science experiment set raisins dancing

Dancing Raisins Science Experiment for Kids

Have you ever seen dancing raisins? The kids will get a kick out of this super cool dancing raisins science experiment ! It’s super simple to do too. It even includes free printable recording sheets for preschool and elementary students. So grab a few household supplies and do this fun science activity!

I am always so thrilled when we do a science activity and it’s super easy to set up and do with the kids. This dancing raisins science experiment fit the bill exactly!

*Note: This science experiment should be done with adult supervision at all times.

You only need two supplies and it actually works! The kids get a kick out of it and they learn a lot too. My kids had lots of questions about how the raisins danced and that opened the door for me to explain some of the science behind this experiment.

Make sure you scroll all the way down to get the explanation of why this works and to grab the free recording sheets!

Dancing Raisins Science Experiment

Supplies Needed:

• Club Soda or another clear soda (7-Up, Sprite, etc.) (Unopened is best)
• Raisins (fresh works best)

*Tip: You will want to separate the raisins first. If they are stuck together they won’t dance. Small/medium raisins worked better as well. 

• Fill a glass with soda.
• Drop raisins into the glass. What happens? Do they sink or float?
• Then sit and watch what happens. You may need to be patient. It can take a minute or two for them to start moving.

The kids got a huge kick out of this! They loved watching the raisins get lifted up and then pushed back down in the soda. It was really cool to see the bubbles attach to the raisins and lift them up.

Dancing Raisins Video

How does this science experiment work.

When you first drop the raisins in the soda they sink to the bottom of the glass because they are more dense than the soda. But the carbonated soda releases carbon dioxide bubbles and these bubbles love to attach to the rough surface of the raisins. They act like tiny floatation devices that lift the raisin to the surface of the water. This is due to an increase in buoyancy.

Once the carbon dioxide bubbles reach the surface of the soda they pop and the gas is released into the air. This makes the raisin lose buoyancy and fall back down to the bottom of the glass.

This continues until all of the carbon dioxide has escaped and the soda is flat.

Extend the Learning

• Try different kinds of soda and see which one works best.
• Try adding different things to the soda. Some popular options are pieces of uncooked pasta, corn kernels, and lentils. I’ve heard rice works, but white rice didn’t work for us. Maybe try brown rice?

Print out the free printable recording sheets and have your kids record their predictions and observations. There are two kinds of sheets. One for preschool and kindergarten that requires only drawing and one for older students who can write a simple sentence or two.

More Fun Science Experiments

Your kids will love watching the colorful reactions with this lava lamp experiment .

This pepper and soap science experiment is super easy to setup. Kids will have fun exploring surface tension with this experiment.

This catapult activity is a fun STEM activity that will teach kids about kinetic energy!

Kids will be super surprised that this leak proof bag science experiment doesn’t leak when pencils are poked through a bag of water!

You just need markers, a paper towel and water with this grow a rainbow  science experiment!

This  rain cloud jar science experiment  is a fun way to explore clouds and rain.

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Dancing Raisins Science Experiment

Ready to make some raisins dance?? Although you won’t need to buy them dancing shoes, once you give your raisins some soda pop, they’ll start dancing for you with every bubble!

In this easy science experiment, your young scientists will learn about the effects of density and buoyancy. Below you will find a demonstration video, a supply list, and printable instructions. Suitable and fun for all ages.

JUMP TO SECTION: Instructions | Video Tutorial | How it Works

Supplies Needed

• Clear Drinking Glass
• Clear Pop like Sprite or 7Up

Dancing Raisins Science Lab Kit – Only $5

Use our easy Dancing Raisins Science Lab Kit to grab your students’ attention without the stress of planning!

It’s everything you need to  make science easy for teachers and fun for students  — using inexpensive materials you probably already have in your storage closet!

Dancing Raisins Science Experiment Instructions

Step 1 –  Gather your materials together and begin by pouring the pop into the cup. Pour until it is about 3/4 of the way full. 

As you are pouring the pop, take a moment to make observations. What did you notice as you poured the pop into the cup? Did you see anything interesting happen? Did you hear anything as you poured the pop into the cup?

What do you think will happen if you place the raisins into the cup? Write down your hypothesis (prediction) and then continue the experiment to test it out and to find out if you were correct.

Step 2 – Next, take a handful of raisins (approximately 10-15) and carefully place them into the cup. Then take a step back and look through the side of the cup to watch what happens.

Step 3 – What initially happened to the raisins? Did they sink to the bottom? Did they float to the top? As you observe the cup for a few minutes, did anything else happen? Was your hypothesis correct? 

Do you know what caused the raisins to “dance” and move up and down in the pop? Find out the answer in the how does this experiment work section below. It also contains ideas on how you can expand on the experiment.

Dancing Raisins Science Experiment Video Tutorial

How Does the Science Experiment Work?

When you first place the raisins in the soda, the raisins sink because they are denser than the soda. As the carbon dioxide gas bubbles dissolved in the soda attach to the wrinkled surface of the raisins, the raisins begin to rise. The raisins rise because the soda bubbles help increase the buoyancy of the raisins.

Buoyancy is the tendency of an object to float in fluids because of the upward force fluid exert on objects.

This increase in buoyancy helps the raisins become less dense than the soda. When the raisins get to the surface of the soda, the carbon dioxide bubbles surrounding the raisins pop. The raisins lose buoyancy and become denser than the soda so they begin to sink. As the raisins sink, more carbon dioxide bubbles will attach to the raisins’ wrinkled surface, starting the process all over again!

The raisins will continue to dance (sink and float) in the soda until all of the carbon dioxide bubbles have popped and the soda becomes “flat”.

More Science Fun

Try this same experiment with objects that do not have a wrinkled surface like blueberries or grapes. Do they rise in the soda the same way the raisins did?

Instead of using soda like 7Up or Sprite, try using baking soda dissolved in water and vinegar. Dissolve two teaspoons of baking soda into a half cup of water. Add 6-7 raisins to the baking soda/water solution. Slowly pour a tablespoon of vinegar into the mixture and watch the raisins dance! (This version of the experiment could make a mess, so put your cup into a shallow dish, like a pie pan, before adding the vinegar).

I hope you enjoyed the experiment. Here are some printable instructions:

• Glass Drinking Glass

Instructions

• Fill the drinking glass with pop
• Put in a handful of raisins
• Watch the raisins “dance” and move up and down in the glass.

Reader Interactions

March 11, 2022 at 9:08 pm

What if you add more soda? What’s going to happen to the raisins?

May 22, 2023 at 10:08 am

That’s a great question! Why not test it and observe what happens to the raisins. If you do, comment and let us know what you find!

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Written by Brenda • Feb 8, 2024 • Leave a Comment

Dancing Raisins Experiment- Fun Science for Kids!

Have you ever witnessed the fascinating spectacle of dancing raisins? Your kids are in for a treat with this cool and simple science experiment! This straightforward dancing raisins science experiment is not only incredibly simple but also a whole lot of fun! And with the complimentary printable science recording sheets, it becomes an even more enriching experience.

