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Skittles Experiment
A fun Bible Object Lesson to teach the importance of the Unity of the Church

You've probably seen this Skittles experiment before, and kids love it!  Use the fun of science to initiate a Bible lesson focusing on how we as the Church, God's family, need to live in unity.

Bible object lessons are a great way to capture student's attention as well as giving them a memory anchor to remember what has been taught.


skittles experiment

Topic: Unity of God's Family - The Church

Object Lesson Title: We're in This Together!

Object:  Skittles & Warm Water (warm water will dissolve the candy coating at the best rate for observation)

Bible Verses:  1 Corinthians 1:10, Ephesians 4:1-6 Colossians 3:4

Key Takeaway:  Even though we are all different, when we focus on the fact we are all one family in Christ, we can move toward unity.

Object Lesson Prep:  For the Skittles experiment you will need enough skittles to form a circle on a plate and a little warm water.


Object Lesson - Skittles Experiment

Demonstrate

  1. Place the Skittles in a circle on a plate alternating the various colors.
  2. Pour enough warm water over the skittles so that the circle is filled and touching all skittles.
  3. Wait and watch.  The color of each skittle will begin drawing out towards the center.

Additional options:

  • For older kids and youth, give each their own small package of Skittles, water and plate.  Have them go through the steps watching what happens and to be ready to discuss what they observed. 
  • Another fun option is to give every child a Skittle to eat as they watch the Skittle Experiment. (Be aware of any allergies or diet restrictions for students.)
  • Suggestions for toddlers & preschoolers available at the end of the lesson below.


Observations & Comparisons

If time permits, allow students to share their own observations.  You may want to use these prompts:

  • What caused the Skittles' color to move into the water?
  • Why do you think they all moved towards the center?
  • Did the colors begin to mix?  At what point?



Diffusion - the Science behind the Skittles Experiment:

When the water begins to dissolve the dyed sugar on each Skittle, the molecules of the colored sugar move toward the center where there is less concentration.  They move at the same rate and don't mix as they move because they each contain the similar amount of dyed sugar. 


skittles science experiment

Bible Verses for Skittles Experiment:

1 Corinthians 1:10

"I appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, to live in harmony with each other.  Let there be no divisions in the church.  Rather, be of one mind, united in thought and purpose."  NLT

Ephesians 4:1-6

"Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. 2 Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. 3 Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. 4 For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future.

5 There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
6 one God and Father of all,
who is over all, in all, and living through all."

NLT


Colossians 3:4 - "Above all, put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity."



The Lesson - Discuss

skittles object lesson experiment

Share that the Skittles look different because they are different colors.  As the water touches the Skittles, their uniqueness begins to move closer to the other colors while all continue moving towards the point at the center.

They don't lose their uniqueness, but as they come together they create something bigger - a beautiful rainbow of colors.  They don't overpower another color, but each enhances the other.  

One Skittle alone couldn't produce such beauty, but together they can!

It's the same with the Church, God's family!


Read 1 Corinthians 1:10. 

Paul is instructing the church, true believers who have been touched by the Living Water through Jesus Christ to live in harmony.  Our individual colors are not meant to stand alone as an island or overshadow the gifts of others.  We belong to something bigger now - God's family!  We are also called the Body of Christ and should work together as one body.

Read Ephesians 4:1-6.

Paul tells us practical ways we can live in unity and honor God.  He says for us to be gentle and humble with each other, to be patient, and moving together in the same direction and purpose - honoring our Father.  We are all moving towards the One glorious hope for the future!

Read Colossians 3:4.

Paul really simplifies it here; he says above all else, put on love for it is the perfect bond of unity.

The good news is that it is the Living Water, God's Holy Spirit, that gives us this kind of love and can bring us together in unity.  When we keep God first place as our central goal in life to continually move closer and closer to Him, unity in the church will happen.  Unity is a product of God's love in us.

1 John 1:9 tells us that - "We love because he first loved us."  The love God is and gives puts others needs above its own.  

Jesus also shared with His disciples that when we love each other like that, others will see and know we are His.  The unity of colors will shine bigger than each one of us on our own.  We are a family and belong to each other. 

Our individual uniqueness should touch and compliment that of our brothers and sisters as we move closer to each other and closer to God as our center.  The unity of God's family comes from loving God and loving others.


Memory Verse

Colossians 3:4 CSB -

"Above all, put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity."


Memory Verse Activities


Adapt for Toddlers & Preschoolers

skittles experiment kids

My three year old granddaughter loved this Skittles experiment, but the whole lesson would go right over her head and be too long...too much.

For little ones, keep it simple:

  • Point out the Skittles are different colors.  We are all different too.
  • As you place them in a circle, say God doesn't want us to be alone.  He wants us to belong to His family.
  • As you pour the water, mention that the Bible calls God - Living Water.  When Jesus touches our lives something remarkable happens! 
  • Watch the colors begin to move toward the center and say - "God wants us to always move closer to Him.  We can move closer and closer to God as we love Him and learn to love others.
  • Even at this early age, children can begin to hide God's Word in their hearts.  1 John 1:9 was the first memory verse our granddaughter learned when she was two.  Or have them learn Colossians 3:4 and to always show love.


© Written by Susan Smart, 2024



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