Do you know you can make your own gummy bears from scratch? Plus, they are a lot healthier than their store-bought counterparts. Make a healthy treat with the kiddos and learn a little edible science too!
Awesome Science You Can Eat
Science learning starts early, and you can be a part of that with setting up science at home with everyday materials. Or you can bring easy science experiments to a group of kids in the classroom!
We find a ton of value in cheap science activities and experiments. All our science experiments use inexpensive, everyday materials you can find at home or source from your local dollar store.
We even have a whole list of kitchen science experiments, using basic supplies you will have in your kitchen.
While you’re at it, make sure to check out these other fun edible science experiments.
You can set up your science experiments as an activity focusing on exploration and discovery. Make sure to ask kids questions at each step, discuss what is happening and talk about the science behind it.
Alternatively, you can introduce the scientific method, get kids to record their observations, and make conclusions. Read more about the scientific method for kids to help you get started.
Helpful Science Resources To Get You Started
Here are a few resources that will help you introduce science more effectively to your kiddos or students and feel confident yourself when presenting materials. You’ll find helpful free printables throughout.
- Best Science Practices (as it relates to the scientific method)
- Science Vocabulary
- 8 Science Books for Kids
- All About Scientists
- Free Science Worksheets
- Science Supplies List
- Science Tools for Kids
- Join us in the Club
How Does Gelatin Work
These healthier version of gummies are made from fruit juice and gelatin. Gelatin is a protein-based substance that comes from collagen, a protein found in the skin, bones, and cartilage of animals. Agar-agar is a plant based alternative to gelatin.
Gelatin has a unique ability to form gels or solid structures when dissolved in a liquid and then cooled.
That’s because gelatin molecules have both hydrophilic (water-attracting) and hydrophobic (water-repelling) parts. This means they can interact with both water and fats.
When you mix gelatin with water, the hydrophilic parts of the gelatin molecules attract water molecules. As a result, the gelatin granules swell and absorb water.
Check out how to make slime with gelatin or make a gelatin heart for creepy-cool science!
To dissolve gelatin, you typically need to heat it. Heating the gelatin and water mixture breaks down the weak chemical bonds within the gelatin structure, allowing it to spread out evenly in the liquid.
When the gelatin solution cools, the hydrophobic parts of the gelatin molecules tend to cluster together. This results in the gelatin molecules forming a three-dimensional network within the liquid. This network traps water and other liquid components, creating a gel. As the mixture cools, the gel becomes more solid.
Fun Variation: LEGO Brick Gummies
You don’t just have to make gummy bear shapes! Why not make LEGO brick gummies! Use a dropper (or whatever works best for you) to add the gelatin mixture below to silicone LEGO mini-figure molds or LEGO brick molds.
TIP: When you are finished why not use your LEGO molds to make this easy LEGO soap.
Gummy Bear Recipe
We made these a healthier version of the real thing using organic fruit juices and honey!
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup of fruit juice
- 1 tablespoon of honey
- 2 tablespoon of plain gelatin
- silicone molds
- eyedropper or small spoon
How To Make Gummy Bears
STEP 1: First mix together the fruit juice, honey and gelatin in a small saucepan on low heat until all the gelatin is dissolved.
TIP: Vary the color of your gummy bears by using different types of fruit juice.
STEP 2: Use a dropper (or whatever works best for you) to add the gelatin mixture to silicone gummy bear molds.
Note: One batch of gummy bear mixture fills a mold as seen below!
STEP 3: Now let your homemade gummy bears set and firm up for at least 30 minutes in the fridge.
STEP 4: Set up a science experiment with the gummy bears. You can even compare homemade gummy bears and store-bought gummy bears too!
Check out how to make slime with gelatin.
Are Gummy Bears Liquid or Solid?
Earlier we asked the question about whether a gummy bear is a liquid or a solid. What do you think?
The gelatin mixture does start in a liquid form, but as the mixture is heated the protein chains within the gelatin come together. Then as the mixture cools the gummy bear takes a solid form.
Learn more about solids, liquids and gases.
You will notice when you eat your gummies that the gelatin also creates a chewy texture. This happens because of the protein chains that form during the heating process!
The gelatin in gummy bears is actually a semi-permeable substance which means it allows water to pass through it.
One unique property of gelatin is its ability to undergo reversible gelation. When heated, the gelatin melts, and the gel reverts to a liquid state. This property is useful for making gelled dishes like gelatin desserts or panna cotta that can be melted and reformed.
BONUS: Growing Gummy Bears Experiment
- Using different liquids (water, juice, soda, etc.) observe how gummy bears expand or don’t expand when placed in a variety of solutions and determine why that is.
- Add a single gummy bear to cups filled with various liquids.
- Don’t forget to measure and record the size of your gummy bears before and after!
- Measure after 6 hours, 12 hours, 24 hours, and even 48 hours!
See the gummy bear osmosis lab experiment here.
What’s Happening?
Osmosis! Gummy bears will expand in size due to osmosis. Osmosis is the ability of water (or another liquid) to be absorbed through a semi-permeable substance which in this case is the gelatin. Water will move through the substance. This is why the gummy bears grow larger in size in the water.
Osmosis is also about the flow of water from a higher concentrated place to a lower concentrated place. You can see this when the water enters the gummy bear and causes it to grow larger. What about the other way around? You can test it with salt water!
What happens when you put a gummy bear in a saturated salt water solution? Does the gummy bear look smaller?
This is because the water moves out of the gummy bear to enter the salt solution. You can make a saturated solution by slowly stirring salt into warm water until it no longer dissolves! See how we do this to make salt crystals here.
Now what happens if you put the salt water gummy bear into freshwater?
Note: The gelatin’s structure helps the bear keep its shape except when placed in an acidic solution such as vinegar. Check out our growing gummy bears experiment!
More Fun Edible Science Recipes
Want even more fun ways to enjoy edible science experiments? Click here.
Printable Science Projects For Kids
If you’re looking to grab all of our printable science projects in one convenient place plus exclusive worksheets and bonuses like a STEAM Project pack, our Science Project Pack is what you need! Over 300+ Pages!
- 90+ classic science activities with journal pages, supply lists, set up and process, and science information. NEW! Activity-specific observation pages!
- Best science practices posters and our original science method process folders for extra alternatives!
- Be a Collector activities pack introduces kids to the world of making collections through the eyes of a scientist. What will they collect first?
- Know the Words Science vocabulary pack includes flashcards, crosswords, and word searches that illuminate keywords in the experiments!
- My science journal writing prompts explore what it means to be a scientist!!
- Bonus STEAM Project Pack: Art meets science with doable projects!
- Bonus Quick Grab Packs for Biology, Earth Science, Chemistry, and Physics