Table of Contents

Incorporating STEM activities into educational curricula helps to foster scientific thinking from an early age. Gather a few common household supplies, and let’s dive into this fun science activity together!

You’ll only need a few supplies, and it’s guaranteed to work like magic! Your kids will be both amazed and enlightened.

As they watch the raisins dance, your kids will have plenty of questions, providing a great opportunity for you to explain some of the scientific concepts behind this experiment.

Dancing Raisins Science Experiment

Explore this delightful dancing raisins science activity with your kids; it’s perfect for preschool, kindergarten, and early elementary school ages!

Check out the video of the dancing raisins experiment

What do kids learn with the dancing raisins experiment.

Initially, when you drop the raisins into the soda, they sink to the bottom of the glass because they are denser than the soda.

However, the carbonated soda, vinegar, and baking soda release carbon dioxide bubbles. The bubbles love to cling to the rough surface of the raisins.

The carbon dioxide gas acts like tiny flotation devices that lift the raisin to the surface of the soda, resulting in increased buoyancy and reduced density of the raisins.

Once the carbon dioxide bubbles reach the surface of the cup of water, the bubbles pop, releasing gas into the air.

This causes the raisin to lose its buoyancy and fall back down to the bottom of the glass.

This fascinating cycle continues until all the carbon dioxide has escaped, and the baking soda and vinegar no longer react.

Supplies for the Dancing Raisin Experiment

Here is what you need to complete this experiment!

• Club soda (Sprite will also work)
• Baking soda
• Raisins (medium to large)
• Clear glass or cup

Check out our favorite kindergarten and preschool supplies list here.

How to Do the Dancing Raisins Easy Science Experiment

Always provide adult supervision while conducting this dancing raisins science experiment.

Separate the raisins before using them in this experiment. If they stick together, the experiment won’t work.

Fill a glass with clear soda and add a tablespoon of vinegar.

Drop 6-7 raisins into the glass.

Observe what happens. Do they sink or float?

Add a teaspoon of baking soda to the liquid. The mixture should start to bubble, and the raisins will start to “dance” inside the cup.

Now, sit back and watch the magic unfold.

Note: It might take a minute or two for the raisins to start dancing.

The kids will absolutely love this! They’ll be delighted to see the raisins rise and fall in the soda as bubbles attach to them and lift them up.

It’s a preschool science experiment that’s not only super easy but also incredibly entertaining.

What is the chemical change in dancing raisins?

Baking soda and vinegar react when mixed, producing carbon dioxide gas. As this gas emerges, it adheres to the raisins inside the bottle.

When a raisin accumulates a sufficient amount of gas, it initiates its ascent toward the surface, with the carbon dioxide temporarily boosting the raisins’ buoyancy.

More Lessons in Kitchen Chemistry

Experiment with different types of soda or chemical reactions to see which reactions produce enough bubbles to make the raisins dance.

Try adding other foods to the carbonated water. Some popular options include macaroni, blueberries, rice, corn kernels, grapes, and lentils.

Where to get this printable

Get the dancing raisins sheet here.

More Fun Science Experiments

Here are some other vinegar experiments and other science experiments to try

• Watch your kids marvel at the colorful reactions in this lava lamp experiment.
• Explore surface tension with ease through this milk and soap science experiment.
• Discover the magic of growing a rainbow with just Skittles and water.
• Explore clouds and rain in a fun way with this rain cloud jar science experiment.

More Science Experiments

Brenda MacArthur is a STEM curriculum writer, STEM author, and STEM accessibility advocate. She founded the site STEAMsational.com in 2012 which offers hands-on STEM activities for kids and STEM lesson plans for teachers.

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Dancing Raisins Experiment

Is it science or magic? This is a super simple and fun way to explore states of matter, density, and more for preschoolers and elementary kids! There are two great ways to set up this easy science experiment that cause the raisins to dance but use slightly different ingredients. Let’s get into some simple kitchen science and find out!

CAN YOU MAKE RAISINS DANCE?

SCIENCE FOR PRESCHOOLERS

Our favorite preschool science activities are inexpensive, quick and easy to set up! Many of these awesome experiments use common ingredients you may already have. Just check your kitchen cupboard for cool science supplies.

You will notice that I use the wording preschool science but our science activities and experiments are absolutely perfect for kindergarten age kids as well as early elementary age kids. It all depends on the individual kid or group you are working with! You can also add more or less of the science information depending on the age level.

You can even try this with cranberries, grains of salt, and even popping corn. If you don’t have a soda, you can also use baking soda and vinegar as seen here. Or why not turn this experiment into a dancing raisins science project!

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE:  Easy Science Fair Projects

DANCING RAISINS EXPERIMENT

You will need:.

• Clear glass
• Club Soda or Clear Soda

NOTE: Club sodas can differ in reaction amounts so you might want to grab a clear soda such as Sprite too. Comparing several types of sodas would make a great experiment for making predictions.

INSTRUCTIONS

STEP 1. Fill the glass almost 3/4 full with club soda.

STEP 2. Add a small handful of raisins to the soda.

STEP 3. Watch what happens to the raisins. You will see them drop to the bottom of the glass, float to the top and back down again.

THE SCIENCE OF DANCING RAISINS

First, what is buoyancy? Buoyancy refers to the tendency of something to sink or float in a liquid like water. Can you change the buoyancy of something? Yes, you can! Initially, you observed that the raisins sunk to the bottom because they are heavier than the water. However, the soda has gas in it which you can see with the bubbles.

The bubbles attach themselves to the surface of the raisins and lift them up! When a raisin reaches the surface, the bubbles pop and the raisin falls back down. You do have to be a little patient at times to observe this happening. The bubbles are key to making the raisins dance!

You can create your own gas with a baking soda and vinegar experiment that we tried here with our dancing corn experiment . It’s also quite fun to watch.

Can your kiddos identify the solid, liquid, and gas in this activity? What if you compare it to a glass of water? What happens when the raisins are placed in only water? Make it even more of an experiment by testing out different items like we mentioned above and compare the results. Do different types of soda work differently?

MORE FUN SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS FOR KIDS

DANCING RAISINS EXPERIMENT FOR SIMPLE SCIENCE

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Dancing Raisins

Ready for some kitchen chemistry, then you should try the dancing raisins experiment? Let’s add some zing to those boring chemistry lessons with a fun jumping raisins experiment in the kitchen.

Performing simple science experiments for kids like jumping raisins will bring your lessons on acid-base reactions, density, and buoyancy to life. So, grab your ingredients and turn up the music, it’s time for a raisin dance-off!

Here is a step-by-step guide to performing the swimming raisins experiment.

Things You’ll Need For The Jumping Raisins Experiment

A step-by-step guide to perform the jumping raisins experiment, another way to perform the swimming raisins experiment, the science behind the dancing raisins, why you should do the dancing raisins science experiment.

You only need three simple and inexpensive ingredients for the dancing raisins experiment.

• Club soda or any other clear soda like 7 Up or Sprite. Use an unopened bottle for best results
• Raisins 
• An empty glass

Note: If the raisins are stuck together, they won’t dance. Separate the raisins before starting the experiment. Small or medium raisins are the best dancers in this experiment.

