bears swell up to several times their normal size, which can be quite amusing and unexpected for kids and adults alike. Teachers like gummy bear osmosis experiments because they are simple, entertaining and easy to explain and understand.

Osmosis Terms

Understanding key terms is crucial to learn what happens during gummy bear osmosis experiments. Osmosis occurs when liquids flow through a semi-permeable membrane from a diluted to a concentrated environment. Semi-permeable membranes allow some molecules to pass through them – most frequently liquids – but not others. Scientists explain this by using the terms hypertonic and hypotonic: hypertonic solutions have higher concentrations of solutes – solids dissolved in liquids – while hypotonic ones have a comparatively lower concentration. Diffusion is the active movement of a substance from hypertonic to hypotonic, until an isotonic solution – equal concentration – is reached.

Gummy Bear Composition

Made from gelatin, water and a sweetener like sugar or corn syrup, gummy bears start as a liquid and cool into a chewy, gummy solution. The chewiness of gummy bears is due to the presence of gelatin, whose molecules are chain-like and create a solid matrix.

Gummy Bear Experiment: Tap Water

The first experiment involves soaking your gummy bears overnight in plain water. Prior to soaking, have your students measure the height, width, and depth of the gummy bear, and record this information in their lab books. Place the gummy bears in cups of water – one per student – and set aside. Then discuss hypotheses – what do the students think will happen to the bears? The next day, the bears will have expanded, as water moved by diffusion through the bear's semi-permeable membrane to reach an isotonic state where the concentration of water molecules inside and outside the bear were the same. The students should measure the bears again and use their before-and-after data to calculate the percentage of growth.

Gummy Bear Experiment: Salt Water I

Conduct the same experiment, this time soaking new gummy bears in salt water. Again ask your students to predict the outcome: Will the addition of salt change the outcome of the experiment in any way? Your students may be surprised at the results. New gummy bears soaked in salt water will shrink, but imperceptibly so. The bears' gelatin construction will cause it to hold its shape and size, for the most part, even when water leaves the bear.

Gummy Bear Experiment: Salt Water II

Soak the original, water-expanded gummy bears from your first experiment in salt water, and ask your students to predict the outcome. The bears will shrink as osmosis causes water to leave the gummy bear.

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  • Minnesota Science Teachers Education Project: Investigating Osmosis Using Water and Gummy Bears
  • k20alt: The Gummy Bear Lab

About the Author

Based in northern Virginia, Rebecca Rogge has been writing since 2005. She holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from Patrick Henry College and has experience in teaching, cleaning and home decor. Her articles reflect expertise in legal topics and a focus on education and home management.

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  1. PDF Lab: Observing Osmosis in Gummi Bears

    Record the dimensions in centimeters in the data table. Use decimals. 7. Find the mass of each bear. Record the mass in the data table in grams. Again, use decimals. 8. Place the bears in the beakers. 9. Cover one with distilled water. The bear should be completely covered - cup about half full. 10. Cover the other tap water.

  2. PDF Gummy Bear Lab

    od. Add 50 ml of water to the cup and allow it to sit overnight. Part C: On Day 2, remove the gummy bear from the cup of water and use a. owel to dry it off to prevent it from dripping all over the place. Repeat the measurements fr. m Part A and record your data in the correct portion of the chart. Determine. Experiment Data: Day.

  3. Gummy Bear Osmosis Science Experiment

    Gummy Bear Osmosis Science Experiment

  4. Gummy Bear Experiment

    STEP 1: Lay out four bowls on the table and put a gummy bear in each bowl. Then beside each bowl put another gummy bear of the same color so you can compare the two easily over the course of the day. STEP 2: Measure equal amounts of each of your solvents. We used a quarter of a cup of water, sparkling water, white vinegar and oil and poured ...

  5. The Gummi Bear Experiment

    Gummi Bear Experiment - The Biology Corner

  6. DIY Gummy Bear Experiment on Osmosis

    DIY Gummy Bear Experiment on Osmosis

  7. PDF Gummy Bear Experiment

    In this experiment, we will find out what will happen when we put the Gummy Bears into water, salt water, vinegar, and baking soda water. Part A: 1. Fill out the Scientific Method Chart. 2. Choose 4 gummy bears from the container. Use the equipment available to measure only one of your gummy bears and record the data in the chart for Day 1 ...

  8. PDF Gummy Bear Osmosis

    Gummy Bear Osmosis

  9. Gummy Bears Osmosis Experiment

    Prepare 4 gummy bears (one for every type of solvent, +1 for comparison). Gummy bears are excellent for this experiment because they are made out of sugar, water, and gelatine. Gelatine doesn't dissolve in water, but it allows water to pass through so it functions as a semipermeable membrane. Prepare your solvents.

