10 Simple Science Activities for Preschoolers

Preschoolers are natural scientists. They ask why, test ideas, and notice details adults overlook. Simple science activities give that curiosity something to work with, building observation, prediction and problem-solving skills along the way. The ten activities below use everyday materials and are meant to be done together at home, with an adult close by the whole time.

Why science matters for young children

Early science is less about facts and more about a way of thinking. When a child guesses whether a toy will sink, tries it and then talks about what happened, they are practicing the same steps scientists use: observe, predict, test and explain. These activities also build vocabulary, fine motor skills and patience. Most of all, they show children that learning can be exciting, which encourages them to keep asking questions.

Before you start: a few safety basics

• Stay with your child for the whole activity. These are hands-on projects for preschoolers with an adult right there, not independent play.
• Keep small items, seeds and liquids out of reach of babies and toddlers in the house.
• Use plastic containers instead of glass whenever you can.
• Remind children that experiment materials are for looking and touching, not tasting, and wash hands afterward.

10 simple science activities to try at home

1. Caterpillars to butterflies

Butterfly habitat kits, available online and at educational stores, let children watch the full life cycle of a butterfly over a few weeks. Ask your child what they notice as the caterpillars eat, grow, form a chrysalis and emerge. Have them draw each stage. When the butterflies are ready, release them outdoors together. An adult should handle the caterpillars and habitat, and everyone should wash hands after checking on them.

2. Growing seeds

Dampen a paper towel, place it in a clear zip-top bag and tuck a large seed, such as a lima bean, against the towel. Tape the bag to a sunny window. Over several days, your child can watch the seed split as roots and a shoot appear. An adult should handle the seeds and seal the bag. Raw beans should not be eaten, and seeds are a choking hazard for children under 3, so keep extras out of reach of younger siblings.

3. Rain gauge

Set a straight-sided clear plastic container outdoors in an open spot. After each rain, look together at how much water collected. Mark the level with tape or measure it with a ruler, then make a simple chart and compare totals at the end of the week. Empty the container after each reading so it does not become a place for mosquitoes to breed.

4. Nature scavenger hunt

Make a picture list of things to find outside: a round rock, a white flower, a stick shaped like a letter, a leaf with jagged edges, a bird. Help your child check items off as they find them. Use a "look, don't touch" rule for feathers, insects and anything unfamiliar, and skip mushrooms and berries entirely. In Florida's heat, bring water and choose a shady time of day.

5. Sink or float

Fill a large plastic tub with a few inches of lukewarm water. Gather objects from around the house, such as a spoon, a sponge, a plastic toy, a cork or an apple. Before each one goes in, ask your child to predict: sink or float? Then test it and talk about what happened. Choose objects too big to fit in a child's mouth, stay beside the tub the entire time and empty it as soon as you are done, since young children can drown in very little water.

6. Rain cloud in a jar

Fill a clear plastic jar or cup about three-quarters full of water and add a layer of shaving cream on top as the cloud. In a small cup, mix water with a few drops of food coloring. Let your child use a dropper to add colored water to the cloud and watch as it "rains" through into the water below. It is a simple way to talk about how clouds hold water. Keep shaving cream away from eyes and mouths, and save this one for children who no longer put their hands in their mouths.

7. Baking soda and vinegar volcano

Mixing baking soda and vinegar creates a fizzy, bubbling reaction that preschoolers love. Place a small cup of baking soda on a tray or outdoors, shape a simple volcano around it with play dough if you like, and let an adult pour in the vinegar. Add a drop of dish soap and food coloring for extra foam. Vinegar stings eyes, so keep faces back and have children watch from a step away.

8. Traveling rainbow

Line up clear plastic cups, alternating cups of colored water with empty cups. Fold paper towel strips and drape each one so one end sits in a colored cup and the other in an empty cup. Over several hours, the colors climb the paper and mix in the empty cups. Ask your child to predict what color will appear where two colors meet. This shows how water can travel through tiny spaces, the same way plants pull water up from their roots.

9. Magic milk

Pour whole milk into a shallow plate to cover the bottom and add a few drops of different food colors. Dip a cotton swab in dish soap and touch it to the surface of the milk. The colors swirl away from the soap. Explain that the soap is pulling on the fat in the milk, which makes the colors move. Remind your child that the milk is not for drinking once the soap is in, and pour it out when finished.

10. Oil and water bottle

Fill a clear plastic bottle partway with water and a few drops of food coloring, then add vegetable oil. Screw the lid on tightly and tape it shut. Let your child shake the bottle hard and then watch as the oil and water separate again. Talk about how some liquids do not mix, no matter how hard you try, and let them test it as many times as they like.

Keep the questions going

The best part of any experiment is the conversation. Ask open-ended questions such as "What do you notice?", "What do you think will happen?" and "Why do you think that happened?" Accept every guess. A wrong prediction is still good science, because it leads to a new idea to test. For more ways to build curiosity about how things work, see these ideas for STEM for little learners.

Hands-on learning at New Horizons

New Horizons Country Day School, on Nebraska Avenue in Palm Harbor, offers preschool and Florida VPK. The school's stated aim is to support the whole child through hands-on learning, individualized attention and a safe, caring environment. To learn more, explore preschool at New Horizons, schedule a tour or call the office at (727) 785-8591.