Celebrate discovery and curiosity with our National Science Week: Gummy Bears Experiment! This exciting hands-on investigation invites students to observe and track the changes that happen when a gummy bear is placed in water over time. With easy-to-follow worksheets and guided prompts, this activity supports students in developing scientific thinking, recording observations, and drawing conclusions through real-world inquiry.

As students predict, observe, and reflect on what happens to their gummy bears, they’ll begin to build a basic understanding of science concepts like absorption and change. The experiment also opens up opportunities for introducing early measurement skills, descriptive language, and even creative writing—making it a rich, cross-curricular resource for Foundation to Year 2 learners.

Whether used during National Science Week or as part of your everyday STEM lessons, the Gummy Bears Experiment is a guaranteed classroom favourite. It’s simple to set up, low mess, and full of ‘wow’ moments that help build a love of science and discovery.

Key Learning Outcomes:

• ✅ Make scientific predictions and test them through hands-on investigation
• ✅ Observe and describe physical changes over time
• ✅ Record findings using visual and written formats
• ✅ Use informal measurement to compare changes in size and shape
• ✅ Reflect on and communicate scientific ideas

What’s Included:

• Step-by-step experiment guide for students
• Structured worksheets with sections for prediction, procedure, observation and results
• Visual prompts for drawing gummy bears at different stages
• Extension ideas for writing, discussion and graphing

Materials Needed:

• Gummy bears (2 per student or group)
• Clear cups or containers
• Water
• Rulers or unifix cubes (optional, for measuring)
• Printed worksheets
• Crayons or pencils for recording and colouring

How to Use:

1. Introduce the experiment and have students predict what will happen to a gummy bear in water.
2. Set up two cups: one with water and one without, placing a gummy bear in each.
3. Record initial observations including size, colour, and shape.
4. Make observations at intervals and again the following day.
5. Complete worksheets to describe what changed and reflect on original predictions.
6. Discuss why the changes occurred using terms like absorption or swelling.

Ideas for Classroom Use:

• 💡 Use as part of your National Science Week rotation or STEM station
• 💡 Turn it into a class investigation with shared data and discussion
• 💡 Create a graph tracking gummy bear changes as a maths link
• 💡 Invite students to write a creative story about their “growing gummy”
• 💡 Connect to a science unit on materials, liquids, and change

Top Teacher Tips:

• 💛 Use clear cups so students can easily observe the changes from all angles
• 💛 Label cups with student names to keep track of individual experiments
• 💛 Encourage the use of vocabulary like “absorb,” “swollen,” and “dissolve” during reflection
• 💛 Laminate a class set of worksheets for repeated use with dry-erase markers

Our Gummy Bears Experiment is a colourful, easy-to-run investigation that brings science to life for young learners. It’s a memorable way to build inquiry skills, foster curiosity, and celebrate National Science Week through meaningful learning and playful discovery.

Be sure to check out our other National Science Week resources!