Scientific Method and the GUMMY BEARS

After learning about the scientific method, the process that scientists use to study the world around them. By asking and answering questions, we can learn all kinds of things. After reading about how researchers in Madagascar used the scientific method to discover where new chameleons were living, third graders were ready to try their hand at working the steps of the scientific method as they put on their investigators caps.

First, we gathered the materials for our investigation. We needed:

• Water
• Baking Soda
• Salt
• Vinegar
• Gummy Bears
• Plastic Cups
• Plastic Spoons

Next, students assembled their research journals. This is where they would take notes about their observations and the processes they followed.

Then, they were ready to begin the steps of the scientific method.

OBSERVATION

James records his Gummy Bear observations.

The first step of the scientific method is to make observations. Students used their five senses to jot down some noticings about the gummy bears. Aaron noted that they smelled fruity. James observed that they were three-dimensional objects. Shy'Diamond remarked that they had texture.

QUESTION

After making some observations about the gummy bears, the students began to wonder what might happen when the gummy bears are put in the solutions.

• Adriana wondered, "Will they would lose their color?"
• James wondered, "Will they would taste different?"
• Darren wondered, "Will they would disappear?"

HYPOTHESIS

Now, it was time to form our hypothesis.  This is a statement that is an educated guess.  "I think that they gummy bears will disappear in the..."

METHOD

These are the steps that we follow to complete the experiment.  Here is what we did:

Aaron and Adriana assist their lab group with stirring the
baking soda and salt solutions.

1. Label one cup with a W (water), one cup with a B (baking soda), one cup with an S (salt), and one cup with a v (vinegar).
2. Put 50 ml water in the W, B, and S cups.  Put 50 ml vinegar in the V cup.
3. Add 2 Tbsp. baking soda to the B cup.  Add 2 Tbsp. salt to the S cup.  Gently stir those cups with plastic spoons.
4. Put one gummy bear of the same color in each cup.
5. Let the gummy bears sit in the cups for two days.
6. Record your results.

EXPERIMENT

This is the step where we actually do the steps in the method.  Students worked in groups (based on P.R.I.D.E. groupings).  Each student played an active role in their lab group.  Lab roles included labeling the cups, stirring the solutions, placing the gummy bears in the cups, cleaning their lab station, and delivering their specimens to the observation station.

Abubakr, Darren, Emily, Cayla, and James share in lab roles.

RESULTS

It is still a little too early to tell the results of our investigation, but we were able to make some initial observations.  We noticed that the gummy bears that were dropped in the baking soda were bubbling.  We also noted that the gummy bears that were dropped in water looked like they were getting bigger.  We still have a couple days to go to see what the end results will be but we will keep you posted!

Early results...it looks like something is happening!

CONCLUSION

This is the summary of the experiment's results.  We will let you know after we find out!

CONCLUSION

This is the summary of the experiment's results.

The gummy bear that was placed in the salt solution got smaller.

Adriana commented that the moisture in the water went into the gummy bear that was placed in the water.

The gummy bear that was placed in the baking soda solution got bigger and lost some of its color.

The gummy bear that was placed in the vinegar solution disintegrated.













We conclude that placing gummy bears in solutions changes the gummy bears size and appearance depending on what the type of solution.  The color of the solution also changes.