If you’re a parent, you know it can sometimes be hard to keep your preschooler entertained. But never fear – science is here! With these easy science activities for preschoolers, you and your little one can have hours of fun together learning about the world around us.
From making rainbows to growing crystals, these activities are both educational and engaging. Plus, they’ll give your little one a chance to learn about the world around them. So put on your lab coats and get ready to have some fun!
- 20 Easy Science Activities for Preschoolers
- 1. Homemade Lava Lamp
- 2. Color-Changing Flower
- 3. Homemade Slime
- 4. Sunscreen Paintings
- 5. Magic Mud
- 6. Predict and Observe What Will Melt in the Sun
- 7. Make Ice Cream in a Bag
- 8. Straw Rockets
- 9. Test Objects With Magnets
- 10. Create a Rainbow in a Jar
- 11. Build a Bridge
- 12. Color-Changing Water
- 13. Explore Floating and Sinking
- 14. Build a Tower
- 15. Make a Cloud in a Jar
- 16. Frozen Flowers
- 17. Create a Volcanic Eruption
- 18. Magic Moon Dough
- 19. Raised Salt Painting
- 20. Dissolving Peeps
- The Value of Preschool Science Experiments
- Nature Science Experiments for Preschoolers
- Final Thoughts About Easy Science Experiments For Preschoolers
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20 Easy Science Activities for Preschoolers
1. Homemade Lava Lamp
This activity is sure to be a hit with your little scientist. All you need is a clear jar, vegetable oil, water, food coloring, and Alka-Seltzer tablets.
Simply add the oil and water to the jar, then add a few drops of food coloring. Finally, drop in an Alka-Seltzer tablet and watch the magic happen! As the tablet dissolves, it will create bubbles that will make the food coloring rise and fall in the jar, just like lava.
2. Color-Changing Flower
This activity is a great way to teach your child about acid-base reactions. For this experiment, you’ll need white flowers (carnations work well), food coloring, and clear jars or vases.
Fill the jars with water and add a different color of food coloring to each one. Then add a flower to each jar and wait 24 hours to see the results. The flowers will absorb the colored water and change color overnight!
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3. Homemade Slime
Slime is always a hit with kids, so why not try making your own? This recipe for slime uses common household ingredients you probably already have on hand. All you need is white school glue, contact lens solution, baking soda, food coloring (optional), and a bowl for mixing.
Simply mix an 8-ounce bottle of Elmer’s glue with two tablespoons of contact lens solution and one tablespoon of baking soda in the bowl, then stir in food coloring if desired. The mixture will start out liquidy but will thicken as you mix it – soon you’ll have your very own batch of slime!
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4. Sunscreen Paintings
In this activity, children will use sunscreen to paint on a dark-colored piece of paper. They will be able to see the difference that sunscreen makes on the paper. First, put some sunscreen in a bowl or plate for your child to use as their paint. Then, provide a brush and dark-colored paper for them to paint on.
Explain that the paper represents their skin, and wherever they put sunscreen will protect them from the sun’s harmful rays. Promoted creativity by prompting them to leave some “blank” space on their paper, so they can see the contrast between where they put sunscreen and where they didn’t.
5. Magic Mud
This activity is a great way to teach your child about the science of soil. You’ll need coffee grounds, water, and cornstarch for this experiment. Simply mix equal parts coffee grounds and cornstarch in a bowl, then slowly stir in water until it reaches the desired consistency (you may not need to use all of the water).
The mixture will initially feel dry and crumbly, but when you press down on it with your fingers or a toy car, it will turn into “mud.” This is because the water activates the properties of the cornstarch, causing it to thicken and become gooey. A fun addition to this activity would be to provide toys for your child to play with in the “mud,” such as plastic animals or cars.
RELATED: 80+ Super Fun Hands-On Preschool Learning Activities
6. Predict and Observe What Will Melt in the Sun
This activity encourages prediction and observation skills. First, gather various small objects (such as aluminum foil, chocolate chips, ice cubes, and crayons). Next, place these objects in a sunny spot outside and have your child make predictions about which ones they think will melt.
Then, observe the objects over time and see if their predictions were correct. This activity can also be extended to discuss why some objects melted while others didn’t (for example, the ice cube melted because it has a lower melting point than the crayon).
7. Make Ice Cream in a Bag
Who doesn’t love ice cream? This activity teaches about the science of freezing and allows your child to enjoy a tasty treat at the end. All you need is half and half, sugar, vanilla extract, salt, ice, and gallon-sized plastic bags (one for each serving). Here’s the perfect ice cream in a bag recipe.
8. Straw Rockets
This activity is a fun way to introduce the science of aerodynamics. You’ll need straws, tape, paper, scissors, and straw rocket templates. You can find the templates and instructions online here).
9. Test Objects With Magnets
This activity encourages observation and experimentation skills. Gather various small objects (such as paperclips, buttons, coins, and nails) and a magnet. Have your child predict which objects they think the magnet will be able to pick up, then test them out and see if their predictions were correct.
