Objectives

To learn the four components of blood, and their relative amounts, by creating "blood"candy

Materials

• Candy red hots
• Corn syrup
• Marshmallows
• Red candy sprinkles
• Plastic spoons
• Plastic bowls
• Red and blue food coloring

Procedure

Explain that blood has four components. Plasma (55 percent of blood volume) is a thick, clear, yellowish liquid that carries dissolved food and wastes. Red blood cells (44 percent of blood volume) carry oxygen and carbon dioxide around the body. Red blood cells are produced in the bone marrow. White blood cells (0.5 percent of blood volume) are bigger than red blood cells and attack germs. Platelets (0.5 percent of blood volume) are bits of cells that help blood clot.  

Create a blood model in the plastic bowl using red hots for red blood cells, corn syrup for plasma, marshmallows for white blood cells, and red candy sprinkles for platelets. Emphasize there relative amounts of the blood components. Add three drops of red food coloring and one drop of blue food coloring to the mixture. Let children experiment with different amounts to create their model. This is also a great math lesson for older students.

Conclusion

You have created a tasty blood model. Use the spoons to sample your "blood." There are five million red blood cells, ten thousand white blood cells, and two hundred fifty thousand platelets in a pinhead size drop of blood. There are eight different blood types: A+, A-, B+, B-, AB+, AB-, O+, and O-. O+ is the most common blood type.