Download Dancing Raisins Printable

Follow these steps to watch raisins bust some cool dance moves:

Fill the glass with the clear soda, but don’t fill it to the brim.

Drop a few raisins into the glass. What do you see? Do the raisins sink or float on the surface?

Now you just need to sit patiently and observe the glass. You’ll notice that the bubbles in the soda attach themselves to the raisins. Slowly, the raisins start floating to the surface. Then, they fall back down and go back up again in a never-ending dance.

It might take a while before the raisins start moving and dancing. Little kids will be awed by how the raisins move up and down the glass and dance in the soda. The raisins will continue moving up and down and dancing until soda goes flat and most of the carbon dioxide has escaped.

There is another way to perform the swimming raisins experiment. Here is a list of ingredients you’ll need to perform the experiment.

• 2 teaspoons of baking soda 
• 6 -7 raisins
• ½ cup water, and 
• 1 tablespoon of vinegar

Here is the step-by-step guide to making those yummy raisins dance:

• Step 1: Fill the glass with ½ cup of water.
• Step 2: Add 2 teaspoons of baking soda, and stir well until it is completely dissolved. 
• Step 3: Add a few raisins to the glass.
• Step 4: Then, slowly pour 1 tablespoon of vinegar into the glass and watch raisins dance until they drop!

Curious to know what made raisins dance? Let’s learn the science behind this experiment to know why the raisins danced. 

Density: 

When the raisins were dropped into the soda, at first, they sank to the bottom of the glass. This happened because the raisins are denser than soda. Objects with a higher density sink, while those with lower densities float.

Carbon Dioxide Bubbles And Buoyancy

Soda is a carbonated drink, so it has carbon dioxide bubbles in it. These carbon dioxide bubbles attach themselves to the rough surface of the raisins and lift them up. This happens because of an increase in buoyancy. Once the carbon dioxide bubbles reach the surface, they burst and release their gas into the air. Then the raisins lose their buoyancy and fall back to the bottle of glass. The raisins’ up and down movement continues until all the carbon dioxide is released into the air and the effervescence stops. 

Similarly, the raisins dance in the baking soda and vinegar solution because of the same concept. The chemical reaction between vinegar (an acid) and baking soda (a base) produces carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide bubbles act as tiny floatation devices and lift the raisins up to the surface. The raisins dance because of the carbon dioxide present in the glass. As the bubbles reach the surface they pop and the raisins lose their buoyancy and fall back down. This continues until all the carbon dioxide is used up.

Want to know if other objects exhibit the same behavior? Do you think strawberries can dance like those raisins? Or a wad of scrunched-up tinfoil? The experiment can be performed using other materials apart from raisins, like dried blueberries, raspberries. You can use anything with a slightly higher density than water and an irregular surface to perform this experiment. It needs an irregular surface for carbon dioxide bubbles to attach themselves. Do this activity at home and see if those materials dance like the raisins.

Kids love performing Science experiments. Such simple science experiments not only entertain kids but also help them learn scientific concepts practically. Dancing raisins is not only a fun activity for children it also helps them understand their science lessons on density, acids, bases and buoyancy better. 

Watch Raisins Boogie In Soda With The Dancing Raisins Experiment

They might not have hands and legs, but raisins can definitely dance! This activity is sure to draw excited squeals and it will ensure your kids have a lot of fun. Additionally, the easy to perform dancing raisins experiment will help your child learn some important scientific concepts. 

The jumping raisins experiment will help children learn about concepts like density, acid-base reactions and buoyancy. All you need are a few household supplies and some excited kids to do the experiment.

We hope you liked the swimming raisins experiment. For more kids learning resources, check Osmo. 

Frequently Asked Questions on Dancing Raisins

What are the materials required for dancing raisins.

The materials required for Dancing Raisins are any unopened or unsealed bottle (sprite or soda), raisins, and an empty glass. These are the materials that are required for dancing raisins.

What is the science behind Dancing Raisins?

The science behind Dancing Raisins is that kids get to learn the important concepts of density, buoyancy and carbon dioxide bubbles, and the behavior of the object when mixed together.

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Dancing Raisins Science Experiment

• a glass cup or jar
• baking soda

To do this experiment, half fill your glass cup with water.

Add about 3 tsp baking soda and mix.

Drop in about 4 – 5 small raisins.

Carefully add 4 TBSP of vinegar to the glass jar.

Watch and wait. It will take a few minutes to start working. Then the raisins will start dancing!

Extended learning 

• You could also try with different types of dried fruit and see if they work too – such as Craisins and sultanas
• Try using other liquids such as lemonade, mineral water or soda water.

Why do the raisins dance?

The vinegar and baking soda create carbon dioxide bubbles, the same gas that carbonates soft drink or soda pop.  The bubbles will gather under the raisins until there’s enough fizz to raise them to the surface. When the bubbles pop it causes the raisins to fall back down to the bottom and the process continues.

More Science Experiments

• Strawberry DNA Science Experiment
• Bending A Chicken Bone Science Experiment
• Dissolving Candy Cane Science Experiment
• Toothpaste Star Experiment
• Walking Water Rainbow Experiment
• Jelly Bean Experiment
• Pop Rock Experiment
• Rainy Day Experiment
• Walking On Eggs Experiment
• Growing Gummy Bear Experiment
• Fizzy Frozen Heart
• Make Your Own Rock Candy

Ingredients  

• ▢ glass cup or jar
• ▢ 4 TBSP white vinegar
• ▢ 3 tsp baking soda
• ▢ 4-5 raisins
• ▢ water

Instructions  

• Half fill your glass cup or jar with water.
• Add 3 tsp of baking soda per 250ml of water and mix a little.
• Drop in about 4-5 raisins.
• Carefully add 4 TBSP of vinegar and give it a few minutes to start working.
• The raisins should start dancing.

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Dancing Raisins

I have done so many simple science experiments, but I think this is by far the simplest. All you need for this experiment is sparkling water and raisins. Watching the raisins in this experiment dance around a glass is so mesmerizing and is sure to keep children entertained.

What you need:

• a clear glass
• sparkling water (club soda or any other clear soda works as well)

• Pour the sparkling water into the glass

• Put raisins in the water (make sure they are not stuck together)

• Watch the raisins dance around in the glass!

What makes the raisins dance?

The raisins initially sink to the bottom of the glass because they have a higher density than the sparkling water. However, the sparkling water has been infused with carbon dioxide, and carbon dioxide bubbles latch to the rough surface of the raisins. The bubbles pull the raisins to the surface of the water due to an increase in buoyancy.

When the carbon dioxide bubbles reach the surface of the sparkling water, they pop and the gas is released into the surrounding air. The raisin loses its buoyancy and falls back down to the bottom of the glass. Eventually, the raisins stop dancing when all of the carbon dioxide has been released from the sparkling water.

Chester Gadson

I’m pretty pleased to uncover this website. I want to to thank you for this fantastic read!! I definitely will try it with my kids and I have you saved as a favorite to see new posts on your website.

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How to make dancing raisins.

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Watch How to Make Dancing Raisins

Dancing raisins experiment supply list.

