Curious kids turn into junior scientists with these fun and simple science projects for 1st graders. Science doesn’t need to be difficult or complicated! Here’s our list of the best first grade science activities that are totally doable and use simple supplies for home or in the classroom.
What Do First Graders Do In Science?
At this stage, the emphasis is on cultivating curiosity, honing observation skills, and fostering a love for discovery. The first grade science curriculum typically covers a diverse range of topics, encouraging students to engage in hands-on activities that make learning both immersive and enjoyable.
First Grade Science Topics Include:
- Living and Non-Living Things: Students learn to differentiate between living organisms (plants and animals) and non-living things (objects and materials). They explore the characteristics and behaviors that define living things.
- Plants: First graders discover the life cycle of plants, from seed germination to growth and reproduction. They learn about the role of sunlight, water, and nutrients in plant development.
- Animals: Students explore various animal species, their habitats, and basic characteristics. They learn about different types of animals, their body parts, and how they adapt to their environments.
- Weather and Seasons: Children are introduced to basic weather patterns and the four seasons. They learn about the different types of weather conditions and how they change throughout the year.
- Basic Earth Science: First graders might learn about the Earth’s landforms (mountains, valleys, etc.) and bodies of water (rivers, lakes, oceans). They also explore concepts like day and night and the rotation of the Earth.
- Matter and Materials: Students are introduced to different types of materials (solid, liquid, gas) and their basic properties. They learn to describe and compare materials based on attributes like color, texture, and size.
- Energy and Forces: Young learners are introduced to the concept of energy and different forms of energy like light and sound. They might explore simple machines and basic forces like pushing and pulling.
- Light and Shadows: First graders might learn about sources of light, how light travels, and how shadows are formed. They observe and experiment with light to understand its properties.
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35 Awesome Science Projects for First Graders
Sink or Float Experiment
Grab some everyday objects and a container of water to explore the concept of density and why some objects sink while others float.
Egg In Salt Water
Will an egg float or sink in salt water? Ask lots of questions and get kids thinking with this salt water density experiment.
Seed Germination
Use a seed jar to observe how plants grow from seeds and what they need to survive.
Shadow Puppets
Make these fun printable shadow puppets to explore how light interacts with objects and creates shadows.
Edible Moon Phases
Use oreo cookies to create the phases of the moon to explore how the moon changes as it moves around the earth.
Make Rainbows
Use a simple glass prism, and other ways to see how light is made up of different colors and can be separated into a rainbow.
Dissolving Candy
Add some hard candy to different liquids to explore how substances dissolve in some liquids but not others.
What Absorbs Water
Explore what materials absorb water and what materials do not absorb water. Use items you already have on hand for this easy science project.
Grow Borax Crystals
Learn about how crystals are formed and can take different shapes. You can grow crystals from borax, salt and sugar.
Make a Volcano Eruption
Kids will love this erupting chemical reaction with just two simple ingredients, baking soda and vinegar. Also try one of these fun variations with LEGO, a water bottle, apple and even a pumpkin.
Inflating Balloon
Observe gas production during a chemical reaction with this fun balloon science experiment. You can also set it up with soda and salt to observe a physical reaction.
Rain Cloud In A Jar
Where does rain come from? How do clouds make rain? Explore weather science with this rain cloud in a jar activity. Also, try this shaving cream rain cloud model.
Balloon Rocket
What can you do with a balloon and a straw? Build a balloon rocket, of course and explore Newton’s Laws of Motion.
Make a Windmill
Explore the concept of harnessing wind as a energy source with a simple to make windmill or wind turbine.
Bubble Science
Bubbles are just fun to play with! Learn how bubbles form and why they’re round with these bubble activities. It’s all to do with surface tension.
Oobleck
Is it a liquid or is it a solid? Fun hands-on science and play with our easy 2 ingredient oobleck recipe.
Grow Flowers
Watching flowers grow is an amazing science lesson for kids. Check out our list of the best seeds for kids to pick up and plant, and grow quickly.
Coffee Filter Flowers
Coffee filter flowers are a colorful STEAM activity for kids to explore solubility. Color a coffee filter with markers and spray with water for a fun effect.
Magic Milk
This magic milk experiment is fun for kids to watch and makes for great hands-on learning. The perfect science activity as you already have all the items for it in your kitchen.
