Simple Candy Machine Mechanicle Energy Project for Kids

Candy is always a fun way to learn STEM. These mechanical energy projects use a simple machines to talk about the transition between potential energy and kinetic energy as well as practice some engineering skills. Learn about mechanical energy for kids with this fun candy science project where you will make a candy machine for preschool, pre-k, kindergarten, first grade, 2nd grade, 3rd grade, and 4th graders too. Kids of all ages will love this summer stem activity that incorporates an EPIC simple machine project.

Mechanical energy projects

One of my daughters has been begging to learn more science lately. She and all of siblings spent most of an hour watching M and M’s go down the slide and turn the fly wheel. While they played we talked about the physics involved. This is such a fun mechanical energy projects for children of all ages! And this mechanical energy project uses candy which makes it extra fun and engaging for preschoolers, kindergartners, grade 1, grade 2, grade 3, grade 4, and grade 5 students.

Learn more about simple machines for kids including an i spy activity finding examples of simple machines and handy free simple machines booklet.

Mechanical Energy for Kids

Kinetic energy is the energy of motion. As the candy slides down the shoot, it gains more and more speed. The more speed it gains the more kinetic energy  it has.

Where does the energy come from? I asked. My older child knew immediately that this gain in energy was due to gravity. Force fields have been a special interest lately, and gravity is a field force. Any time an object is pulled in by a field force it tends to gain kinetic energy. At the top of the slide the M and M has potential energy. As gravity pulls the candy down the inclined plane, the potential energy is mostly converted to kinetic energy. (A tiny bit of the mechanical energy will be converted to heat by friction.)

Where does the mechanical energy go?  This was easy. At the bottom of the slide, or inclined plane the M and M transfer’s it’s mechanical energy to the flywheel, a type of lever. Both inclined plans and levers are a type of simple machine.

Simple machines  are devices that change the direction or the magnitude (size) of a force. How did these machines change the force?  The inclined planes changed the direction from straight toward the center of the earth to a path that was more parallel. The fly wheel lever actually changed the direction from straight down to a circle- angular motion!

Make a Candy Project

To make your candy machine you will need:

• Mini M and M’s (or other similarly sized candy)
• Milk shake straws
• Tooth pics
• Tape
• Scissors
• Play dough to stabilize the bottom

Simple Machine Project

To build your fly wheel, cut two lengths of straw about 10 cm high. Notch the top ends, and secure the bottom ends in the play dough. Cut another piece about 5 cm long and cut out a piece on each end as shown. Then push a tooth pic through the center. Suspend this from the longer straws by the tooth pic.

Simple Machines Inclined Plane

Build your inclined plane. Create the slides for your candy by cutting the straws in half. Cut a straw just a little taller than your flywheel and notch the top to fit the half straw onto it. Experiment with making sure the candy will hit the flywheel as it comes off before taping it together. From there, you can make any combination of slides that interests you.

Simple machine Project Ideas

If your child enjoys these types of toys, you may want to check out Paul Hewitt’s Conceptual Physics. It’s meant to be used as a text book, but is written so well that we tend it to pick it up for pleasure reading. Hewitt uses humor and every day examples to make physics accessible to anyone.

Easy Simple Machines Project

Don’t be fooled. Physics is not a difficult science because there is so much to learn. There is very little to know. The important thing is that your children learn the skills of applying a few simple concepts in a variety of situations. As they do, they’ll begin to see the amazing complexity of the world all around them, just like my kids did with this candy machine.

Fun Science Experiments

Looking for more science experiments to try with your students? Here are our 20 most popular science projects

• Projects to explore simple machines for kids
• Free solar system worksheets or this set of space worksheets preschool & kindergarten
• 24 out-of-this-world solar system project ideas
• Life-Size Human Body Project with free printables
• 100 Epic Food Experiments for Kids
• Colorful Capillary Action Experiment
• Leaf Experiment exploring why do leaves change colors
• Body Project with free printable playdough mats
• Leak Proof Bag Easy Science Experiment to Do at Home
• Life Cycle Bag Water Cycle Activities for Kids
• Explore 57 different life cycles for kids with free printable worksheets and activities
• Fun How to make a light bulb for school project
• Easy color changing flower experiment
• Rainbow in a jar density experiment
• Epic mentos and coke experiment
• Simple Newton’s Cradle project
• Look inside a volcano project
• Free Periodic Table Bingo
• Types of Clouds worksheet and activities
• 100 easy science experiments for each month of the year

Simple Machine Projects

• Free Printable Simple Machines Coloring Pages or these coloring simple machines activities
• Inclined Planes for kids – explanation, activities, and resources
• Wheel and Axle for kids lesson with projects and other fun ideas
• Gears for Kids filled with lots of hands on activities
• Wedges and Screw Simple Machine  Lesson for children
• Levers and Pulleys lesson for students
• I Spy simple machines for kids
• MATCH – Simple Machines Game
• 30 Simple Machines for Kids Projects
• Free Simple Machines Worksheet to fold into a clever booklet
• Candy Simple Machines Project
• Pulley Experiment from recycled materials