Gummy Bear Osmosis Lab

Bring osmosis to life with a student favorite—gummy bears! The Gummy Bear Osmosis Lab is a fun, hands-on activity that models how cells respond to various environments. Using gummy bears as cell analogs, students measure changes in size and mass before and after soaking them in different concentrations of saltwater. It’s an engaging and low-mess lab perfect for teaching osmosis, concentration gradients, and water movement.

Why Teachers Love This Activity:

• Highly Engaging & Visual – Students are instantly hooked as they observe dramatic changes in gummy bears, making abstract cell processes like osmosis more concrete and memorable.
• Perfect for Life Science or Biology – A fun and approachable introduction to osmosis, ideal for middle or high school students studying cells and cellular transport.
• Encourages Scientific Thinking – Students make predictions, measure changes in mass and size, and interpret data to understand water movement and concentration gradients.
• Differentiation-Friendly – Great for visual learners and hands-on students, with opportunities for deeper application and modeling.
• Builds Lab Skills – Gives students experience using balances, rulers, and recording precise data while reinforcing lab safety and procedure following.

How It Works:

• Day 1 – Measure & Soak – Students record the initial mass, length, and width of gummy bears, then place them in hypotonic, isotonic, and hypertonic solutions.
• Day 2 – Analyze Changes – Students measure again and describe changes in texture and size, connecting their results to osmosis.
• Diagram & Predict – Students draw before/after models and use arrows to show water movement direction.
• Apply Understanding – Scenario-based and application questions tie learning to real-life situations (e.g., preserving fruit or surviving at sea).

What’s Included:

• Student Lab Sheet with built-in analysis questions
• Teacher Guide with step-by-step instructions and tips
• Sample Data Table & Safety Guidelines

Why Students Will Love It:

• Candy in Science Class?! – Gummy bears immediately grab attention and make science approachable.
• Hands-On Discovery – Watching them grow or shrink is a visual, tactile, and surprising experience.
• Real-Life Connections – Students explore how cells behave in different environments, linking back to their own bodies or salty snacks.
• Engaging & Memorable – Perfect introduction to osmosis that sticks with students.

Materials (per group):

• 3 gummy bears (same color/brand), 3 clear plastic cups or beakers (12–16 oz), 200 mL distilled water (hypotonic), 200 mL 0.9% saline solution (isotonic), 200 mL 10% saline solution (hypertonic), electronic balance (to measure mass in grams), ruler (cm), paper towels, permanent marker, timer or clock, gloves (optional), goggles

Pro Tip: Have students sketch their predictions and actual results to compare. For extra challenge, use different brands or types of gummies and explore how ingredients affect osmosis outcomes!

Grade Levels: 8th – 11th
Total Pages: 16
Teaching Duration: 2 Days

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Jessica