Lemon-lime soda (we used Sprite)

Tall glass cylinder

Don't forget your safety gear!

Safety goggles

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I’ve done a version of this dancing raisins experiment with my kids a couple of times over the years. We initially did this activity as part of our discussions about  states of matter . But it also works really well for a unit on density .

When I was developing my  Density STEM Pack , a comprehensive curriculum for teaching kids about density, I knew I had to include the dancing raisins activity because it perfectly illustrates the concept of  combined density . Combined density is what we get when two objects with different densities combine together with a new density that is somewhere between the densities of the individual objects.

In addition to being a great learning tool, these dancing raisins are super fun to watch and will leave kids mesmerized with their continual up and down motion.

Note: Find more STEM activities on my  Science Activities for Kids  page!

The dancing raisins experiment requires the following materials:

• Two tall glasses
• A clear carbonated beverage (e.g., carbonated water or a clear-colored soda)
• Plain water (e.g., from the tap)
• A handful of raisins (we used 1/3 cup in each glass)

To begin, I filled one glass with water and another glass with our clear, carbonated beverage.

The kids then helped me pour 1/3 cup of raisins into the water glass.

We noticed that the raisins in the water glass just sat at the bottom of the glass. Nothing much interesting going on here!

The kids then poured 1/3 cup of raisins into the glass with a carbonated beverage.

Almost immediately our raisins began dancing! They would get covered in bubbles and then break away from the pack at the bottom. They rose quickly to the top. Once at the top, they lost some of their bubbles and would sink back to the bottom. This continued on for quite some time as we sat mesmerized by the show going on in front of us!

The science behind the dancing raisins activity

So how and why does this work?

Carbonated beverages are filled with a dissolved gas called carbon dioxide. At the bottling factory, the dissolved gas is sealed into the drink when the lid is put on. When you open the bottle, the gas starts to come out of the spaces between the molecules of liquid. When it does this, it forms little bubbles.

Raisins are more dense than the liquid, and therefore sink to the bottom of the glass at first. However, the the bubbles from the liquid form a “bubble jacket” on the raisins until the combined density of the raisins and gas is lower than the density of the liquid, causing the raisins float to the top of the liquid. When the raisins reach the surface, the bubbles pop. Without their “bubble jackets,” the raisins are more dense than the liquid, and thus sink back down again.

You can find this and other activities about density in my  Density STEM Pack.  Here is a sneak peak at the teacher instructions and student instructions for the dancing raisins activity in my Density STEM Pack:

Who is the Density STEM Pack appropriate for?

The activities in the  Density STEM Pack  can be adapted and used with children from preschool through middle school to have fun and learn important concepts about density. The student worksheets provided for these activities are written for kids in fourth through eight grades, but a teacher or parent could easily adapt all but two of the activities for younger students by working directly with the students rather than asking them to follow the written instructions.

Truly, kids of all ages will have fun with all the activities in this pack!

Want a copy of my Density STEM Pack?

Add this product to your cart by clicking the button below!

Density STEM Pack

More stem & steam activities for kids.

More science posts from Gift of Curiosity:

• Sink or float activity
• Bubble STEM activities
• Dancing raisins
• Advanced patterns worksheets
• Dissecting an apple
• What do ants like to eat?
• Make your own telescope
• Engineering challenges for kids

Find more great science activities on my  Science Activities for Kids  page and my  Science Activities Pinterest board. 

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Reader interactions.

February 21, 2014 at 9:21 am

I love this! As soon as I can get to the store and get something carbonated, we’re going to give this a try! 🙂

February 21, 2014 at 11:54 am

Cool. Great way of incorporating a pouring activity into a science experiment. Simple with good results. Thanks for sharing.

February 24, 2014 at 8:14 am

Thanks for this idea and the note at the bottom. I was just thinking I could use less based on the pictures, but will definitely try this soon with the 1/3 cup! I think my kids will get a kick out of it.

February 24, 2014 at 1:13 pm

This is a good experiment to demonstrate gases. I’ve liked your series btw. Thanks for sharing at the After School Link Up.

March 18, 2018 at 1:19 pm

This also shows convection!

October 28, 2022 at 9:57 am

This was so fun, thank you! my girls extended it a bit by seeing what other objects would float with the bubble jackets. We tried blueberries, olives, paper clip, fridge magnets – the possibilities are endless. Fun. Thank you!

November 1, 2022 at 9:17 am

I love that your girls tried new things. It’s so great when kids get curious and want to experiment.

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Dancing Raisins

Try this fun dancing raisins experiment! You only need raisins, baking soda, water and vinegar! Kids will love making the raisins dance with science!

RELATED: Dancing Corn Experiment

Dancing Raisins Science Experiment

In this experiment, you’ll use science to make the raisins dance! You can even do this same experiment with corn.

Supplies Needed

• Baking Soda
• Clear vase or Mason Jar

What is the Science?

You see the bubbling and foaming in the jar, but what is causing this reaction?

The baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) is a base while the vinegar (acetic acid) is an acid and what you are seeing is an acid/base reaction. Initially, the reaction makes carbonic acid which is unstable and breaks down into carbon dioxide (CO2) and water which is what creates all of the fizzing and bubbles as the gas leaves the water.

Why Do the Raisins Dance?

As the bubbles are created, the carbon dioxide bubbles attach to the raisins and bring the raisins to the surface of the water. The bubbles pop when they reach the surface and then the raisins sink back down to the bottom of the jar. Once on the bottom they collect more carbon dioxide bubbles and the process starts again. This is what makes it look like the raisins are “dancing”.

Watch the Video Tutorial Here!

How to do a dancing raisins experiment.

1. Add 1/4 cup of raisins to a jar.

If your jar is smaller, you can use less raisins.

Note – we recommend washing your raisins first. Otherwise they may make the water cloudy. Wash until the water is clear.

2. Add in 1 tablespoon of baking soda.

Make sure the baking soda is spread evenly across all of the raisins.

3. Add in water to fill the jar about 3/4 of the way full.

4. Mix the baking soda in the water until dissolved.

5. Add in 1/4 cup of vinegar.

The vinegar and baking soda reaction will happen immediately. This may cause some of the water mixture to overflow from your jar, so protect your surface. It’s best if you can place the jar in a tray in case this happens.

If it overflows, the water mixture will settle and become clear. Once clear, you will be able to start watching the raisins “dance”. The dancing should continue for at least a few minutes.

Now you can watch the raisins dance!

The vinegar and baking soda reaction will cause bubbles that will carry the raisins to the surface of the water. As the bubbles pop, the raisins will drop back down and the process will continue, making it look like they are dancing!

See more fun science experiments here!

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Dancing Raisins

This experiment is both unbelievably simple and fairly mesmerising and as it’s an edible experiment you can even have yourself a little snack too.

What Do I Need?

• Raisins or sultanas

How Do I Do It?

STEP1 - Pour yourself a glass of lemonade, being careful to pour it at an angle to try and preserve the fizz.

STEP2   - Add in a handful of raisins.

STEP3   - Sit back and relax and watch them ‘dance’ - they genuinely dance far better than I can but that’s not hard!

