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Dancing raisins experiment

5 Comments Toddler, Preschool, Kindergarten, 1st Grade, 2nd Grade, 3rd Grade, 4th Grade, 5th Grade

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I’ve done a version of this dancing raisins experiment with my kids a couple of times over the years. We initially did this activity as part of our discussions about states of matter. But it also works really well for a unit on density.

When I was developing my Density STEM Pack, a comprehensive curriculum for teaching kids about density, I knew I had to include the dancing raisins activity because it perfectly illustrates the concept of combined density. Combined density is what we get when two objects with different densities combine together with a new density that is somewhere between the densities of the individual objects.

In addition to being a great learning tool, these dancing raisins are super fun to watch and will leave kids mesmerized with their continual up and down motion.

Note: Find more STEM activities on my Science Activities for Kids page!

The dancing raisins experiment: Raisins added to a glass of clear carbonated beverage will float to the top and then sink back down, giving them a "dancing" appearance. This is a great activity to talk about states of matter or density. Kids and adults alike will be mesmerized by the raisins riding a carbonated "elevator" to the top of the glass! #STEM #STEAM #density #statesofmatter #science #giftofcuriosity || Gift of Curiosity

The dancing raisins experiment requires the following materials:

  • Two tall glasses
  • A clear carbonated beverage (e.g., carbonated water or a clear-colored soda)
  • Plain water (e.g., from the tap)
  • A handful of raisins (we used 1/3 cup in each glass)

To begin, I filled one glass with water and another glass with our clear, carbonated beverage.

The dancing raisins experiment - fill one glass with water and another with a clear carbonated beverage || Gift of Curiosity
 

The kids then helped me pour 1/3 cup of raisins into the water glass.

The dancing raisins experiment - add 1/3 cup raisins to the water glass || Gift of Curiosity

We noticed that the raisins in the water glass just sat at the bottom of the glass. Nothing much interesting going on here!

The dancing raisins experiment - raisins in a glass of water just sit at the bottom || Gift of Curiosity

The kids then poured 1/3 cup of raisins into the glass with a carbonated beverage.

The dancing raisins experiment - add 1/3 cup raisins to a glass of clear carbonated beverage || Gift of Curiosity

Almost immediately our raisins began dancing! They would get covered in bubbles and then break away from the pack at the bottom. They rose quickly to the top. Once at the top, they lost some of their bubbles and would sink back to the bottom. This continued on for quite some time as we sat mesmerized by the show going on in front of us!

The dancing raisins experiment - raisins added to a glass of clear carbonated beverage will float to the top and then sink back down, giving them a "dancing" appearance || Gift of Curiosity
 

The science behind the dancing raisins activity

So how and why does this work?

Carbonated beverages are filled with a dissolved gas called carbon dioxide. At the bottling factory, the dissolved gas is sealed into the drink when the lid is put on. When you open the bottle, the gas starts to come out of the spaces between the molecules of liquid. When it does this, it forms little bubbles.

Raisins are more dense than the liquid, and therefore sink to the bottom of the glass at first. However, the the bubbles from the liquid form a “bubble jacket” on the raisins until the combined density of the raisins and gas is lower than the density of the liquid, causing the raisins float to the top of the liquid. When the raisins reach the surface, the bubbles pop. Without their “bubble jackets,” the raisins are more dense than the liquid, and thus sink back down again.

You can find this and other activities about density in my Density STEM Pack. Here is a sneak peak at the teacher instructions and student instructions for the dancing raisins activity in my Density STEM Pack:

The dancing raisins experiment is a fun and simple way to teach kids about gas, density, and states of matter. Plus, it's super amazing to watch! #STEM || Gift of Curiosity
The dancing raisins experiment is a fun and simple way to teach kids about gas, density, and states of matter. Plus, it's super amazing to watch! #STEM || Gift of Curiosity

Who is the Density STEM Pack appropriate for?

The activities in the Density STEM Pack can be adapted and used with children from preschool through middle school to have fun and learn important concepts about density. The student worksheets provided for these activities are written for kids in fourth through eight grades, but a teacher or parent could easily adapt all but two of the activities for younger students by working directly with the students rather than asking them to follow the written instructions.

Truly, kids of all ages will have fun with all the activities in this pack!

Want a copy of my Density STEM Pack?

Add this product to your cart by clicking the button below!

  • Density STEM Pack

    $7.97

More STEM & STEAM activities for kids

More science posts from Gift of Curiosity:

  • Sink or float activity
  • Bubble STEM activities
  • Dancing raisins
  • Advanced patterns worksheets
  • Dissecting an apple
  • What do ants like to eat?
  • Make your own telescope
  • Engineering challenges for kids

Find more great science activities on my Science Activities for Kids page and my Science Activities Pinterest board. 

Bubble STEM activities | Summer science with bubbles | Bubble challenges | Bubble experiments | Bubble facts | Bubble activities for kids | Bubble learning activities | Bubble STEM Pack for children || Gift of Curiosity

Filed Under: Toddler, Preschool, Kindergarten, 1st Grade, 2nd Grade, 3rd Grade, 4th Grade, 5th Grade, Science, STEAM, States of Matter

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Reader Interactions

5 Comments

  1. Tiffany H.

    February 21, 2014 at 9:21 am

    I love this! As soon as I can get to the store and get something carbonated, we’re going to give this a try! 🙂

    Reply to this comment
  2. Renae

    February 21, 2014 at 11:54 am

    Cool. Great way of incorporating a pouring activity into a science experiment. Simple with good results. Thanks for sharing.

    Renae

    Reply to this comment
  3. Jan

    February 24, 2014 at 8:14 am

    Thanks for this idea and the note at the bottom. I was just thinking I could use less based on the pictures, but will definitely try this soon with the 1/3 cup! I think my kids will get a kick out of it.

    Reply to this comment
  4. Kelly at Little Wonders' Days

    February 24, 2014 at 1:13 pm

    This is a good experiment to demonstrate gases. I’ve liked your series btw. Thanks for sharing at the After School Link Up.

    Reply to this comment
  5. Kathryn Calderon

    March 18, 2018 at 1:19 pm

    This also shows convection!

    Reply to this comment

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