3 5 year old science experiments

Kids Art & Craft

10 simple science experiments for 3-5 year olds.

Kids Activities

Easy Science Experiments Activities For Kindergartners

Looking for age-appropriate science activities for preschoolers? Here are a bunch of fun science ideas suitable for 3-5 year olds.

Test your kids hypothesis on what would happen if they stepped on raw eggs .  They will love this one!  From Housing A Forest.

Explore how plants “drink” with this experiment showing water moving through a leaf .  From Buggy and Buddy.

You can blow up a balloon with a combination of soda and candy.  So cool!  From Learn Play Imagine.

Oil and water don’t mix , but what happens when you add this special ingredient?  From Play Trains.

Explaining the concept of air pressure to preschoolers can be tricky but this easy experiment shows it perfectly!  From Kids Activities Blog.

How do the ice trucks melt snow after a storm?  This is a great demonstration.  From The Artul Parent.

This exploding baggie experiment is a twist on the classic baking soda and vinegar reaction and is super simple.  From Coffee Cups and Crayons.

Explain to your kids how sound waves work with this classic experiment.  From We Made That.

Exploding milk is one of the most fun and simple kid science experiments and you only need three kitchen ingredients.  From Laughing Kids Learn.

Did you know you can make ice grow ?  Here’s how!  From Teach Preschool.

Hope you like these

Related posts:

• Fun Balloon Science Experiments for Kids
• Science Experiments For Class 4 With Explaination – Simple Fair Project Models
• Walking Water Rainbow Science Experiment for Kids
• 21 Pony Bead Craft And Projects For Kids
• Small Plastic Bottle Craft Ideas for Kids – Easy Art Ideas for School
• Family Tree For Kids Project – DIY Ideas for School Children
• DIY Creative Cardboard Crafts That Kids Will Love
• Lime Crafts & Activities for Kids

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

More in Kids Activities

Diy and crafts, diy paper moon and star wall hanging craft for kids.

This article will guide you through a fun and easy DIY paper moon and star wall-hanging...

Heart Shaped Paper Mouse Craft Step by Step Tutorial

Create a fun and unique craft with your kids using this step-by-step tutorial for a Heart...

Learn To Make Duck Artwork For Kids Using Watercolor & Toilet Paper Roll

Create beautiful and unique artwork for children using watercolors! In this tutorial, we will teach you...

Learn to Make Easy Paper Cup Turtle For Kids

Make your child’s day with this fun and easy paper cup turtle craft. With just a...

DIY Heart-Shaped Caterpillar Craft For Kids

This fun and easy DIY heart-shaped caterpillar craft is perfect for kids of all ages! It’s...

Subscribe us on Youtube

Recent post, recycled crafts, easy leaf art and craft step by step tutorial for kids, diy easy egg carton dinosaurs craft for kids, popular tags.

Fun Science Ideas for 3-4 Year Olds

My naughty little princess Tisha has just finished her birthday and entered 3. I decided to do a lot of fun activities and make her understand science in an easy way. Yes, they are STEM activities. At the same time, we are trying to add more experiments age wise to all the little ones and add value.

(We have consciously decided to update this page on a regular basis to share our innovative ideas with you). Do not forget to check our site periodically even daily once will help you with creative science projects. Alternatively, subscribe  and you can get our ideas dropped in your mailbox soon after it is updated here.

Fun Science and STEM Activities for 3-4 year olds

Dancing Ghosts : Halloween Balloon Static Electricity Activity

Static Comb Experiment : Explore Static Electricity for Kids

How to Make Glowing Water : Science Experiment

How to Make Oobleck (A Perfect Non Newtonian Fluid)

Cool Watermelon Science Experiments for Kids

Skittles Rainbow : Dissolving Dye Science Project

Exploring Veins Patterns in Leaves – Kids Painting Activity

Egg and Toothpaste Experiment (Learn Importance of Brushing Your Teeth)

How to Make a Square Bubble

Sensory Play with Jelly (Find out Solid or Liquid)

