Dancing Raisins

In this activity students will work in groups while

dropping raisins into a clear carbonated drink (7-up or Sprite)
and make observations about their dancing raisins. Students will
brainstorm why they appear to be dancing, rising, and sinking.

15
Activity

Copyright Science Demo Guy 2014

VIDEO LINK
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPk-NoXsVk0
Due to the size of my videos, and the size limit that TPT and Teacher's Notebook puts on the files I
can provide for you, I've included your video as an unlisted youtube link (meaning you can find it,
whereas the general public can't). Some people like to have these actual video files stored on their
computers as mp4s. If you would like to do this, I've provided instructions below on how to download
it.

How to download my youtube video as a video file on your

computer
There are numerous websites that will help you download a youtube video onto your computer. This just
happens to be my favorite one. What you'll need to do is follow these 3 steps:
1. Copy the URL that I provided above
2. Paste it into the box on savefrom.net (see screenshot below)
3. Click the download button then select "MP4 360p" as the quality

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IN

GY E N

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After it has downloaded, it will be available in your downloads folder!

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Teacher Instructions (Dancing Raisins):

There are many ways to use this activity in your classroom. Below is just one suggestion.

Set out the materials (per station):

1 small box of raisins

2-3 cups or around 500ml of 7-up or Sprite
1 glass or beaker or clear container to put the pop and raisins in
Student instructions Sheet
OPTIONAL: You may want your students to keep a full sheet of paper for writing down
observations. The student instructions sheet asks for this, but there might not be enough room.

Introduction:
I like to start this activity by asking which students like to dance. If any want to show off their
dance moves right quick, I let them do it:) Then I transition into saying that today, we are going to
make some raisins dance.
Tell the students that this challenge will test your groups ability to work together to get the best
dancing raisins AND to figure out why it's happening. I tell students they will need to do a great
job observing and communicating what they see.
Direct students to follow their student instructions sheet. As students are working, wander the
classroom and ask questions about why they are doing what they are doing. If students ask
questions to you the teacher, encourage them or their group to answer :)

The Science Behind this Activity:

Raisins are more dense that water and more dense than the pop. However, the pop has dissolved
carbon dioxide in it. This carbon dioxide leaves solution and forms on the surface of the raisins.
All of these little bubbles lift the raisin to the top where to bubbles pop and the carbon dioxide
escapes into the air ... now the raisin is more dense and sinks. Our goal is to see how much of this
the students can figure out on their own!

Research activity:
This asks students to think research carbon dioxide and how it's put into pop making it a
carbonated beverage. It also asks them to look up how this makes pop taste so good. Ask students
what flat pop taste like and they'll be able to make the connection with how the CO2 really makes
the pop taste better.

Copyright Science Demo Guy 2014

Materials Need for the Dancing Raisins Activity

Materials listed below are per group (3-4 students)

1 small box of raisins
2-3 cups or around 500ml of 7-up or Sprite
1 glass or beaker or clear container to put the pop and raisins in
Student instructions Sheet
OPTIONAL: You may want your students to keep a full sheet of paper for
writing down observations. The student instructions sheet asks for this,
but there might not be enough room.

Copyright Science Demo Guy 2014

STEM Activity Challenge

Student Instructions - Dancing Raisins
Student Name(s):___________________________________________________

Challenge:

Can you get your raisins to dance? If so, can you

figure out what is causing them to dance?

1. Set-up:

You will need a

glass, some raisins, and some
pop (soda). Pour the pop
into the glass and set aside
7-10 raisins.

2. Predict:

What do you think

will happen when you drop the
raisins in the pop? (circle one)

Float
Sink
Disappear

3. Experiment:

Put the
raisins in the pop and write
what you see below.

5. Additional Research:

4. Explain:

Why do you
think the raisins did this?

Carbonated beverages
like pop have carbon dioxide in them. Use the internet
(with permission) to learn how carbon dioxide is put in
there, and how it makes the pop taste so good.
Copyright Science Demo Guy

STEM Activity Rubric

Activity /
Challenge:

Dancing Raisins

Teacher Name:

_______________

Student Name:

_______________

CATEGORY
4
Problem-solving Actively looks for and
suggests solutions to
problems.

Contributions

Attitude

Grade

__
20

3
Refines solutions
suggested by others.

1
Does not try to solve
problems or help others
solve problems. Lets
others do the work.

Routinely provides
Usually provides useful
useful ideas when
ideas when participating
participating in the group in the group and in
and in classroom
classroom discussion. A
discussion. A definite
strong group member
leader who contributes a who tries hard!
lot of effort.

Sometimes provides
Rarely provides useful
useful ideas when
ideas when participating
participating in the group in the group and in
and in classroom
classroom discussion.
discussion. A
May refuse to
satisfactory group
participate.
member who does what
is required.
Never is publicly critical Rarely is publicly
Occasionally is publicly Often is publicly critical
of the project or the
critical of the project or critical of the project or of the project or the
work of others. Always the work of others. Often the work of other
work of other members
has a positive attitude
has a positive attitude
members of the group. of the group. Often has a
about the task(s).
about the task(s).
Usually has a positive
negative attitude about
attitude about the task(s). the task(s).

Focus on the task Consistently stays

focused on the task and
what needs to be done.
Very self-directed.

Focuses on the task and

what needs to be done
most of the time. Other
group members can
count on this person.

Working with
Others

Usually listens to,

shares, with, and
supports the efforts of
others. Does not cause
\"waves\" in the group.

Comments:

2
Does not suggest or
refine solutions, but is
willing to try out
solutions suggested by
others.

Almost always listens to,

shares with, and supports
the efforts of others.
Tries to keep people
working well together.

Focuses on the task and

what needs to be done
some of the time. Other
group members must
sometimes nag, prod,
and remind to keep this
person on-task.
Often listens to, shares
with, and supports the
efforts of others, but
sometimes is not a good
team member.

Rarely focuses on the

task and what needs to
be done. Lets others do
the work.

Rarely listens to, shares

with, and supports the
efforts of others. Often is
not a good team player.