Science Experiments For Kids Using Peeps

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You can’t get through Easter without seeing (and enjoying!) lots of marshmallow Peeps. If your children get a lot of these sugary treats this year, why not save a few to try some science experiments with? Peeps make the perfect specimen for your homeschool science experiments, so take a look below and these fun science experiments for kids using marshmallow Peeps.

Table of Contents

What type of science experiments can you do with Peeps?

Peeps are great for hands-on science experiments since they are easy to manipulate, provide a great visual representation, and have interesting properties such as being very porous. You can use them to experiment with the properties of air pressure, sound waves, and viscosity.

How should you prepare Peeps for an experiment?

Before beginning an experiment with Peeps it is important to ensure their freshness. Unopened packages of Peeps should be kept in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight. If your experiment calls for painting or manipulating the shape of the Peep then you should first microwave each individual one for 9-12 seconds so that it becomes soft and malleable.

What safety measures should be taken when conducting experiments with Peeps?

All experiments involving food items carry the potential risk of contamination so always make sure that all materials and surfaces used are clean and properly sterilized beforehand. Additionally, when microwaving the peeps make sure that they do not explode or catch fire by checking on them every few seconds. Lastly, always wash your hands thoroughly before beginning any experiment involving food items!

Science Experiments for kids using Peeps.

Collecting Data

Begin by collecting data on your Peep. Write down how much it weighs, how long it is, the color, texture, and even the ingredients that make it up if you wish. Scientists love collecting data!

Sink the Peep

Get a bowl of water and place a Peep in it. As you will see, Peeps float! See if children can sink the Peep. Ask them to come up with ways to try to get the Peep to sink to the bottom of the bowl. Flattening it, tying objects to it, etc. are all ideas.

Freeze the Peep

Can a Peep freeze? How long does it take? What will happen to it? Will it shrink? Answer all of the questions when you place a Peep on a plate and set it in the freezer. Allow it to sit for several hours and see what happens.

Dissolve the Peep

Can you dissolve a Peep into liquid? Possibly. Give it a try! Get a plan of water and heat the water to a slow bowl. Add the Peep. Make a prediction about how long it will take (if it works at all) for the Peep to dissolve.

Puffed Up Peeps

In this activity, children will learn what happens to Peeps when heat is added to them. Place a few Peeps spaced out on a microwave-safe plate. Set the plate in the microwave and turn it on high for 30 seconds. While it is cooking, ask children their predictions about what they think will happen to the Peep. Remove the plate and take a look at the Peep. It will be about 5 times its original size! This is the perfect chance to talk about why things expand when heat is applied.

Air Pressure

Observe the effect of air pressure by placing a Peep in an empty bottle and then sealing it with the lid.

Sound Waves

Use Peeps to experiment with sound waves and observe how they react when exposed to high-frequency sounds.

Viscosity

Experiment with viscosity by adding various liquids such as water or syrup to a bowl of peeps and observing what happens when you stir them together.

Make a Lava Lamp

Create your own lava lamp using oil, food coloring, water, and peeps!

Make a Peep Volcano

Make your own mini volcano using baking soda, vinegar, red food dye, and peeps!

Related: Easy Easter Crafts for Kids

Use different colors or flavors

Discover how temperature changes affect the physical properties of Peeps by heating up different colors or flavors in hot or cold water for varying amounts of time periods (e.g., two minutes versus four minutes).

Elasticity

Test the elasticity of Peeps by stretching them to see if they “snap” back into shape after being pulled apart gently—or if they just break apart instead!

Compare Textures

Compare the texture difference between fresh raw peeps compared to microwaved ones that have been softened up first before handling/manipulating them for experimentation purposes!

See how fun science experiments for kids can be when you use Peeps? Give these science experiments a try and use all of the Easter Peeps up in a way that is fun and informative.