Exploring Dissolving and Solutions with Skittles

Next Generation Science

This educational video introduces elementary students to the scientific concepts of dissolving and solutions through engaging, simple experiments. Hosted by a young presenter in a virtual laboratory setting, the video breaks down the abstract chemistry of how substances like sugar interact with water. It explains the molecular process of dissolving in student-friendly language—describing how water molecules surround and break apart particles of a substance—and defines key vocabulary such as "dissolving," "mixture," and "solution." The core of the video features two visual demonstrations. First, the host uses a sugar cube and food coloring to show that even when a solid disappears in water, it is still present, just spread out evenly. Second, the famous "Skittles Experiment" is performed, creating a vibrant visual representation of dissolving as the sugar and dye from the candy run into the center of a plate of water. The video concludes with an interactive 5-question multiple-choice quiz to test viewer comprehension immediately after the lesson. For educators, this resource is a perfect introduction to a unit on States of Matter or Mixtures and Solutions. It provides a clear, correct definition of dissolving that combats the misconception that substances "vanish." The experiments demonstrated are low-cost, safe, and highly visual, making them ideal for classroom replication. The built-in quiz allows for instant formative assessment, making this a complete mini-lesson package ready for immediate classroom use.