Dancing Candy Cane Science Experiment

Christmas is such an easy theme to create activities for kids around. There are so many aspects of Christmas that you can never get bored! Candy canes are one of my favorite parts of the holiday season in December, which is why it makes this Dancing Candy Cane Science such a fun Christmas Science experiment to try with toddler, preschool, pre-k, kindergarten, and first grade students. This simple science project uses baking soda and vinegar for a silly chemical reaction that will make Chemistry fun for kids of all ages!

Dancing candy canes

It is no secret that the holiday season, from Thanksgiving to Christmas, is busy busy busy. This year we may not have as many in person parties, but that doesn’t mean that it won’t be busy. I still want to share science experiments and learning activities with my kids, though.  This candy cane experiment is based on a classic: baking soda and vinegar. We’ve been making these reactions in my kitchen for years. As soon as my daughter realized how easy it was, everything needed a baking soda and vinegar reaction. This is no different. 

Christmas Science Experiments

To try this candy cane activity with toddlers, preschoolers, kindergartners, and grade 1 students you only need a couple simple supplies you probably have already.

Materials Needed: 

• Clear Jar
• Baking Soda
• Vinegar
• Candy Canes 

Candy Cane Activities for Kids

Start by crushing up the candy canes. We had a variety of sizes, but the smaller slivers were what really danced around.

Candy cane science experiment

Once the candy cane is in pieces, grab the jar and pour in vinegar. Add the crushed up candy canes.

Candy Cane Science Experiment

When you’re ready, add the baking soda. The eruption happens right away and it is so cool to watch. It literally never gets old! 

Dancing candy cane

Once the bubbles and fizz simmer down a bit, you’ll start seeing the candy cane pieces start rising. They’ll sit at the top for a bit. Then all of the sudden, as if music was turned on, the candy cane starts dancing.

One thing we didn’t expect, or think about, was that the color of the candy cane would seep off into the liquid. It was cool to see the color change from clear to red within just a few moments.

Candy cane experiment

This is a super fun science activity for kids of all ages. You could do this easily in the classroom or at home. Kids will love it either way! 

Baking Soda Vinegar Experiment

There are so many fun ways to play and teach kids about chemical reactions using a baking soda and vinegar reaction. Here are some of our favorite baking soda and vinegar activities.

• 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, BLAST OFF! Rocket Baking Soda and Vinegar Experiment
• Dancing Raisins Experiment
• Look Inside a Volcano Experiment for Kids
• Science Play – Dinosaur Activities for Preschoolers
• Glitter Volcano Pretty Science Experiment
• Science Powered Boats with Baking Soda and Vinegar Experiment
• Rainbow Activities for Preschoolers

Baking soda and vinegar reaction

• Snow Volcano Experiment
• Melting Snowballs Winter Science Experiment
• Exploding Snowman Experiment
• Melting Snowan Winter Science Experiment
• Erupting Snowman Science
• Snow Science Experiments
• Valentines Day Science Love Potion
• Easy Dancing Hearts Science Experiment
• Valentines Day Baking soda and vinegar balloon
• Leprechaun Rocks St Patricks Day Activities for Preschoolers
• Color Mixing St Patricks Day Activity for Toddlers
• Red White and Blue Science Experiments
• Dancing Candy Canes Science Project
• Fizzy Ornaments Christmas Science Experiments
• Melting Christmas Tree – Christmas science experiments
• Fizzing Gingerbread Science Experiment

Christmas Math

• Christmas Color by Number Worksheets
• Number Sense Puzzles for December Candy Cane Math
• Kids will have fun practicing patterns with this playdough lights Christmas Math Activities
• Do-a-Dot Elf Worksheets for preschoolers counting to 10
• Shape Gingerbread Worksheets for Christmas
• Practice Counting to 20 with these Christmas Tree Playdough Mats
• Gingerbread Man Dot to Dot Worksheets
• Count to 10 Twas the Night Before Christmas Activities – read, color & learn