How to Draw on Water Using Dry Erase Markers (Dancing Drawings)

Walking on Eggs : Measure the Strength of Egg Shell

How Strong is an Egg Shell? Strength of Eggshell Bridge

Rainbow Rubber Egg Science Experiment

Easy Experiments to Introduce Magnetism to Kids

DIY Pully – Physics Fun Experiment for Kids

Respiration in Plants – Live Proof

Candle Under Glass Experiment

DIY Borax Bouncy Ball -Experiment

Glowing Water Beads Experiment for Kids

Easy Volcano Eruption Experiment for Kids (3 Methods & Beautiful Results)

Questacon (Australia’s National Science and Technology Centre) – Place to Visit With Kids

Science Behind Making Butter

How to Start Fire with a Magnifying Glass?

Glow in the Dark Ice Cubes – Sensory, Edible Science Activity

Density Science for Kids : Create Fireworks in Water & Oil

STEM Toys for Girls : 2019 Topmost Toys for Curious Girls

Engineering Toys for Girls : 2019 Ultimate List for Little Geniuses

Why Do Flowers Change Color in Food Coloring – Experiment for Kids

Spiny Leaf Phasmids : Secret Life of Pets (DIY Enclosure Steps!)

DIY Christmas Tree Magnet Maze (Fun Science Game)

Book Review of Ada Twist, Scientist

Wildlife Habitat Port Douglas : Nature Learning for Kids

Safety Glasses – Advantages & Using Guide

Swirling Milk Experiment (Magic Milk Activity)

DIY Christmas Tree Bubble Wand {Learn bubble physics}

Catapult STEM Project – DIY Catapult for Kids

Coloring Activity – Girl as a Scientist

Sea Life Sydney Aquarium – Perfect Excursion for Kids

Upcycled Catapult – STEM go green DIY Challenge

Static Electricity Balloon and Salt and Pepper Experiment

Spore Printing with Mushroom – Botany Lesson with Fungi

How to make Curds and Whey

Naked Egg (Dissolving Egg Shell) Experiment

How To Make Balance Scales for Toddlers and Preschoolers

How to Make Heart Shaped Bubble Wand

Easter Egg Bubble Wands

Magnet Maze Game Designing Activity – Learn Science and Art

Shape Bubble Wands – DIY in Different Shapes

DIY Fridge Door Marble Run Using Magnets

Comparing Different Seeds – An Activity About Nature Science

Delightfully Fizzy Sherbet

Want even more preschooler science activities?

In case you want to get several innovative science concepts for your little ones going to preschool, then you can take a look at these links given below.

