Halloween is just around the corner which means it’s time to carve pumpkins, eat lots of sweet treats, and dress up in cool costumes! Check out our video for a spooky science activity modeling blood that’s easy to make and tasty!
Materials:
Candy red hots (jelly beans and twizzlers also work), corn syrup, marshmallows, red candy sprinkles, plastic spoons, clear bowls, red and blue food coloring
Time Estimated:
15-20 minutes
Directions:
Take an empty jar or a see-through cup/bowl and pour the corn syrup in a little over halfway full.
Add three drops of red food coloring and one drop of blue food coloring to the mixture. Stir together.
Add in your candies (red hots, jelly beans, twizzlers, etc.) and fill the jar almost to the top.
Put a couple of marshmallows in the mixture.
Finally, add some red sprinkles on top.
Done!
Think Like A Scientist:
What does the corn syrup represent? Why does it fill most of the jar?
What does the red candy represent?
Why did we add a couple of marshmallows and red sprinkles?
How It Works:
Blood is a red liquid that carries oxygen and nutrients to the body’s cells. There are four components that make up this important fluid.
First, we have plasma (55 percent of blood volume) which is a thick, clear, yellowish liquid that carries dissolved food and wastes.
What do you think represents plasma? That’s right! Plasma is represented by the corn syrup in our mixture.
Next, we have red blood cells (44 percent of blood volume) that carry oxygen and carbon dioxide around the body. In this model, our red blood cells are the red hots candies we added in.
White blood cells (0.5 percent of blood volume) are bigger than red blood cells and attack germs.
What do you think represents the white blood cells? Correct! The white marshmallows represent our white blood cells.
Finally, platelets (0.5 percent of blood volume) are bits of cells that help blood clot. Clotting is what helps you stop bleeding and heal when you get a cut. In our activity, the sprinkles on top represent platelets.
In just one tiny drop of real blood, there are five million red blood cells, ten thousand white blood cells, and two hundred fifty-thousand platelets!! Oh my goodness that is a lot of helpful things in just a tiny drop of blood! Clearly, our blood is so important! This is definitely why scientists are fascinated by blood and maybe it is why vampires like it too :)
Activity Worksheets
Make sure to check out these free, printable worksheets that you can use to follow along with the experiment!
Looking for more fun at home STEM activities for your young scientist? Check out our workbook full of exciting science experiments and empowering activities!