STEP4   - Keep an eye on how long they dance for. Are they slowing down or speeding up?

STEP5 - What happens if you add more raisins into your lemonade?

STEP6 - Does the temperature of your lemonade make any difference? Get an adult to help out and experiment to find out!

What’s Going On?

Your dancing raisins are pretty addictive to watch, right? You’ve got to stop watching them though because we need to figure out what’s going on.

When we first put our raisins into our lemonade they sink to the bottom because they are more dense than lemonade. Our lemonade is carbonated, like most fizzy drinks, and it’s those bubbles of carbon dioxide that are grabbing onto our raisins and pulling them up to the top of the glass.

At the top the carbon dioxide gets released out into the world. Without the carbon dioxide bubbles to pull them up the raisins fall back to the bottom once again.

More Fun Please! - Experiment Like A Real Scientist!

• Do you have to use raisins for this experiment?
• What else could you try? 
• Could you put some pasta pieces into your drink?
• Could you use different fizzy drinks? 
• Do diet fizzy drinks make a difference?

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Dancing Raisins Experiment: Fun Science in Action!

An engaging science experiment for kids and adults alike, the Dancing Raisins Experiment is a fascinating hands-on activity kids can use to explore the effects of carbon dioxide on everyday objects.

Have you ever been amazed by the simple yet captivating power of a science experiment? Look no further, because this dancing raisins experiment is about to impress you with its quirky results and easy setup.

This engaging activity brings both fun and education to the table, sparking curiosity in children and adults alike.

Science helps to nurture kids’ critical thinking skills while having fun – and even being surprised and delighted! It also helps to connect science back to our everyday life, which helps make a connection between what they learn and their daily lives.

Our dancing raisins experiment does just that, yet it’s a simple and effective activity that can be easily conducted with the materials you have in your kitchen!

The intriguing part of this experiment is seeing how raisins can seemingly come to life and dance around as if they have a mind of their own. With just a few household supplies, you can witness the wonders of science as raisins jive to the tune of density and buoyancy.

Not only will you create a captivating display, but you’ll also set the stage for understanding fundamental scientific concepts in an enjoyable and interactive way.

Time to grab your dancing shoes – or, in this case, your raisins – and let the magic unfold!

If you want more engaging and fun experiments for kids, try these simple science experiments: 

• Fireworks In A Jar Science Experiment
• Rainbow Walking Water Experiment
• Snow Volcano Experiment STEM Activity
• Earth Day Science Experiment (STEM Activity)

The Science Behind Dancing Raisins

Are you wondering how raisins can dance? The secret lies in the interaction between the raisins and a fizzy liquid, like soda or a mixture of vinegar and baking soda.

When you place raisins in a carbonated liquid, the carbon dioxide bubbles attach to the wrinkles and irregular shapes – the rough surface of the raisins – making them buoyant.  

As more bubbles accumulate, the raisins rise to the surface. Once they reach the top, the bubbles pop, and the raisins sink back down.

This continuous process of rising and sinking creates the appearance of dancing raisins.

Here are the key scientific principles behind the dancing raisins phenomenon:

• Buoyancy : When the tiny bubbles attach to the raisins, they become less dense compared to the liquid, making them float.
• Carbon dioxide : In soda, CO2 is already dissolved in the liquid. In a baking soda and vinegar mixture, the reaction creates CO2 gas that forms bubbles.

History Of Dancing Raisins

Dancing raisins have been a popular science experiment for many years because it appeals to kids and adults alike!

The experiment demonstrates the principles of density, buoyancy, and chemical reactions, making it a popular (and safe) choice for classroom activities and at-home science exploration.

While it’s difficult to pinpoint exactly when the dancing raisins experiment first emerged, its enduring popularity attests to its ability to spark curiosity and teach fundamental scientific concepts.

Supplies Needed For Dancing Raisins Science Experiment 

You only need a few ingredients and supplies to do this easy science experiment that will enthrall kids of all ages!

• A clear carbonated beverage – carbonated water or a clear-colored soda or soft drink (like Sprite or 7-UP)
• Raisins – fresh works best
• 2 to 3 clear glasses – depending on how many versions of the experiment you want to run
• Tray – to catch any overflow (optional)

How To Make Dancing Raisins Experiment

Here’s how to set up and conduct the dancing raisins experiment:

Fill a clear glass 3/4 full with the club soda or clear soda.

Drop in the raisins. Observe and record what happens. Do they sink or do they float?

Observe the process ! Watch as the raisins begin to rise and fall, appearing to “dance” in the glass.

Be patient. It may take a few minutes for them to start ‘dancing’.

Experiment further . If you prepared multiple glasses, try using plain water or different types of carbonated beverages and compare the results to see which one creates the most “dancing” raisins.

Now that everything is set up enjoy your dancing raisins experiment and have fun exploring the concepts of density and buoyancy!

Demonstration Video

Dancing raisins experiment recipe notes and tips.

• Reminder : This experiment works best if you use soda that has been unopened previous to doing this experiment.
• Raisins are sticky and are usually stuck together in clumps . Be sure to separate them before dropping them in the soda, or they won’t ‘dance’. Small to medium raisins work best.

Love crafts and easy DIY projects? Grab this mini activity book for more by clicking the image below – free! 👇

Dancing Raisins Experiment Variations and Extension Ideas

• Experiment with different brands and kinds of soda and see which one works the best.
• Try the same experiment with blueberries or grapes. They do not have shriveled skin, so will they rise to the top in the soda the same way raisins do?
• Use other types of food, such as uncooked pasta shapes, corn kernels, lentils, or rice, to drop in the soda. We tried white rice, but it did not work for us. Next time we should try brown rice. 😉
• In place of soda, use baking soda dissolved in water and vinegar. Add two teaspoons of soda to a half cup of water. Add 5 – 7 raisins to the soda/water mixture. Very slowly, pour in a tablespoon of vinegar. Watch the raisins start to dance. TIP : Place your glass or cup on a baking sheet or shallow dish before adding the vinegar. The baking soda and vinegar could potentially make a little bit of a mess.

Different Ingredients

You can try out different variations of the dancing raisins experiment by changing the ingredients. Instead of using raisins, you could test other lightweight objects like popcorn kernels or small pasta shapes. How does their behavior differ in the reaction of baking soda and vinegar?

Another idea is to use different types of vinegar, such as white vinegar, apple cider vinegar, or even lemon juice. Observe if the change in acidity affects the reaction and the resulting “dance” of the raisins or other objects.

Observations and Analysis

Expected results.

During the dancing raisins experiment, you can expect to see raisins initially sinking to the bottom of the glass. After a short while, the raisins will start to rise to the surface, appearing to dance. Once they reach the surface, they’ll fall back down, and the process will repeat.

Explanation of Observations

The reason behind the dancing raisins phenomenon is the formation of gas bubbles around the raisins. In the version of the experiment with soda,  carbon dioxide bubbles  are responsible for the movement. When you pour the soda into the glass, you’ll notice fizzing and bubbles forming, which is a result of the carbon dioxide gas being released from the liquid.

