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How have science teachers used the lick question, and what do students usually find?

Research question: How have science teachers used the lick question in classroom experiments, and what do their students usually find?

Science teachers use the Tootsie Pop question to have students apply the scientific method by formulating hypotheses and conducting controlled investigations ³. In these classroom experiments, students record their individual number of licks and the class calculates the overall average of these results ⁴. The expected outcome is that students discover their individual data results are different from one another ⁸. Teachers guide students to analyze how their specific technique of licking impacts the final count, highlighting the variable nature of the experiment ⁵.

Checked 2026-10-15. Only documented and supported facts are used.

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[1] supported

A school class used the Tootsie Pop lick question as a 100th-day-of-school activity, with students predicting whether 100 licks would reach the center.

"Inspried by the commercial, students made a prediction on if they thought 100 licks would be enough to get to the center. Then they expirmented to see if they were right!"

Students Lick Their Way to the Center of a Tootsie Pop - Bittersweet

[2] supported

Students tested their prediction using worksheets numbered up to 100, marking a box after each lick to check whether they were right.

"Students were given work sheets that went up to 100. After each lick they would mark a box to see if they were right."

Students Lick Their Way to the Center of a Tootsie Pop - Bittersweet

[3] supported

Science teachers use the Tootsie Pop question to have students apply the steps of the scientific method, specifically formulating hypotheses and conducting controlled investigations.

"Students will be able to apply the steps of the scientific method to the prompt “How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop?”"

PDF The Scientific Method - A Tootsie Pop Experiment

[4] supported

In classroom experiments, each student records their individual number of licks, and the class then calculates the overall average of these results.

"For this experiment, students will each get one tootsie pop and will record the number of licks that it takes for them to reach the center of the tootsie pop. Once the students have completed their experiment, they will share their results with the class. As a group, the class will calculate the overall average of their results."

PDF The Scientific Method - A Tootsie Pop Experiment

[5] supported

Teachers guide students to analyze how their specific technique of licking impacts the final count, highlighting the variable nature of the experiment.

"How did the way you licked your Tootsie Pop impact the number of licks it took?"

PDF The Scientific Method - A Tootsie Pop Experiment

[6] supported

The lesson emphasizes that hypotheses cannot be proven with 100% accuracy, so students are taught to say they 'failed to reject' a hypothesis rather than 'proved' it.

"Did you reject or fail to reject your hypothesis? (Hypotheses can never be proven with 100% accuracy, so instead of saying, “I proved my hypothesis” it is more correct to say, “I failed to reject my hypothesis.”)"

PDF The Scientific Method - A Tootsie Pop Experiment

[7] supported

Students are instructed to form a hypothesis and record data based on the specific question of how many licks it takes to reach the center of a Tootsie Pop.

"They will then form a Question based off of the company's famous slogan, "How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop? The World may never know." Students will then form a Hypothesis."

Tootsie Pop Lab: The Scientific Method of Eating a Tootsie Pop

[8] supported

The expected outcome of the experiment is that students will discover their individual data results are different from one another.

"An answer key follows to help teachers guide students to discover that they all ended up with different data."

Tootsie Pop Lab: The Scientific Method of Eating a Tootsie Pop

[9] supported

The specific scientific question posed for the classroom experiment is determining how many licks it takes to reach the center of a Tootsie Roll Pop.

"Problem/Question: How many licks does it take to get to the center of a tootsie roll pop?"

DOCX Tootsie Pop Lab - Weebly

[10] supported

The experiment requires students to lick both the first/fattest side and the remaining side of the sucker until the center is reached.

"Following your procedure, lick the first/fattest side of your sucker until you get to the center. ... Following your procedure, lick the remaining side of your sucker until you get to the center."

DOCX Tootsie Pop Lab - Weebly