Dissolving Peeps Science Experiment
Easter candy doesn’t usually make you think of science… but it could.
This dissolving Peeps science experiment turns a simple marshmallow treat into a hands-on investigation your kids will actually care about. Instead of just watching something happen, they’ll begin to notice patterns, ask better questions, and start thinking like scientists.
And the best part? You probably already have everything you need sitting in your kitchen.
Dissolving Peeps Science Experiment
I don’t actually like to eat Peeps (even though my husband does. Yuck! But that’s a whole different story…), but they’re great for science experiments! If you have Peeps to spare this Easter, then you probably already have everything else you need to conduct this easy dissolving Peeps science experiment!
Supplies for Dissolving Peeps Science Experiment:
You don’t need a lot of supplies for the dissolving Peeps science experiment! So even if you didn’t plan ahead, this is one of those Easter science experiments you can easily do with what you have on hand.
I don’t know about you, but that’s my favorite kind of science experiment! When my children were all little, I sometimes needed something quick but educational to do with them (especially when it came to holidays–which tend to be busy times), and this definitely fits that situation.
- 6 cups water
- 1/2 cup sugar (divided)
- 1/2 cup salt (divided)
- 6 marshmallow Peeps
Set The Stage
Before you begin, ask your kids:
- Which Peep will dissolve the fastest?
- Does hot water or cold water make a difference?
- What do you think the sugar and salt will do?
Write down predictions before starting. This small step turns a simple activity into a true experiment.
First, place 1 cup of water into three different cups. Into one cup, add ¼ cup sugar, stirring until it is dissolved. Into the second cup, add ¼ cup salt, stirring until dissolved. Leave the last cup of water alone. You simply need regular tap water (straight from the faucet) in that cup. NOTE: You’ll want to be sure to label the cups (as seen in the photo) so you’ll know what’s in each one.
Heat the remaining 3 cups of water until hot.
Place 1 cup of hot water into three different cups. Into one cup, add ¼ cup sugar, stirring until it is dissolved. Into the second cup, add ¼ cup salt, stirring until dissolved. The last cup will contain only hot water (nothing added). Again, be sure to label each cup.
Place one marshmallow peep into each cup of water. Set a timer for 2 minutes.
Observation Prompts
As your Peeps begin to change, guide the conversation:
- Which Peeps are dissolving fastest?
- What differences do you notice between hot and cold water?
- Does adding sugar or salt slow things down—or speed them up?
Encourage kids to describe what they see, not just what they think is happening.
Use the printable form (link below) to record the time and the changes you observe.
Continue checking the marshmallow Peeps every 2 to 5 minutes (set a timer so you won’t forget to go back and check them), making note of the changes on the printable form.
Discuss which liquids caused the marshmallow Peeps to dissolve faster/slower and why.
NOTE: The timer I linked to on Amazon is a fantastic visual timer for kids! You can use it for cooking, as a timer for clean-up sessions, when you need to spend a certain amount of timer on a particular subject, or however else you want to use it! It allows your children to see a visual representation of how much time is left, and that’s super helpful to many children. So, while it’s technically not a kitchen timer, I use mine both in the kitchen and for school, etc.
What’s Actually Happening
This dissolving Peeps science experiment is all about solubility.
A Peep is mostly sugar, which dissolves in water. But temperature and added substances (like salt or sugar) can change how quickly that happens.
- Hot water speeds up dissolving
- Cold water slows it down
- Sugar or salt solutions can change how much more can dissolve
This is a great introduction to:
- solutions
- saturation
- and how substances interact
Take it Further
Once you’ve tried the basic experiment, push it a little further:
- Try vinegar, soda, or milk
- Test different brands of marshmallows
- Compare fresh vs stale Peeps
- Leave one overnight and check changes
This is where curiosity really starts to build.
Now all you need to do is click below to go to the Only Passionate Curiosity store to find and download your Dissolving Peeps Easter Science Experiment tracking sheet. Then grab those Peeps and get started! Oh, and I’ve included a few more articles and resources (under the link below) in case you’d like to have even more Easter-related educational fun with your kiddos!
CLICK HERE to go to the store to download your Dissolving Peeps Science Experiment form to use for tracking the changes you observe!
This dissolving Peeps science experiment is simple, but it opens the door to real scientific thinking.
It’s not about getting the “right” answer—it’s about noticing, questioning, and exploring what happens next.
And sometimes, that starts with something as ordinary as a marshmallow chick in a cup of water.
Below, you’ll find links to even more Easter-related articles you might enjoy. There’s an Easter trivia game, a fun tutorial for dyeing eggs with shaving cream and food coloring, an ABC matching game, a number-matching game, and a jelly bean STEM activity!
But first, you might enjoy some YouTube videos about Peeps!
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Printable Easter Story Trivia Game
Easter Egg Dyeing with Shaving Cream
Upper & Lowercase Easter Egg Letter Matching Game