As the raisins sit in the soda, small carbon dioxide bubbles form on their surfaces. These bubbles act like tiny life jackets, causing the raisins to become buoyant and rise to the top of the glass. Once there, the bubbles burst, and the raisins lose their buoyancy, falling back down.

Baking Soda and Vinegar Version

In the baking soda and vinegar versions, a similar process occurs. When you add vinegar to a glass with warm water and baking soda, a  chemical reaction  takes place, producing carbon dioxide gas (it looks like carbon dioxide fizz). As with the soda version, bubbles of carbon dioxide form around the raisins, making them rise and fall.

By observing the dancing raisins, you’ll gain a better understanding of how gas bubbles can affect an object’s buoyancy. This simple yet engaging experiment demonstrates fundamental concepts of physics and chemistry in an entertaining way.

Educational Connections

The dancing raisins experiment is a fun science experiment and an excellent opportunity to connect this fun activity with various educational subjects. For example:

• Science:  Teach your kids about gas, buoyancy, and density. Explain how the carbon dioxide gas produced from the reaction between baking soda and vinegar causes the raisins to rise, and how the release of these gas bubbles makes the raisins “dance.”
• Observation skills:  Encourage your kids to observe the changes during the experiment closely. What happens when you first combine the ingredients? How do the raisins behave during the reaction? Prompt them to write down or discuss their observations.
• Creative writing:  Let your kids write a short story or a poem inspired by the dancing raisins. They can engage their imagination, putting themselves in the shoes of the raisins or creating a fantasy world where dancing raisins come to life.

Remember to encourage curiosity and exploration during these variations and connections. By doing so, you’ll create a fun and rewarding learning experience for your kids.

Safety Precautions

When performing the dancing raisins experiment, there are a few safety precautions to keep in mind. First, make sure you have a clean and clutter-free workspace. This will help reduce the risk of spills, which can be messy and pose a slipping hazard.

Next, if you choose to use baking soda and vinegar for your experiment, be aware that the vinegar reaction can sometimes be vigorous. So, it’s important to have a large enough container to prevent the mixture from spilling over the sides or place your glass on a tray to catch any spillage. 

While the ingredients used in either soda or the baking soda and vinegar version of the experiment are generally harmless, they can still cause mild irritation if they come in contact with your eyes or skin. To avoid this, you should wear safety goggles to protect your eyes and gloves to protect your hands.

During the experiment, it’s essential to handle the raisins with clean hands or a utensil. This prevents any contamination of the solution and ensures reliable results.

Lastly, when disposing of the solution after completing the experiment, remember that the raisins can clog the drain. Thoroughly strain the raisins from the liquid before discarding them in the trash. And as for the liquid, both soda and vinegar mixtures can be safely poured down the drain.

By following these safety precautions, you’ll be able to enjoy the dancing raisins experiment without any unnecessary mishaps. Have fun watching those raisins boogie!

The raisins will sink to the bottom of the glass when you first drop them into the soda. This is because they are more dense or heavier than soda. The carbonated beverage releases carbon dioxide bubbles that attach themselves to the wrinkly, rough surface of the raisin. As the gas bubbles dissolve and dissipate, the raisins begin to rise. The raisins float to the top because the gas bubbles help increase the buoyancy of the raisins. The bubbles act like little tiny floatation devices for the raisin. LOL Once the gas bubbles reach the surface of the glass, they pop, and the bubbles pop. This makes the raisin fall back to the bottom of the glass.

Yes, it is a chemical reaction. When you use baking soda and vinegar, they react to produce carbon dioxide gas. This gas forms bubbles, which cause the raisins to float and dance. In the case of carbonated beverages, the bubbles are already present in the drink, and no additional chemical reaction takes place.

A clear glass container will work best for this experiment so that you can get a great view from all sides and be able to see the dancing raisins clearly. I would also suggest a tall glass so that you can see how far up the bubbles can lift the raisins.

If your raisins are not dancing, several factors may be affecting the experiment. First, make sure your raisins are fresh, as older raisins may not work as effectively. Second, ensure you have used enough baking soda and vinegar (or carbonated beverage) to generate sufficient carbon dioxide bubbles. Lastly, check if your raisins have any residue or oil that could prevent bubbles from forming on their surfaces.

The dancing raisin experiment is not directly related to osmosis, as it revolves around the behavior of gas bubbles, not the movement of water or any other solvent across a membrane. Osmosis involves the passage of water molecules through a selectively permeable membrane from a region of lower solute concentration to a region of higher solute concentration. The dancing raisin experiment focuses on the buoyancy of raisins due to the attached carbon dioxide bubbles, which is a different phenomenon.

More Fun Creative Crafts To Keep Kids Busy and Entertained

• Paper Plate Garden Craft
• Folded Paper Sunflower Craft
• Easy Pet Rock Craft Idea
• Fireworks Painting Craft
• Easy Colorful Kite Popsicle Stick Craft

Dancing Raisins Experiment

An engaging science experiment for kids and adults alike, the Dancing Raisins Experiment is a fascinating way to explore the effects of carbon dioxide on everyday objects.

Ingredients

• Club Soda or another clear soda such as 7-Up or Sprite - unopened is best
• Raisins - fresh works best

Instructions

• Fill a glass ¾ of the way full with soda.
• Drop raisins into the glass. What happens? Do they sink or float?
• Then sit and watch what happens. You may need to be patient. It can take a minute or two for them to start moving.

Tip: You will want to separate the raisins first. If they are stuck together they won’t dance. Small/medium raisins worked better as well.

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Simple Science Experiment: The Dancing Raisins

by Steve Davala

Not enough time on your hands to think of scientific experiments your child can do? Think that most science requires lots of shopping? Most of what you need to conduct meaningful experiments is right in your kitchen. However, knowing what to do is sometimes tough to figure out.

Science is all about discovering how things work and trying to solve problems. Simple, hands-on experiments that begin with, “What do you think will happen?” or end with, “Can you make it happen differently?” get children’s minds in the right place. Even letting children “play” with the materials before beginning gets them thinking about how the materials work together. Encouraging children to help whenever they can by reading steps, measuring out materials, and cleaning up maximizes their learning experience and investment.

The following easy-to-set-up experiment involves mixing baking soda in water with some vinegar to create carbon dioxide gas. Raisins in this mixture will sit at the bottom at first, and then as the bubbles collect on the sides of the fruit, they will begin to float. When they reach the top, the bubbles on the raisins pop and the raisins sink back down. The cycle will repeat with the raisins going up and down until all of the bubbles are done.

Understanding buoyancy will help your children get the most from the experiment, so here’s a quick explanation. Buoyancy is a measure of how something floats or sinks in a liquid. Rolled up tin foil sinks in water, but if you make it into the shape of a boat, it floats. You change the density of the tin foil shape as you make it boat shaped. In this experiment, the raisins initially are too dense for the water, but the bubbles help to increase its buoyancy.

