10 Science Activities for Preschoolers

3 min read

Last updated

Tamar Andrews

Tamar Andrews

3 min read

Last updated

As a parent or teacher, it can be challenging to come up with fun and engaging science activities for preschoolers.

However, there are many simple and exciting experiments that you can do with young children to spark their curiosity and help them learn about the world around them.

In this blog post, we will explore ten science activities that are perfect for preschoolers.

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Exploring Magnets

Children are naturally fascinated by magnets. You can create a simple magnet exploration activity by providing a variety of objects that are either magnetic or non-magnetic. Have your child test each object to see if it attracts or repels the magnet.

This is a great opportunity to introduce new vocabulary words like attraction and repulsion.

Making Rain in a Jar

This activity is a fun way to teach preschoolers about the water cycle. Fill a clear jar with water and place a plate on top.

Set the jar in the sun, and the water will evaporate and condense on the plate, creating a miniature rainstorm.

Building Structures with Marshmallows and Toothpicks

This activity is perfect for little builders. Provide your child with marshmallows and toothpicks and challenge them to build a structure.

This is a great opportunity to talk about shapes, stability, and engineering.

Exploring Colors with Baking Soda and Vinegar

Combine baking soda and vinegar to create a colorful chemical reaction. Add food coloring to the vinegar to make the experiment more visually appealing.

This is a fun and easy way to introduce the concept of chemical reactions to preschoolers.

Making Homemade Play Dough

Making play dough is a fun and simple way to teach preschoolers about chemical reactions.

Provide your child with flour, salt, water, and food coloring, and let them mix and knead the ingredients together to make their own play dough.

Investigating Density with Oil and Water

Fill a clear jar with water and add a few drops of food coloring. Pour in some vegetable oil, and the oil will float on top of the water.

This is a great opportunity to talk about density and the properties of liquids.

Observing Butterflies

Provide your child with a butterfly kit, and watch as caterpillars transform into beautiful butterflies.

This is a great opportunity to talk about the life cycle of a butterfly and the importance of pollinators.

Exploring Sound with Musical Instruments

Provide your child with a variety of musical instruments and encourage them to experiment with sound.

This is a fun way to teach preschoolers about sound waves and the properties of different materials.

Studying the Stars

Take your child outside at night to look at the stars. Point out constellations and talk about the different colors and sizes of stars. This is a great opportunity to introduce the concept of astronomy.

Exploring Taste with a Blindfolded Taste Test

Provide your child with a variety of foods and challenge them to identify each one while blindfolded.

This is a fun way to teach preschoolers about the sense of taste and the importance of trying new things.

Image Source

There are many science activities that are perfect for preschoolers. These ten activities are just a few examples of the fun and engaging experiments that you can do with young children.

By incorporating science into playtime, you can help your child develop a lifelong love of learning and exploration.

As a parent or teacher, it can be challenging to come up with fun and engaging science activities for preschoolers.

However, there are many simple and exciting experiments that you can do with young children to spark their curiosity and help them learn about the world around them.

In this blog post, we will explore ten science activities that are perfect for preschoolers.

Image Source

Exploring Magnets

Children are naturally fascinated by magnets. You can create a simple magnet exploration activity by providing a variety of objects that are either magnetic or non-magnetic. Have your child test each object to see if it attracts or repels the magnet.

This is a great opportunity to introduce new vocabulary words like attraction and repulsion.

Making Rain in a Jar

This activity is a fun way to teach preschoolers about the water cycle. Fill a clear jar with water and place a plate on top.

Set the jar in the sun, and the water will evaporate and condense on the plate, creating a miniature rainstorm.

Building Structures with Marshmallows and Toothpicks

This activity is perfect for little builders. Provide your child with marshmallows and toothpicks and challenge them to build a structure.

This is a great opportunity to talk about shapes, stability, and engineering.

Exploring Colors with Baking Soda and Vinegar

Combine baking soda and vinegar to create a colorful chemical reaction. Add food coloring to the vinegar to make the experiment more visually appealing.

This is a fun and easy way to introduce the concept of chemical reactions to preschoolers.

Making Homemade Play Dough

Making play dough is a fun and simple way to teach preschoolers about chemical reactions.

Provide your child with flour, salt, water, and food coloring, and let them mix and knead the ingredients together to make their own play dough.

Investigating Density with Oil and Water

Fill a clear jar with water and add a few drops of food coloring. Pour in some vegetable oil, and the oil will float on top of the water.

This is a great opportunity to talk about density and the properties of liquids.

Observing Butterflies

Provide your child with a butterfly kit, and watch as caterpillars transform into beautiful butterflies.

This is a great opportunity to talk about the life cycle of a butterfly and the importance of pollinators.

Exploring Sound with Musical Instruments

Provide your child with a variety of musical instruments and encourage them to experiment with sound.

This is a fun way to teach preschoolers about sound waves and the properties of different materials.

Studying the Stars

Take your child outside at night to look at the stars. Point out constellations and talk about the different colors and sizes of stars. This is a great opportunity to introduce the concept of astronomy.

Exploring Taste with a Blindfolded Taste Test

Provide your child with a variety of foods and challenge them to identify each one while blindfolded.

This is a fun way to teach preschoolers about the sense of taste and the importance of trying new things.

Image Source

There are many science activities that are perfect for preschoolers. These ten activities are just a few examples of the fun and engaging experiments that you can do with young children.

By incorporating science into playtime, you can help your child develop a lifelong love of learning and exploration.





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Tamar Andrews

Director of ECE @ American Jewish University

Tamar Andrews, EdD, is an Associate Professor at UCLA's Graduate School of Education and Information Studies and Director of the Early Childhood Education Department at American Jewish University. With 30+ years in early childhood as a teacher and director, she led Temple Isaiah Preschool from 2003 to 2023, where she earned NAEYC accreditation and built an award-winning STEM program. Her work inspired her son Daniel to build Playground. She also teaches at UCLA Extension and Santa Monica College and speaks internationally on early childhood education.

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Illustration of a child care classroom with bookshelves, a slide, and a teddy bear

Book a demo to see why providers are switching.

First, tell us about yourself. What type of program do you run?

Great! What's the best way we can contact you?

  • Gan Sinai Early Learning Center of Temple Siniai
  • Yakima Valley Memorial
  • Child Development Consortium of Los Angeles
  • St. John Lutheran Church
  • The Weston School Early Childhood Education
Illustration of a child care classroom with bookshelves, a slide, and a teddy bear

Book a demo to see why providers are switching.

First, tell us about yourself. What type of program do you run?

Great! What's the best way we can contact you?

  • Gan Sinai Early Learning Center of Temple Siniai
  • Yakima Valley Memorial
  • Child Development Consortium of Los Angeles
  • St. John Lutheran Church
  • The Weston School Early Childhood Education