Christmas STEAM: Grow a candy gingerbread man

A couple of years ago I bought a huge bag of M&Ms and we went nuts as a family doing some dissolving Christmas science.

One of those projects was to “grow” a candy gingerbread man. (We’ve also grown candy Christmas trees and candy Christmas wreaths.)

This Christmas STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) activity combines art and science, and your kids will love it!

As your children make their candy gingerbread men, they will work on their fine motor skills (hello, pincer grasp!) and get to witness a bit of holiday “magic” (which in reality is just some really cool science!).

This is one activity the whole family can enjoy together!

Note: For more Christmas activities your kids will love, see my Christmas Activities for Kids page.

To grow a candy Christmas gingerbread man, you will need the following materials:

• A plate
• Brown M&Ms, plus other colors if desired
• Water

Begin by using the brown M&Ms to make the outline of your gingerbread man. Use other colors to create eyes or buttons on your gingerbread man if you desire.

Then grab a cup of water. Slowly pour water over the M&Ms until water is touching all of the M&Ms on the plate.

To see what happens next, check out this short video:

Pretty cool, right?

What’s the science behind growing a candy gingerbread man?

The hard shell of the M&Ms is made with water soluble colors. When water touches the M&Ms, the colors begin to dissolve off of the M&Ms and run into the water, filling in the outline of your gingerbread man with color.

More Christmas resources

More Christmas STEAM activities from Gift of Curiosity:

• Crystallized candy canes
• Candy cane experiment
• Christmas tree on a sponge
• Christmas fizzy painting
• Painting with candy canes
• Christmas tree ribbon math craft
• Cinnamon Christmas tree ornaments

For more Christmas activities your kids will love, see my Christmas Activities for Kids page and my Christmas Activities for Kids Pinterest board.