• A tall clear water glass
• baking soda
• paper towels
• Note: if you don't have vinegar and baking soda, 7UP or Sprite will do
• Fill a tall, clear water glass ¾ full of water (if no baking soda or vinegar, use the 7UP or Sprite)
• Mix 1 teaspoon of baking soda into the water until it is nearly clear (dilute the baking soda as needed)
• Put 2-3 raisins into the glass
• Observe how the raisins sit at the bottom and explain how the raisins are denser than the water
• Ask what will happen when you put vinegar into the baking soda water (this will test to see if they have any prior knowledge of mixing the two)
• Have the child pour approximately ¼ cup of vinegar into the glass (put paper towels under the cup in case it bubbles over)
• Watch the bubbles gather on the sides of the raisins and then slowly rise and then fall in the glass

This is a simple yet informative and exciting experiment for your kids to do. They’ll love the raisins bobbling up and down. And even if the vinegar and baking soda spills, it can be used as a safe cleaning agent, so just wipe it up.

The experimenting doesn’t have to be over yet, however. In fact, this is when the science really starts to happen. Your kids might ask if this will work with other types of fruit (Blueberries? Strawberries? Raisins?) They might choose a different cup size, differing amounts of baking soda and vinegar, or more or less water. Whatever they do, it’s in the name of science, and by encouraging their experimenting you will be encouraging their scientific minds.

Steve Davala is a middle school science teacher who likes to write. He’s got two kids of his own and subjects them to these science activities as guinea pigs.

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Coffee Cups and Crayons

Simple play ideas, learning activities, kids crafts and party ideas, plus acts of kindness for kids!

July 3, 2014

Dancing Raisins Science Experiment

The Dancing Raisins science experiment is so cool!

It is also super easy to do which makes it perfect for our classic  Summer Science Camp series!

Dancing Raisins Experiment:

• clear sodas (we used Sprite, Mountain Dew and tonic water)
• clear glasses
• water (for the control)

Fill clear glasses each with a different type of soda.  We found that using soda that hadn’t been refrigerated and was at room temperature worked best for observing since no condensation formed on the side of the glass.

We you add raisins into the soda they begin to “dance” around the glass.  It’s very cool to watch!

We also added raisins to a glass of water to see if something besides soda would cause the raisins to dance but they just sank to the bottom.

How Does It Work?

The raisins are more dense than the soda so they sink to the bottom.  Air bubbles from the soda then form on the outside of the raisins which cause them to float up to the top. When the bubbles pop they sink back down which makes it look like they are dancing!

Isn’t Summer Science Camp fun???  

Make sure to join us every Thursday for classic science experiments your kids will love!

Head over to What Do We Do All Day? to see how they made Solar Oven S’mores –I can’t wait to try it!

Don’t let the fun and discovery stop there!

We have TONS of science experiments your kids will love on our  Super Cool Science Experiments for Kids  page! 

Take me to the experiments –>   Super Cool Science Experiments for Kids

About Megan Sheakoski

Megan is the creator of Coffee Cups and Crayons, a blog full of simple fun and learning. She believes that kids’ activities don’t have to be complicated to be fun and that learning is better with play.

July 3, 2014 at 5:33 pm

I really liked that you observed different sodas, added a water “control”, and even paid attention to temperature – nicely done!

July 7, 2014 at 9:36 am

Thanks Almost Unschoolers!

June 15, 2015 at 5:22 pm

summer science camp I AM A VPK TEACHER AND MY KIDS LOVE A CHEMICAL REACTION EXP. IF YOU VOULD SHARE SOME IDEAS i WOULD LOVE IT

June 16, 2015 at 9:07 pm

Here’s a bunch to try Connie! https://www.coffeecupsandcrayons.com/tag/science-camp/

May 4, 2022 at 9:05 am

Dear Megan.

I participatre in an Afterschool program with a county school in my area. We concentrate on tutoring the kids in reading and math as these are the students that were caught by the pandemic and missed a great deal of basic schooling during that time. They also have Chrome books but I try to break them away from the electronics and show them experiments that are simple for them to understand. I enjoy your website as it gives me experiments that I can do from home. They get excited when I come to class with items in a bag because they know that we are going to do an experiment that day! Thank you for giving the opportunity and information to perform these experiments with my students. I hope to stimulate ideas and possibly create an interest in science that they might not have originally had before.

May 4, 2022 at 1:26 pm

Thank you Donna! That is so great to hear!

[…] Dancing Raisins […]

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Paris Olympics breakdancing head judge one of many rallying around Raygun amid online criticism

Sport Paris Olympics breakdancing head judge one of many rallying around Raygun amid online criticism

The breaking community wants the world to give Australia's Raygun a break as the Paris Olympics wrapped up.

The sport made its Olympic debut in Paris — it might never be back — and one of the lasting images was the performance of an Australian B-girl known as Raygun who did a "kangaroo dance" and scored zero points.

In a show of support on Sunday, the head judge of the breaking competition said 36-year-old university professor, Rachael Gunn, was just trying to be original. And the breaking federation says it has offered mental health support in the wake of online criticism.

"Breaking is all about originality and bringing something new to the table and representing your country or region," head judge Martin Gilian — known as MGbility — said at a press conference. "This is exactly what Raygun was doing. She got inspired by her surroundings, which in this case, for example, was a kangaroo."

The breaking and hip-hop communities "definitely stand behind her," he added.

"We have five criteria in the competitive judging system and just her level was maybe not as high as the other competitors," MGbility said. "But again, that doesn't mean that she did really bad. She did her best. She won the Oceania qualifier. Unfortunately for her, the other B-girls were better."

Sergey Nifontov, general secretary of the World DanceSport Federation, said they've been in direct contact with Gunn and Australian Olympic team officials

"We offered (the) support of our safe-guarding officer. We are aware about what has happened, especially on social media, and definitely we should put the safety of the athlete, in this case, mental safety in first place," he said. "She has us as a federation supporting her."

Breaking — known to many as breakdancing, a term its performers dislike — is not on the program for the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028.

The next Summer Games after that will be in Brisbane, Australia.

"We believe that this has nothing to do with our chances for Brisbane 2032," Nifontov said when asked about the criticism of Raygun and getting back into the Olympics.

Japan's Ami Yuasa, known better as B-girl Ami, won the gold medal and said she wished Los Angeles organisers had waited to experience the energy between the athletes and the crowd at Place de la Concorde.

"I feel so sad about it not happening in Los Angeles because breaking was born in the USA," she said on Sunday. "Breaking is not just a sport, it's also expressing myself and art."

Federation president Shawn Tay defended the evolution — from what started as an art form in the 70s in the Bronx to an Olympic appearance. Critics have questioned the commercialisation of the sport.

"Right from the beginning we were warned that some of the breakers — the top breakers — may not take part," he said. "But now we have achieved to bring them all in — we have all the best breakers. Now they are fighting for the glory of their country — it's a totally different thing. And that's actually pushed them to improve so much, to work so hard in a more scientific way."

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'i absolutely love her courage': meares defends raygun after wave of online ridicule for paris performance.

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• Olympic Games

The Australian Olympian 'Raygun' went viral for her breaking moves. Now she's defending them.

