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    Home » Primary Science » Key Stage 1 Science » How strong is a candy cane?

    How strong is a candy cane?

    December 30, 2014 By Emma Vanstone 1 Comment

    We’ve got quite a few candy canes left over from Christmas so devised a little experiment to see how strong they are. Like many of our activities this is a great activity for starting to think about experimental design and setting up a fair test. We discussed which variables to keep constant and how to make our investigation fair!

    How strong is a candy cane – test

    You’ll need

    Candy canes

    Materials to strengthen your candy canes, such as plaster, bandage, sellotape

    Decorations of different weights.

    Christmas decoration handing from a candy cane

    How to test a candy cane

    Choose several Christmas decorations of different weights, hang each onto the end of a candy cane for a fixed amount of time. We tried each for 30 seconds.

    Try to find a decoration heavy enough to break the candy cane. Once you’ve done this, attempt to strengthen a new candy cane with different materials. Can you find anything strong enough to hold the heaviest decoration?

    Candy cane strengthened with a bandage for a science experiment.

    How to set up the investigation

    Things to keep constant

    Length of wrapping used to add strength

    Time with decoration hanging

    Place on candy cane held

    Decorations for each candy cane

    Variable

    Weight of decoration

    Can you think of anything we’ve missed?

    More Christmas Science for Kids

    We’ve got lots more ideas for using up candy canes and plenty more Christmas science experiment ideas as well.

    These crystal candy canes from Go Science Kids look fantastic too!

    Image of a candy cane with a decoration hanging from it as a Christmas science challenge

    It you’re looking for a great science gift, I’d love you to take a look at my science books!

    Affiliate links

    Last Updated on November 20, 2021 by Emma Vanstone

    « Christmas Density Jar
    Mechanisms – Pop up cards »

    Safety Notice

    Science Sparks ( Wild Sparks Enterprises Ltd ) are not liable for the actions of activity of any person who uses the information in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources. Science Sparks assume no liability with regard to injuries or damage to property that may occur as a result of using the information and carrying out the practical activities contained in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources.

    These activities are designed to be carried out by children working with a parent, guardian or other appropriate adult. The adult involved is fully responsible for ensuring that the activities are carried out safely.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Kaylan

      March 08, 2017 at 5:13 pm

      Wow, this is in every reecpst what I needed to know.

      Reply

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