Curious kids turn into junior scientists with these fun and easy preschool science experiments. This collection of early elementary, kindergarten, and preschool science activities are totally do-able and use simple supplies for home or in the classroom.
FUN SCIENCE ACTIVITIES FOR PRESCHOOLERS
SCIENCE PROJECTS FOR PRESCHOOLERS
So many of these science experiments below can be adapted to the level your kids are at right now. Also, many of these preschool science activities are perfect for kids of multiple ages to work together in small groups.
ARE SCIENCE ACTIVITIES EASY TO DO WITH YOUNG KIDS?
You bet! You will find science activities here that are inexpensive, as well as quick and easy to set up!
Many of these awesome kinder science 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 quite a bit, but these 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.
Make sure to check out…
HOW TO TEACH SCIENCE TO PRESCHOOLERS
There is much you can teach your 4 year old in science. Keep the activities playful and simple as you mix in a little of the “science” along the way.
These science experiments are also great for short attention spans. They are almost always hands-on, visually engaging, and filled with play opportunities!
ENCOURAGE CURIOSITY, EXPERIMENTATION, AND EXPLORATION
Not only are preschool science experiments an awesome introduction to higher learning concepts, but they also spark curiosity. Help your children ask questions, problem solve and find answers.
Plus, introduce a little bit of patience with experiments that have quick results.
Repeating simple science experiments in different ways or with different themes is a great way to build a solid base of knowledge around the concept.
PRESCHOOL SCIENCE ENGAGES THE SENSES!
Preschool science encourages making observations with the 5 senses including sight, sound, touch, smell, and sometimes even taste. When kids are fully able to immerse themselves in the activity, the greater the interest they will have in it!
Kids are naturally curious creatures and once you have piqued their curiosity, you have also turned on their observation skills, critical thinking skills, and experimenting skills.
These science activities are perfect for the senses because they offer room for play and exploration without adult-led directions. Kids will naturally start to pick up on the simple science concepts presented just through having a fun conversation about it all with you!
ALSO CHECK OUT: 5 Senses Activities For Preschoolers
GETTING STARTED
Check out the links below to get yourself or your family or classroom ready for these easy preschool science experiments and activities. The key to success is in the preparation!
- Preschool Science Center Ideas
- Make a homemade science kit that’s inexpensive!
- Set up a homemade science lab the kids will want to use!
- Check out a summer science camp!
Click here or below to get your free science ideas pack
AWESOME SCIENCE ACTIVITIES FOR PRESCHOOLERS
Here are some science activities you can do with your preschooler. Click on each of the links below for the full instructions.
ABSORPTION
Check out how water is absorbed by different materials with this simple Preschool Water Science activity. Explore how much water a sponge can absorb. Or you can try the classic walking water science activity.
ALKA SELTZER CHEMICAL REACTIONS
Make an Alka Seltzer Rocket, try Alka Seltzer Experiment or a homemade Lava Lamp to check out this neat chemical reaction.
BAKING SODA AND VINEGAR EXPERIMENTS
Who doesn’t like a fizzing, foaming eruption? From an erupting lemon volcano to our simple baking soda balloon experiment.. Check out our list of baking soda science activities to get started!
BALLOON RACE CARS
Explore energy, measure distance, build different cars to explore speed and distance with simple balloon cars. You can use Duplo, LEGO, or build your own car.
BALLOON ROCKETS
Gas, energy, and power! Make Go power! Set up a simple balloon rocket. All you need is a string, a straw, and a balloon!
BURSTING BAGS
Definitely take this bursting bags science activity outside! Will it pop? This science activity will have you on the edge of your seat!
BUTTER IN A JAR
The science you can spread with a tasty homemade butter, after a good workout for the arms anyway!
BUTTERFLY EDIBLE LIFE CYCLE
Make an edible butterfly life cycle perfect for hands-on learning! Also, a great way to use up leftover candy!
BUBBLES
Explore the simple fun of bubbles with these easy bubble experiments! Can you make a bubble bounce? We have a recipe for the perfect bubble solution too.
Check out even more bubble fun with 2D bubble shapes or 3D bubble shapes!
BUILDING TOWERS
Kids love building and building structures is a great activity that incorporates many skills. Plus it is a great frugal activity. Check out a variety of building activities.
CANDY SCIENCE
Play Willy Wonka for a day and explore candy science with floating m&m’s, chocolate slime, dissolving candy experiments and more!
CELERY SCIENCE WITH OSMOSIS
Watch the process of osmosis with a simple celery science experiment!
CHICK PEA FOAM
Have fun with this taste safe sensory play foam made with ingredients you probably already have in the kitchen! This edible shaving foam or aquafaba as it is commonly known is made from the water chick peas are cooked in.
COLOR MIXING
Color mixing is a science. Learn colors through play with these preschool color activities.
CORNSTARCH SLIME
Is it solid? Or is it a liquid? Learn about Non-Newtonian fluids and states of matter with this super simple cornstarch slime recipe. Just 2 ingredients, and you have a borax free slime for preschoolers.
CRYSTAL GROWING
Growing crystals is simple! You can easily grow your own crystals at home or in the classroom with our simple recipe. Make a rainbow crystal, a snowflake, hearts, crystal eggshells, and even crystal seashells.
DENSITY {LIQUIDS}
Can one liquid be lighter than the other? Find out with this easy liquid density experiment!