• Rachael Gunn, known as "Raygun," is an Australian B-girl (break-girl) who competed at the Olympics .
• She lost three battles in the round-robin part of the competition, but her moves went viral online.
• Here's what to know about Gunn, a dancer and academic who studies breaking.

Breaking made its debut at the 2024 Paris Olympics — and while she didn't earn a spot on the podium, the Australian breaker Rachael Gunn, known as Raygun, has received plenty of recognition online.

Gunn is a 36-year-old lecturer at Macquarie University in Sydney whose research focuses on the "cultural politics of breaking," according to her faculty profile .

But Gunn's time on the Olympic stage was short-lived. The B-girl was eliminated during the round-robin stage of the women's breaking competition, losing in one-on-one battles to the United States' Logistx, France's Syssy, and Lithuania's Nicka.

Raygun didn't earn a point in any of those battles, but as clips of her performance spread online, she got something else: instant meme status.

my dog on the lawn 30 seconds after i've finished bathing him pic.twitter.com/A5aqxIbV3H — David Mack (@davidmackau) August 9, 2024

Here's what you need to know about Raygun now that the breaking competition is over.

Raygun is an academic who studies breaking — and she competes internationally

Before Gunn went to the Olympics, she approached the 2024 Games from an academic perspective.

With her coauthor, Lucas Marie, Gunn published an article in the June 2023 issue of Global Hip Hop Studies titled "The Australian breaking scene and the Olympic Games: The possibilities and politics of sportification." The article examined how the Olympics' institutionalization would affect the Australian breaking scene.

Alongside her academic career, Gunn is a competing B-girl. But before she got into breaking, she had experience with ballroom dancing, jazz, hip-hop, salsa, and tap, The Australian Women's Weekly reported. Gunn told The Sydney Morning Herald that her husband, Samuel Free, introduced her to breaking in 2008 while they were at university. Free is still her coach, she said.

Gunn told Women's Weekly that breaking "hooked" her in 2012, around the time that she began her doctoral program in cultural studies. She began competing more seriously in 2018 and eventually set her sights on the Olympics.

According to her university profile, she was the top-ranked B-girl of the Australian Breaking Association in 2020 and 2021, representing the country at the World DanceSport Federation Breaking Championships in 2021, 2022, and 2023. She also won the WDSF Oceania Breaking Championships in 2023.

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"My bag always has two main things: It's like, my knee pads and my laptop," Gunn said on the podcast " The Female Athlete Project ." "Because I need my knee-pads to break. And then, yeah, just do some emails quickly. Or like, do some revisions on a chapter I submitted, or copyedit this article I did, or moderate those grades."

The athlete also told the Herald that she preferred to wear "baggy jeans and a baggy T-shirt" while breaking.

"I like the heaviness they bring," Gunn said. "Maybe it's my background in hip-hop, but having weight closer to the ground works for me, gets me in the right headspace."

Raygun's performances at the Olympics sparked memes and criticism

Raygun took the stage at the Olympics wearing a tracksuit in Australia's green and gold, breaking out moves that included hopping like a kangaroo. Her performances attracted attention online and memes that compared her moves to, among other things, dancing children.

The fact that RayGun has a Ph.D in breakdancing is its own commentary on academia vs real world expertise. https://t.co/pQcL8HzAW9 — BioTechSnack (@SnackBioTech) August 9, 2024

me forcing my mom to watch the dance i made up in the pool pic.twitter.com/zbtwEFjpTG — kenzi (@kenzianidiot) August 9, 2024

Judges made the right call here because what was that move lol #Olympics #Breakdancing pic.twitter.com/sXAs9AdHjX — MⓞNK BLOODY P👑s (@MonkeyBlood) August 9, 2024

But some critics argued that Raygun's performance didn't represent breaking — a sport that will not return to the 2028 Games in Los Angeles.

Breaking came from Black and brown communities in the Bronx in the 1970s. Malik Dixon, an African American man who lives in Australia, told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that Gunn came off as "somebody who was toying with the culture" during a significant moment for the sport.

(You can watch the 2024 Olympic events — including Raygun's full performance — on Peacock.)

Gunn qualified for the Olympics through the Oceania Breaking Championships

There were three ways to qualify for breaking at the Olympics, which the World Dance Sport Federation (WDSF) outlined in April 2022: at the WDSF championship in Belgium in September 2023, in a continental qualifier, or in an Olympic qualifier series held in 2024. Gunn qualified regionally by winning the WDSF Oceania Breaking Championships, which were held in Sydney in October 2023.

Claims have circulated online that Gunn unfairly obtained her spot in the games, with one petition claiming that she established the governing body that ran the selection process. Other posts online, as reported by the Australian Associated Press , claimed that Raygun's husband was one of the judges.

Ausbreaking organized the Oceania Breaking Championships, according to the WDSF . Gunn did not establish that organization: According to the Sydney Morning Herald , decorated breaker and current Ausbreaking president Lowe Napalan did in 2019, when it was originally called the Australian Breaking Association.

Neither Gunn nor Free are executive or committee members, according to the organization's website .

Ausbreaking posted on Instagram about the Oceanic Olympic qualifying event on Instagram in September 2023, announcing in a September 25, 2023 post that competitor registration was open. The panel of judges was composed of 10 breakers from multiple countries, led by head judge Katsu One of Japan. Free was not one of the listed judges.

Per the Sydney Morning Herald, Gunn was the highest-scoring B-girl on day one of the championships. She won two battles on the second day to secure her title and a qualifying spot in the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

Ausbreaking released a statement on Instagram Monday about the selection process, saying that the qualifying event was "open to all interested participants in the Oceanic region," conducted in line with WDSF standards, and adjudicated by an international panel that used the same judging system as the 2024 Olympics.

"Ultimately, Rachael Gunn and Jeff Dunne emerged as the top performers in exactly the same process, securing their spots to represent Australia in Paris," the statement reads. "Their selection was based solely on their performance in their battles on that day."

Raygun and breaking judges have defended her Olympics performance

At a press conference on Saturday, the day after Gunn's competition, Anna Meares, the head of the Australian team, responded to criticism of Gunn online.

"I love Rachael, and I think that what has occurred on social media with trolls and keyboard warriors, and taking those comments and giving them airtime, has been really disappointing," Meares said, per ESPN .

"Raygun is an absolutely loved member of this Olympic team. She has represented the Olympic team, the Olympic spirit with great enthusiasm. And I absolutely love her courage," Meares continued. "I love her character, and I feel very disappointed for her, that she has come under the attack that she has."

During a press conference on Sunday, Martin Gilian, the Olympic breaking head judge, defended Gunn's performance, saying breaking was "all about originality" and representing your roots, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported.

"This is exactly what Raygun was doing," Gilian said. "She got inspired by her surroundings, which in this case, for example, was a kangaroo."

Gunn said during the Saturday press conference that "all of my moves are original," ESPN reported. She told The Guardian that her biggest strength was "creativity."

"I was never going to beat these girls on what they do best, the dynamic and the power moves, so I wanted to move differently, be artistic and creative," Gunn told The Guardian, "because how many chances do you get that in a lifetime to do that on an international stage. I was always the underdog and wanted to make my mark in a different way."

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