I Like Candy

It’s holiday time, and that usually means candy. Chew on these sweet websites. Calorie-free!

CONNECT:

Get scientific about chocolate, from the source to your body: at http://www.exploratorium.edu/exploring/exploring_chocolate/index.html

Have you ever heard the phrase: “Goody gumdrops!”? Read about the history of the gumdrop: http://classroom.synonym.com/invention-gumdrop-12076.html

It can take up to 10 days to make a jelly bean! Watch how it’s done at http://manufacturing.stanford.edu/hetm.html

Watch how the professionals make taffy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVV5exYaq9A

     And here’s how you can make taffy yourself at home: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZjp522yMI8

Did you know that there is an international association about chewing gum? Get fun facts and figures at http://www.gumassociation.org/index.cfm/facts-figures/ You can also explore how it’s made, its benefits, and how to reduced the impact of littered gum.

There’s some pretty weird candy around the globe; see a sampling at http://www.cntraveler.com/galleries/2014-10-10/weird-candy-from-around-the-world/. Dream up your own weird candy.

Here’s a list of the 50 best candies in the world: http://www.complex.com/pop-culture/2012/10/best-candies-around-the-world/. Do you agree? Make up your own list.

CREATE:

Make your own candy by following the directions at http://www.kidactivities.net/post/easy-candy-recipes-kids-can-make.aspx

There’s a science to making candy: http://blog.ice.edu/2014/06/23/sugar-science-the-art-of-candy-making/

Try these candy science experiments: http://www.science-sparks.com/2014/06/17/candy-science/

Do parents ever say: “Don’t play with your food”? You can play math games with candy at http://www.learnplayimagine.com/2013/10/math-games-with-candy.html

Party time! Adapt some of these candy party themes: http://www.queen-of-theme-party-games.com/candy-birthday-party.html. Make up your own candy party ideas.

CARE:

What are the best and worst candies for your teeth? Find out at http://www.knowyourteeth.com/infobites/abc/article/?abc=t&iid=295&aid=10015

Oops! Did your candy drop and stain something? Test these candy stain removal solutions: http://home.howstuffworks.com/how-to-remove-candy-stains.htm

Show you care by making candy care packages: for the military or others in need. Here’s a start: http://www.dollartree.com/custserv/custserv.jsp?pageName=Non-Profit-Organization-Ideas

Try these ideas for a candy cane party service project: http://www.pioneerclubs.org/candy-cane-party-christmas-service-projects/

CAREERS:
From growing the ingredients to making the candy, and then packaging, selling, and serving it: each process is a career. Here are a few tasty candy-related job ideas.

http://www.insidejobs.com/careers/candy-maker

http://careers.stateuniversity.com/pages/6/Candy-Manufacturing-Worker.html

http://money.howstuffworks.com/30929-dirty-jobs-candy-maker-video.htm