Scientific Method Experiment 2

The second experiment we did to practice making a hypothesis, carrying out an experiment, and analyzing the results was "Growing Gummy Bears."  We asked the question: "What liquid will make our gummy bears grow the most?"  We tried out 4 different possibilities: plain water, sugar water, vinegar water, and lemon water.  We weighed and measured each gummy bear before and after so we could be as clear as possible on our results.   Most students predicted that the gummy bear in the sugar water would grow the most.  The reasoning the students gave was that gummy bears are made of sugar, and sugar water would make them grow fast. We were surprised to see that the gummy bears in the vinegar and lemon water become blobs of gelatin overnight! We concluded that the gummy bear in the plain water grew the most.  Although the bear in the vinegar weighed in with the most mass, it was very difficult to decipher how much of that weight was just from additional water poured on the scale because it was so hard to weigh that blob!  The bear in the lemon water grew the least, and there was just not much left of that gummy bear to measure! This was a fun experiment, and we talked about how the students could try it at home with any types of liquid they liked!  If anyone tries this at home, report back your results!