• Alum crystal glows – Take a highlighter, alum, spoon, hot water, black light, and scissors. All are available easily. Be careful when kids use alum. Extract the ink from the highlighter for doing this experiment. Blacklight is mandatory to make the alum glow. For more details Easy science for kids .
• Dancing Raisins – See how this little one is making raisins dance. He is very clearly explaining the experiment. You can also let kids follow his instruction and make raisins dance. With ingredients available in kitchen countertop make this dance show happen. For more details Youtube dancing raisins .
• Rhythms of Play got a great idea about Fish using Magnets . You must not miss out to add fun to your little ones.
• This  colorful celery found in Look We Are Learning is yet a great method to see plants transferring their nutrients and water to other plants.
• Fruits can be stopped from browning – Lets now teach kids about how to keep fruits from browning. For this experiment, you need fruits and lemon juice. Any of these solutions will help teach kids about preventing fruits from browning. For more details Really are you serious .
• Childhood101 has given a great explanation about making a miniature of microscope just with things available at home.
• Fantastic Fun and learning have explained about dissolving lollipop . Check it out.
• Trio experiment with water – These experiments will help students to understand about water and its properties. Whether all substance dissolve in liquid(water)? How water helps the plant to grow? Why water melts fast? So, all these are about water. Try to involve kids to make them understand better. For more details Kids Academy .
• Does ice get affected by salt?  Try this activity to explore more. Learn the way water is absorbing watercolor. This is from Learning and Exploring Through Play.
• Its time to make fun with sounds and here you go with KC Edventures art that has made a musical instrument which will be heard by one person and you can do it yourself
• Now become an artist by painting just using Epsom salts . Gifted by One Creative Mommy. You can see the glowing faces of kids when they see the crystals upon drying.
• Drinking Density Experiment – Make some juice to drink. Yes, it is a cocktail and you are just not going to make kids drink but teach density of different liquids from this experiment. Sugar makes the drink denser. Take different juice and add sugar to it and that will decide the density of the juice. See layers of juice in glass through this lesson. For more details Science Bob
• Here’s a  safe way to explore bubble with apples ! Presented by the Powol Packets.
• Oxygen from plants – We tell kids not to sleep under a tree during the night because they release CO 2. This lesson will talk about leaves creating oxygen. Apt for a 3rd grade to teach about plants and related to human respiration. For more details Projects jugaad
• Use modeling clay and playdough to teach moon and its phases just like KC Edventures did.
•  i-spy bottle can make galaxy so you can teach kids about naming planets. Learn this art by checking Best Toys 4 Toddlers postings.
• Double gazed drinking – Using plastic bottles, glass, hot water, and thermometer it is now possible to teach kids about heating and temperature. This is a double gazed glass experiment to help understand about heating. For more details Owlcation
• Get ready for designing sun prints on your own and this is a STEM + Art project called STEAM explained by Creative Family Fun.
• Making constellations is as simple as that with toothpicks and marshmallows . Have some additional marshmallows due to the reason that it might vanish while constructing. Proudly posted in Munchkins and Moms.
• Homemade air cushion vehicle – You can now teach kids about hovercraft. Yes, this air cushion vehicle can be made with pop up bottle cap, CD, and a balloon. See how this works. It is fun and a good way to teach kids. For more details Kid spot
• Balloon Car – Only with a drinking straw, plastic bottle, and balloon your kids can make a car. Here teach about the car and its functioning. To make kids feel glad about making a car on their own follow this instruction. How do wheels rotate and what is required to move the car can be taught in this lesson. For more details Awesome ideas
• Buggy and Buddy teaches  making rainbow along with prisms lesson
• Lets now quench the curiosity of kids about frosting and condensing by making them happen at your home. Learn this from Look We Are Learning.
• Gravity with rubber bands . How is it possible? Yes, it is and you can check this out to see the stretching capacity of rubber bands. Check out Planet Smartypants for more details.
• One more friction lesson – Friction is an important lesson for kids and you can easily demonstrate that with rice filled in a bottle. Let every kid apply force based on their capacity and learn friction. For more details Carrots are orange
• Leak-proof bag – If you fill water in a plastic bag with a hole, then will water stay. Obviously, the answer is no. But do you know this experiment will prove it wrong? Let kids fill water in a plastic bag and then make a hole with a pencil to see no water leak. For more details What do we do all day