Oil and Water
Find out why oil and water don’t mix with this simple to set up science project. It is all due to differences in density.
Lemon Battery
Grab some lemons and a few other supplies, and find out how you can make lemons into lemon electricity!
Salt Painting
Combine science and art to learn about absorption with this easy salt painting activity.
Rainbow in a Jar
Create liquids with different densities that you can make a colorful layered liquid tower with.
Make Air Foils
Explore the effect air resistance has on a falling object with these to make paper air foils.
Paper Airplane Launcher
Learn how design affects the flight of paper airplanes with a paper plane launcher.
Water Xylophone
Use different amounts of water in glass jars to learn about how vibrations create sound waves.
Egg in Vinegar
What happens to an egg when it is left in vinegar for a few days? Observe how an acid reacts with and dissolves a shell.
Toy Car Friction
Use a toy car and different types of materials to explore how friction affects the movement of an object.
Water Refraction
Demonstrate how refraction of light occurs in water with this simple water refraction experiment.
Floating Magnets
A fun experiment where kids learn how magnetic force works by observing how it can lift and hold objects mid-air, counteracting Earth’s gravity.
Turn It Into A Science Fair Project
Science projects are an excellent tool for older kiddos to show what they know about science! Plus, they can be used in all sorts of environments including classrooms, homeschool, and groups.
OUR TOP TIP: Pick a project that your child has expressed interest in. Engaging your child in this process will be much easier when they are the driving force behind it!
Kids can take everything they have learned about using the scientific method, stating a hypothesis, choosing variables, making observations and analyzing and presenting data.
Want to turn one of these experiments into an awesome science fair project? Check out these helpful resources.
Free Printable Science Journal Worksheets
Create a science notebook with these easy-to-use science worksheets to accompany any experiment. Grab your free science process journal pack!
Using The Scientific Method
The scientific method is a process or method of research. A problem is identified, information about the problem is gathered, a hypothesis or question is formulated from the information, and the hypothesis is tested with an experiment to prove or disprove its validity.
Sounds heavy… What in the world does that mean?!? It means you don’t need to try and solve the world’s biggest science questions! The scientific method is all about studying and learning things right around you.
As children develop practices that involve creating, gathering data evaluating, analyzing, and communicating, they can apply these critical thinking skills to any situation.
LEARN MORE HERE: Using The Scientific Method with Kids
Note: The use of the best Science and Engineering Practices is also relevant to the topic of using the scientific method. Read more here and see if it fits your science planning needs.
Helpful Science Resources
Here are a few resources that will help you introduce science more effectively to your kiddos or students. Then you can feel confident yourself when presenting materials. You’ll find helpful free printables throughout.
- Best Science Practices (as it relates to the scientific method)
- Science Vocabulary
- 8 Science Books for Kids
- All About Scientists
- Science Supplies List
- Science Tools for Kids
- Join us in the Club
Science Experiments By Age Group
We’ve put together a few separate resources for different age groups, but remember that many experiments will cross over and can be re-tried at several different age levels. Younger kiddos can enjoy the simplicity and hands-on fun. At the same time, you can talk back and forth about what is happening.
- Science for Toddlers
- Science for Preschoolers
- Science for Kindergarten
- Elementary Science by Season
- Science for 1st Grade
- Science for 2nd Grade
- Science for 3rd Grade
- Science for 4th Grade
- Science for 5th Grade
- Science for 6th Grade
- Science for Middle School
Printable Science Projects Pack
If you’re looking to grab all of our printable science projects in one convenient place plus exclusive worksheets and bonuses like a STEAM Project pack, our Science Project Pack is what you need! Over 300+ Pages!
- 90+ classic science activities with journal pages, supply lists, set up and process, and science information. NEW! Activity-specific observation pages!
- Best science practices posters and our original science method process folders for extra alternatives!
- Be a Collector activities pack introduces kids to the world of making collections through the eyes of a scientist. What will they collect first?
- Know the Words Science vocabulary pack includes flashcards, crosswords, and word searches that illuminate keywords in the experiments!
- My science journal writing prompts explore what it means to be a scientist!!
- Bonus STEAM Project Pack: Art meets science with doable projects!
- Bonus Quick Grab Packs for Biology, Earth Science, Chemistry, and Physics