DINOSAUR FOSSILS
Be a paleontologist for a day and make your own homemade dinosaur fossils and then go on your own dinosaur dig. Check out all our fun preschool dinosaur activities.
DISCOVERY BOTTLES
Science in a bottle. Explore all kinds of simple science ideas right in a bottle! Check out a few of our easy science bottles or these discovery bottles for ideas. They are perfect for themes too like these Earth Day ones!
FLOWERS
Have you ever changed the color of a flower? Try this color-changing flower science experiment and learn about how a flower works! Or why not try growing your own flowers with our list of easy flowers to grow.
GRAVITY
What goes up, must come down. Have young kids explore concepts in gravity around the house or classroom with simple objects you already have.
GEODES (EDIBLE SCIENCE)
Make tasty science with edible rock candy geodes and learn a little bit about how they form! Or make eggshell geodes!
FIZZING LEMONADE
Explore the senses and a little chemistry with our fizzy lemonade recipe!
ICE CREAM IN A BAG
Homemade ice cream is yummy edible science with only three ingredients! Don’t forget the winter gloves and sprinkles. This gets cold!
ICE MELT SCIENCE
An ice melt activity is simple science you can set up in many different ways with many different themes. Ice melting is a wonderful introduction to a simple science concept for young kids! Check out our list of ice activities for preschool.
IVORY SOAP EXPERIMENT
The classic expanding ivory soap experiment! One bar of ivory soap can be very exciting! Also see how we experimented with one bar of soap and turned it into either soap foam or soap slime!
LAVA LAMP
Another must try science experiment using oil and water, a lava lamp experiment is always a favorite!
LETTUCE GROWING ACTIVITY
Set up a lettuce growing station. This is fascinating to watch and pretty quick to do. We watched the new lettuce grow taller each day!
MAGIC MILK
Magic milk is definitely one of our most popular science experiments. Plus, it is just plain fun and mesmerizing!
MAGNETS
What’s magnetic? What’s not magnetic. You can set up a magnet science discovery table for your kids to explore as well as a magnet sensory bin!
MIRRORS AND REFLECTIONS
Mirrors are fascinating and have wonderful play and learning possibilities plus it makes for great science!
NAKED EGG OR RUBBER EGG EXPERIMENT
Ah, the egg in vinegar experiment. You need a little patience for this one {takes 7 days}, but the end result is really cool!
OOBLECK {NON-NEWTONIAN FLUIDS}
Oobleck is 2 ingredient fun! A simple recipe using kitchen cupboard ingredients, but it is the perfect example of a non-newtonian fluid. Also makes for fun sensory play. Make classic oobleck or colored oobleck.
PENNY BOAT
Take the penny boat challenge and find out how many pennies your tin foil boat will hold before sinking. Learn about buoyancy and how boats float on water.
DIY PULLEY
Make a simple pulley that really works, and test out lifting loads.
RAINBOWS
Learn about the science of rainbows as well as fun rainbow-themed science experiments. Check out our fun selection of simple-to-set-up rainbow science experiments.
RAMPS
We use cars and balls all the time with our rain gutters! Even flat pieces of wood or stiff cardboard work! Check out a great ramps and friction post I wrote for Pre-K pages! Newton’s laws of motion really come alive with simple toy cars and homemade ramps.
ROCK CANDY (SUGAR CRYSTALS)
Another tasty science activity as you explore how sugar crystals form!
SEED GERMINATION
Planting seeds and watching plants grow is the perfect spring preschool science activity. Our simple seed jar science activity is one of our most popular science activities for preschoolers. It is an excellent way to see how a seed grows!
THE 5 SENSES
Let’s explore the senses! Young kids are learning to use their senses every day. Set up a simple 5 Senses Science Table for exploring and learning how their senses work! Our candy taste test and senses activity is fun too.
SHADOW SCIENCE
Explore shadows in 2 ways! We have body shadow science (fun outdoor play and learning idea) and animal shadow puppets to check out!
SLIME
Slime is one of our favorite activities, and our simple slime recipes are perfect for learning a little bit about non-Newtonian fluids. Or just make slime for fun sensory play! Check out our fluffy slime!
VOLCANO
Every kid should build a volcano! Build a sandbox volcano or a LEGO volcano!
WATER EXPERIMENTS
There are all kinds of fun science activities you can do with water. Use your STEM design skills to build your own water play wall, observe refraction of light in water, explore what dissolves in water or even try a simple solid liquid gas experiment. Check out more easy water science experiments.
WEATHER SCIENCE
Explore wet weather with rain clouds and tornados or even make a water cycle in a bottle!
TORNADO BOTTLE
Create a tornado in a bottle and study the weather safely!
ZIP LINE
We made both an indoor and outdoor zip line this year. Explore science concepts through play.
WHICH PRESCHOOL SCIENCE PROJECT WILL YOU TRY FIRST?
Click here or below to get your free science ideas pack
Hi, this sounds like a neat activity for young toddlers to explore for texture.
Could u please share the ingredients.
My profession is in childcare. The children would like this activity I believe. Again, please share your slime recipe. Thank you!!
LaTonia Jackson Armstrong
Hi! You simply need to click through the liquid starch slime link or get your recipe here box. However, I would suggest one of our taste safe slime recipes for toddlers as regular slime contains borax, sodium borate, or boric acid. These slimes should not be tasted!
It’ fun for kids to experiment and science activities of any kind are a great way to encourage kids to explore. I will encourage my son about this hope so he will enjoy it. Thanks for the sharing such a interesting article.