  10. Gummy Bear Science Experiment

    Check out stepwise instructions on gummy bear science experiment for kids below. Place the vinegar, milk and olive oil in 3 different bowls. Now, measure the height, length, width and weight of each of the gummy bears. Note the measurements down. Then, place 1 gummy bear in each of the 3 bowls. Note the time. After 12 hours, check the gummy bears.

  11. Gummy bear osmosis

    Pour a few centimeters (1-1 1/2 in) of boiling hot water in a glass. Dissolve as much sugar as you can (do not use too much water, because then you will need a lot of sugar). When the sugar starts to accumulate on the bottom, you are done. Let the glass cool, for example in a cold water bath (remember, in hot water gummy bears melt).

  12. PDF TRIPLE DIFFUSION LAB- Part 1: Diffusion of Water with Gummy Bears (SB1a,d)

    Data Table: Create a data table that is appropriate for your data set. Post Lab Analysis: 1. Write a paragraph that summarizes your results. Be sure to discuss the movement of water. Also discuss the percentage growth between the various days. It will also be necessary to discuss sources of error, especially if the experiment went over a weekend.

  13. Gummy bear osmosis

    Gummy bear osmosis

  14. Investigation: Gummy Bear Lab (Stats)

    The Gummy Bear Lab. Experimental Design and an Introduction to Statistical Analysis. How does the mass of gummy bears change when soaked in different solutions? Obtain a lab tray. In it you will find one large cup containing a solution and several gummy bears of the same color. We are going to work as a class to collect and analyze data about ...

  15. Gummy Bear Experiment

    Procedure. Measure the dimensions (length, breadth and height) of the bear with a scale. Measure its mass with the balance. Fill the bowl with water. Completely immerse the gummy bear in the water. Let the bowl sit overnight in a place away from direct sunlight. Next day, lift the bear from the water with a plastic fork, sieve or screen.

  16. DOCX Gummy Bear Lab The purpose of this lab is to learn how to set up a lab

    observations (length, width, thickness, volume, mass and density) and record on a separate sheet. Use the data table to show your quantitative observations (for day 1 and day 2). Label plastic cup with your name and class hour. Add 50 ml of water to the cup. Place the gummy bear in the cup. Leave cup to sit for 24 hours.

  17. Osmosis Experiments With Gummy Bears

    Gummy Bear Experiment: Tap Water. The first experiment involves soaking your gummy bears overnight in plain water. Prior to soaking, have your students measure the height, width, and depth of the gummy bear, and record this information in their lab books. Place the gummy bears in cups of water - one per student - and set aside.

  18. PDF DOUBLE DIFFUSION LAB- Part 1: Diffusion of Water with Gummy Bears (SB1a,d)

    record in your data table. 9. Make any observations about the color of the bears and/or the water. 10. Calculate the volume of each bear on Day 2 and record the mass Copy down the following tables beneath your hypothesis: Cup #1 water Cup #1 water Post Lab Analysis: 1. What happened to the bears after being initially placed in water?

  19. PDF Lab: Observing Osmosis in Gummi Bears

    5. Measure your bear (in cm) from top to bottom (length) and from side to side (width) and from front to back (height). 6. Record the dimensions in centimeters in the data table. Use decimals. 7. Find the mass of each bear. Record the mass in the data table in grams. Again, use decimals. 8. Place the bears in the beakers. 9. Cover one with ...

  20. PDF gummy bear lab

    10. On Day 2, remove the gummy bear from the cup of water and use a towel to dry it off to prevent it from dripping all over the place. 11. Repeat steps 1-7 and record on the data table as Day 2. If it is not possible to calculate the volume of the gummy bear on day 2 using the displacement method then use the Length x Width x Thickness method.

  21. PDF Ding 1 Chunyang Ding Biology Period 3 Mr. Allen

    sucrose within the gummy bear is around 0.63M. Because the reporter did not do the experiment, it is difficult to determine weaknesses of this experiment. However, one problem is that not all gummy bears are created equal. As evident from the initial data, where all the gummy bears had

  22. PDF Gummy Bear Osmosis

    The experiment studied the effects of osmosis between solutions and gummy bears by submerging the bears in salt water, vinegar water, and tap water. After 12 hours and 24 hours, I measured the gummy bear's growth and compared it. Place 1 gummy bear in each fluid filled cup. Place cups in the refrigerator (no lid).

  23. Grade 6 Scientific Methods 2- Gummy bear experiment

    The data is then recorded in a table. Sometimes it will be simply well-organised, written observations. • In your gummy bear investigation, you will need a table to record the original length of the gummy bear(s) and final length(s). Think about the headings your table will have. Don't forget to include the units of any measurements you ...