You will need a few simple materials to conduct a sugar crystal science experiment. You will need to have an open-mouthed glass jar, some string, a pot, a pencil or other stick to suspend the string, and of course, granulated sugar. You will also have to access to a stove top or Bunsen burner so you can boil water.
Though this is a child's science's experiment, adult supervision is required. Boil water in a pot and then slowly add sugar to it. You should add approximately 3 cups of sugar to every 1 cup of water you boil. Watch the water and continue to add sugar to the pot until it will no longer dissolve. Pour the sugar water into a wide-mouthed glass jar. Tie a piece of string to a pencil and lay the pencil horizontally across the mouth of the jar so the string hangs into the solution. The string should be long enough to nearly reach the bottom of the jar without touching it.
After creating the sugar water solution, you will have to set the jar in an area where it will remain undisturbed for about a week. Have children observe the jar everyday and ask them to draw a picture or create a written record of the daily changes of the solution. In about a week, you should have enough sugar crystals growing on the string to complete the project. Take a picture of the result. Some teachers and parents may permit their students to eat the sugar crystal candy at the end of the experiment. Teachers should check with parents before allowing children to eat the sugary treat.
You can vary the experiment by adding food coloring to the sugar water solution. Mixing various colors together can help teach primary, secondary and tertiary colors. Or you can conduct the experiment using brown sugar crystals and compare the outcome with that of the white sugar. Or create salt crystals using the same process and then compare the results.