by Rachel Wells

Ahhh… Peeps. Those little marshmallow treats are everywhere you look this time of year, and while a few may make for a fun treat, you probably shouldn’t eat a whole pack. So what do you do with all those extra adorable marshmallows you have laying around?

We firmly believe that opportunities to learn are all around us, and these STEM projects, science experiments, crafts, and math activities will certainly put your extra Peeps to good use (while making learning tons of fun!)

 

STEM Activities

 

Peeps Catapult

Materials: Wooden craft sticks, a plastic spoon, rubber bands, marshmallow Peeps, ruler, tape

Challenge: To create a catapult, and measure to see how far it can fling a marshmallow Peep.

Questions to ask:

What are the most important features of your catapult?

After looking at different catapults, what similarities do you notice about the ones that made the Peeps go the furthest?

 

Peep Parachutes

Materials: Yarn or string, marshmallow Peeps, and coffee filters, muffin papers or plastic grocery bags

Challenge: To design a parachute that will safely bring the Peep to the ground.

Questions to ask:

What design elements are the most important to making your parachute go slowly?

How could you change your design to make the parachute fall faster?

 

Science Activities

 

Dissolving Peeps

Supplies: Marshmallow Peeps, cups, different liquids (water, vinegar, oil, milk, soda, etc.), paper, pencil

Step-by-Step:

1. Pour one liquid in each cup.
2. Label each cup so you remember which one is which.
3. Place one Peep into each cup (making sure they are all fully submerged)
4. Observe the changes that happen to the Peeps in each of the different liquids over the course of a few days.

Questions to ask:

Which liquid dissolved the Peep the quickest?

Did you find a liquid that preserved the Peep instead of dissolving it?

 

Growing Peeps

Supplies: Marshmallow Peeps, ruler, pencil, paper, microwave, microwavable plate

Step-by-Step:

1. Measure the length of your Peep before you begin and record the length on a piece of paper.
2. Ask your child what they think will happen if you put the Peep in the microwave? What do they think would happen if they put the Peep in the refrigerator or freezer?
3. Place the Peep on a microwave safe plate and set the timer for 30 seconds. Be sure to watch and observe what is going on in there.
4. When time is up take the Peep out of the microwave and make some observations. How long is it now? Did it get wider? Thinner? Squishier? Be sure to measure and record your data. You can stop here and let your child explore their very different looking and feeling Peep or put it in for another 30 seconds and do another round of observations. You can also keep microwaving to see just how big you can make the Peep before it pops (but this part should definitely be done with caution!!)

 

Peep Boats

Supplies: Marshmallow Peeps, toothpicks, scissors, tape, construction paper, plastic bin, turkey baster, water

Step-by-Step:

1. Place a toothpick into the center of your Peep facing up.
2. Cut a sail out of construction paper.
3. Tape a sail to each toothpick.
4. Fill your container with water and put all the Peeps on one end of the bin. Use a turkey baster (or your mouth) to blow on the boats and race them from one side to the other, taking time to observe how you can make the boats move the fastest.

 

Sugar Diffusion

Supplies: Shallow dish or bowl, water, marshmallow Peeps

Step-by-Step:

1. Place your marshmallow Peeps in a circle around the edges of the shallow dish.
2. Slowly pour water into the bowl (you do not need to cover the Peeps.)
3. Watch as the colors slowly transfer to the water, but be careful not to shake the bowl as the colors will mix.

 

Math Activities

 

Marshmallow Peeps can be used to practice patterning skills, addition story problems, and best of all subtraction story problems! “If Mommy has 5 peeps, and {child’s name} eats 3, how many will be left over?”

 

Crafts

 

Peeps Playdough

You can actually turn marshmallow Peeps into a pastel PlayDoh/slime mixture!

Supplies: 5 marshmallow Peeps, 4 tablespoons flour, 1 tablespoon Crisco, microwave, bowl

Step-by-Step:

1. In a microwave safe bowl, combine all 3 ingredients.
2. Microwave for 30 seconds, then remove the bowl and stir.
3. Once the mixture is cool enough to touch, kneed it with your hands until if forms a ball. If it’s too sticky you can add more flour (a very small amount at a time!)
4. The dough can be stored in an airtight container and used again and again. If it ever starts to get hard you can put it in the microwave for 10 seconds to soften it back up.