• The Chaos and the Clutter are now showing a very quick and easy experiment with ice. How does ice melt faster than ever ? You know what my Tisha found this internet and made me do this at once. But trust me that was all fun.
• Now comes growing seeds and check NurtureStore to teach kids about growing pea and bean seeds . How they actually germinate. Let kids learn about plant formation from seeds.
• Rain inside a jar – It can now rain inside the jar. So make it rain and teach the water cycle. Yes, evaporation and condensation can be easily taught using this experiment. For more details, I can teach my child
• Dry ice and sublimation – Sublimation can be quickly taught with dry ice. The coldest ice creates smoke. But be careful and no let kids touch as it will damage the skin. For more details Tinker lab
• Potion making is loved by all kids and there is no exception and I swear that it gives immense happiness in exploring the reactions taking place chemically in a fun and playful way. Kids can try themselves is the additional bonus. Powol Packets do not have dearth to Love Potions Projects . Even at Buggy and Buddy, they do potions with extra foam and yes by adding liquids used to wash vessels in the kitchen.
• Underwater candle – It is possible to make a candle glow under water. It is a simple trick. See this experiment and candle glow and wax holds the water.For more details Youtube Candle Science Experiment
• Ornaments with salt – Salt is nothing but sodium chloride NaCl. Everyday kids eat this chemical and must learn about the science behind it. Let them make some ornaments with salt and as well understand about the chemical properties. Concept of baking and production of heat is also explained in this experiment. For more details The picky apple
• I Heart Crafty Things has posted a new idea for future scientist and here – making a butterfly with tissue papers are simple and even the flapping wings are shown using static electricity .
• Vinegar and baking soda make a wonderful combination and they are just fun to kids due to its fizzing sound. NurtureStore displays the best part made by her girls and these are glittering and fizzing plus looking great with molds that are heart-shaped (can anything else be more attractive for a Valentine party?). Buggy and Buddy showcase the ways in which adding  vinegar that is colorful along with pipettes  creating a bright and nice to look fizz work. Again Powol Packets have their work with innovation and their fizz are sparkling ready to explode .
• Elephants can now brush teeth – Have ever imagined elephants brushing teeth? It is fun to visualize. With this paste now elephants too can brush their teeth. Breaking down hydrogen peroxide to water and oxygen is the science involved in this. For more details The preschool powol packets
• Acids and Bases – Use this red cabbage juice to teach kids about acid and base. You can take vinegar for acid and baking soda as a base. Mix them in a glass of cabbage juice to see how acids and bases react. For more details Steve Spangler
• Again Buggy and Buddy have presented a great activity with salt and oil. Here you can find the  density of water
• How does milk react with liquids used to wash vessel that contain lemon and food colors? Eager to know this yes you can find it at our place and we named it Swirling Milk . You can also see how Best Toys for Toddlers has named it Milk Marbling . And, another innovative name kept by Messy Little Monsters is  Magic Milk Fireworks . Irrespective of the name this experiment will surely win the heart of the toddlers.
• Dye on heat – This experiment will explain why dye works. How does it work? Get one coffee mug and markers to allow kids to write their names in a coffee mug. Teach them about heat and baking. For more details a beautiful mess
• Once again Buggy and Buddy have an experiment for kids that talks about exploring center for rocks which certainly encourage kids to learn about geology.
• Check out for wild carrots which are the Queen Anne’s Lace and these flowers grow in any place. At Fireflies and Mudpies, all kids become great artist painting them green, yellow and blue . Witness the same coloring activity with  chrysanthemums at the NurtureStore. (You can see them with gerberas  at our site also tried with numerous white colored flowers to demonstrate the color absorbing capacity .
• At the age of 3 and 4 kids will love the experiment walking water where the demonstration of capillary action and color mixing is really amazing. Here the colored water will move the paper up fighting gravity. Wow! Apple Green Cottage explains this in their site using a paper towel and glass jars . Also, you can see this experiment that uses cold and hot water along with different paper at Royal Baloo .
• Multicolored Celery – See this little girl carrying out an experiment with celery sticks. She demonstrates how celery color changes. Take two glass with water, one celery stick and dye colors for following this experiment. For more details Youtube celery

