Are soils like M&Ms™?  This presentation will show how and relate the color to reduction-oxidation reactions in two demonstrations.  The first demonstration uses the mentioned M&Ms™ to show how the coating is removed by water. The colored coating represents the coatings of iron oxides (Fe₂0₃, FeOOH, etc) or organic mater on particles while the underlying white candy shell represents minerals beneath (typically quartz or feldspar).  The second demonstration show how the color can change if the soil is saturated and allowed to become anaerobic.  Both demonstrations can be presented to a range of age groups either as the demonstrations present or as experiments for hands on experience.