This activity can also be extended to discuss why some objects were attracted to the magnet while others weren’t (for example, paperclips and nails are made of iron, which is magnetic).
10. Create a Rainbow in a Jar
In this activity, children will learn about the science of light refraction by creating a rainbow in a jar. Get all the details about how to create a rainbow jar.
11. Build a Bridge
This activity is a great way to introduce the science of engineering and construction. Gather various materials for your child to build their bridge, such as cardboard tubes, plastic straws, popsicle sticks, and tape.
Then, encourage them to construct a bridge that can hold a small toy or object. This activity can also be extended by testing the strength of their bridge with books or other weights.
12. Color-Changing Water
This activity introduces the science of color mixing. You’ll need water, food coloring, and clear glasses or jars (one for each color). Fill each glass with water and add a different colored food coloring to each one. Then, have your child predict what will happen when they mix the colored waters together.
Finally, observe and see how the colors mix to create new colors. This activity can also be extended by discussing why the colors are mixed together in certain ways and not others (for example, the primary colors red, blue, and yellow combine to make secondary colors like green and purple).
13. Explore Floating and Sinking
This activity encourages observation and prediction skills. Gather a variety of small objects (such as coins, marbles, paper clips, and leaves), a bowl or container filled with water, and jugs or containers to hold the water. Have your child predict which objects they think will sink or float in the water.
Then, test out their predictions and discuss why some objects sank while others floated (for example, a paper clip sinks because it is denser than water, while a leaf floats because it is less dense).
14. Build a Tower
This activity introduces the science of stability and balance. Gather various materials for your child to build their towers, such as paper cups, plastic cups, blocks, or cardboard boxes.
Encourage them to construct a tower that can stand on its own without collapsing. This activity can also be extended by testing the strength and stability of their tower with books or other weights.
15. Make a Cloud in a Jar
In this activity, children will learn about the science of condensation by making a cloud in a jar. Get all the details and instructions on how to make your own cloud jar.
16. Frozen Flowers
This activity introduces the science of freezing and melting. Gather flowers or leaves, water, and small cups or containers (one for each flower/leaf). Have your child predict whether the flowers or leaves will sink or float when placed in a cup of water and then frozen.
Then, test out their predictions by placing the flowers or leaves in cups of water, freezing them, and observing the results. Discuss why some sank or floated when frozen (for example, air bubbles in the flower petals cause them to float when frozen).
17. Create a Volcanic Eruption
When our kids were little, this was a crowd-pleaser. In this activity, children will learn about the science of chemical reactions by creating their own volcanic eruption. Get all the details and instructions on how to make your own erupting volcano.
18. Magic Moon Dough
This activity introduces the science of states of matter. Make your own moon dough (a type of sensory play dough) using common kitchen ingredients, and encourage your child to explore how it can be molded and shaped. Here’s a simple moon dough recipe.
19. Raised Salt Painting
In this activity, science meets art as we explore the way different materials react with water. You’ll need some salt, Elmer’s glue, liquid watercolors or food coloring, paint brushes or droppers, and heavy paper.
First, squeeze glue designs onto the paper, either in a pattern or randomly. Then, sprinkle salt onto the glue designs, covering them completely. Tip the paper to pour off any excess salt. Next, use droppers or paint brushes to add drops of watercolor onto the glued and salted areas.
Watch as the color is drawn towards the salt, creating a cool raised effect on the paper. This activity not only demonstrates science concepts like hydrophilic materials but it also results in beautiful, one-of-a-kind artwork. Try experimenting with different materials, like sugar or cornstarch, to see how they react with water and create different designs.
20. Dissolving Peeps
This activity introduces the science of dissolving. Gather a variety of liquids, such as water, vinegar, rubbing alcohol, juice, and soda. Then gather several Peeps (the marshmallow Easter treats). Have your child predict which liquids will dissolve the Peeps and which won’t have much effect.
Test out their predictions by placing Peeps in each of the liquids and observing the results. Discuss why some liquids dissolved the Peeps while others didn’t.
The Value of Preschool Science Experiments
Why is science so important for young children? Not only are science activities fun for kids, but they also help to build critical thinking skills and foster a love of learning.
Experiments allow children to see the world around them in a new way, and encourage them to ask questions and make observations. So go ahead, get messy, and have some fun with science! Your preschooler will be grateful for the opportunity to learn and explore.
Nature Science Experiments for Preschoolers
What are nature science experiments for preschoolers? These science activities involve exploring the natural world and can be done outside or with items found in nature. Some examples include making a bird feeder, observing plants and insects, and experimenting with rocks and soil.
A nature science experiment will allow children to connect with and appreciate the world around them.
No matter what science activities you choose, remember to make it a collaborative experience by asking your child questions, allowing them to make predictions and observations, and giving them the opportunity to lead the experiment.
Final Thoughts About Easy Science Experiments For Preschoolers
Doing fun preschool science experiments with your preschooler is a wonderful way to encourage their natural curiosity about the world around them. And these activities are not only easy to set up and do but also practically mess-free. So go ahead and give them a try – your little scientist will surely thank you!
What are your favorite easy science activities for preschoolers?
