Learning with Candy ~ Pixy Stix Games and Magnet Play
My kids are loving participating in the week long candy series.  So far we have Painted with Licorice and mixed up a batch of candy potions!  Next up, learning, playing and experimenting with our Pixy Stix Learning Tray.  The kids tried 4 different ways to play with Pixy Stix and each of them got the thumbs up. Â
I love this little moment that I captured. Â It totally sums up my sweet daughters excitement. Â She is my special girl that has me rolling on the floor giggling one moment and the we are wiping tears. Â Love her!
Pixy Stix Pick-up Sticks Game
We kicked off our Pixy Stix play/learning with a little old school game of pick-up sticks. Â I was surprised at how great they worked. Â I was concerned since essentially Pixi Stix are just paper tubes, however they stood up well. Â Such a simple idea but oh so fun!
Poured Pixy Stix Art
After they wrapped up the game, asked the kids to pour the sugary powder into the tray. Â The kids immediately started making patterns and swirls with the powder. Â Who would have thought of creating art as the sugar was being poured…kids:) Â I love how kids brains work, and watching them process through things.
Their sugary poured patterns and swirls were beautiful. Â However, they wished we had more than 4 colors to work with. Â Anyone know if Pixy Stix come in more colors than just Red, Orange, Purple and Blue? Â
Pixy Stix and Magnets
Once the kids poured all the sugary powder onto the tray, I showed them how to tap the sugar flat. Â When I brought out a tray of varying sizes of metal balls and a different strengths/sizes of magnets the kids new exactly what to do.
They experimented with all the different sizes and strengths of magnets and sizes of metal balls. Â It was funny listening to them discuss which combination was the best an why. Â I just stepped back and watched the learning unfold. Â Kids are great at teaching each other, and it is such a great skill for them to learn.
Their favorite magnet was this oblong shaped one. Â It plowed a wide trail of Pixy Stix power where as the smaller balls just left a skinny track. Â They played for hours simply creating patterns in the sugary powder.
We also pulled out a number of other objects that created unique patters. Â Some of the kids favorites included an offset spatula, a fork, a rubber basting brush and lots of different shaped cookie cutters. Â However the magnets were by far the biggest hit.
Drawing in Pixy Stix Powder
The kids fashioned a simple magnetic drawing utensil from metal ball and a piece from their magnetic building set. Â It worked beautifully.
 They even fit in a game a hangman.
Our simple Pixi Stix Learning Tray was a hug hit. Â Who knew that those sugary little tubes could hold so much learning potential.
Please remember to be careful when playing with magnets and small children. Â
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Make sure to click on the links below for more inspiring Learning Activities:
Math Games with Candy from Learn Play Imagine
SweeTart Sorting & Graphing from Mama Papa Bubba
Candy Corn Counting and Math from Reading Confetti
Spelling with M&M’s from Inspirational Laboratories
Candy Train Game from Play Trains
Learning with licorice from Blog Me Mom
Free Printable Flashcards for Addition with Jellybeans from Mama Miss
Tomorrow we will each be exploring creative Candy Art.
For more fun inspiration follow my Painting without Brushes board on Pinterest.
Ooh pick up stix, what a great idea!!!
This looks like so much fun! I love the dreamy pastel colors. We’re definitely going to have to try this, and see if it works well with trains!
Your magnet play activity looks like so much fun! I have pinned this post.
Hi Tammy! Wow, that looks so fun! Amazing pictures as well. Love how you incorporated all the different magnets. Thank you for sharing today!
This is such a creative idea! I love the gradual progression of the activities and the pixy dust drawings are awesome!
Wow! This is such a great sensory bin activity – sensory play, writing, games so much potential.
This looks so fun and engaging! Makes me want to play 🙂
Love this! We always get a few pixie stix for Trick-or-Treat and I’d rather they not eat them…. Got to try this!
awesome, in England we get pixie sticks in all different colours of the rainbows and in huge tubes 😀