Want even EVEN more ideas?

Find more inspiring ideas on our page exclusive for kids aged 1-2 years – feel free to make some small changes and they will become workable to elder kids as well. (My kids repeat the same activities at different age and learn things per their knowledge at that age. Off course there is no dearth to the fun as well.)

Also, you can find activities for kids aged 5-6 years and click on that page. But remember to provide help to your kids as they need support.

Above all check them on the Pinterest board Fun Science for Kids

Let us know which experiment does your 3-4-year-old kids loved to do.

Please provide support to kids and never leave them alone. Ensure to stay with kids and allow them to do only the appropriate activity relevant to age and the skill set they have. Click  here  for more information.

• Grades 6-12
• School Leaders

Have you gotten your free poster delivered? ✨

Every product is independently selected by (obsessive) editors. Things you buy through our links may earn us a commission.

45 Easy and Fun Science Activities for Preschool

Introduce curious little minds to a world of discovery.

Every day is a new opportunity for toddlers to ask “Why?” over and over. Tap into that curiosity with these fun and engaging science activities for preschoolers. These simple experiments incorporate many preschool favorites like playing with bubbles or water, making arts and crafts, and, of course, making a mess!

To make things even easier, we’ve rated every one of these preschool science activities for preschoolers based on difficulty and materials.

Difficulty:

• Easy: These are low- or no-prep experiments you can do pretty much anytime
• Medium: These take a little more setup or a longer time to complete
• Advanced: Experiments like these take a fairly big commitment of time or effort
• Basic: Simple items you probably already have around the house
• Medium: Items that you might not already have but are easy to get your hands on
• Advanced: These require specialized or more expensive supplies to complete

Water Preschool Science Experiments

Stem challenges for preschoolers.

• Seasonal Preschool Science Activities

More Science Activities for Preschoolers

These water activities for preschoolers help teach little learners a variety of science concepts. (These can get a little messy, so you might want to try them outside.) Find even more water science activities here.

Make music with xylophone bottles

Difficulty: Easy / Materials: Basic

The classic experiment using varying levels of water in glasses or bottles is even more fun when you add some food coloring. Experiment with different water depths and mallet styles to make all kinds of beautiful music!

Learn more: Xylophone Bottle at Mama Papa Bubba

Surround kids with an oversized bubble

Difficulty: Easy / Materials: Medium ADVERTISEMENT

Kids (and let’s face it, adults too) will definitely get a kick out of this fun science experiment. While you’ll only need a kiddie pool, some dish soap, and a Hula-Hoop to make this a reality, the payoff will be big.

Learn more: Giant Bubbles at Make and Takes

Watch rice dance in water

There are lots of cool baking-soda-and-vinegar experiments out there ( ever made your own volcano ?), but this one is always a favorite with little ones. The acid-base reaction causes the rice to dance and jump around in the water for an effect that is just so cool!

Learn more: Dancing Rice at Green Kid Crafts

Reveal colors with chemical reactions

Preschool science experiments often include a combination of baking soda and vinegar like this one. Fill muffin tins with a drop of food coloring, then top it with baking soda. Finally, let kids squirt in vinegar to reveal fabulous foamy hues! (Be sure to wear eye protection for this one.)

Learn more: Fizzy Fun at Busy Toddler

See what sinks and what floats

This preschool science activity helps kids learn to construct a hypothesis, conduct a simple experiment, and then sort their findings by property.

Learn more: Sink or Float at Fun With Mama

Learn what dissolves in water

Engage in more water play by having kids predict which items will dissolve in water and which ones won’t. Have kids keep track of the results so they can see if they have anything in common.

Learn more: What Dissolves in Water? at Hands On as We Grow

Watch hot water rise and cold water sink

This early exploration into the concept of density is always impressive to see in action. Have kids discover how hot water rises and cold water sinks. Explain that the same applies to air, and see if kids can think of a way to observe that in action too.

Learn more: Water Density Experiment at Mombrite

Grow a paper towel rainbow

“Capillary action” might be a real mouthful for preschool science students, but they don’t need to remember the term to be impressed by this experiment! All you need are markers, a paper towel, and two glasses of water.

Learn more: Capillary Action Experiment at Mombrite

Make shaving cream rain clouds

This is a classic science activity every kid should try at least once. It helps them understand how clouds become so saturated with water that they must release it in the form of rain.

Learn more: Shaving Cream Rain Clouds at One Little Project

Blow bubble towers

There are lots of fun science activities you can do with bubbles to explore concepts like surface tension. Or you can just have a blast seeing who can make the tallest tower with bubbles and straws.

Learn more: Bubble Towers at Happy Hooligans

STEM challenges give students a chance to try solving problems on their own. Give them some basic supplies and instructions, then let them experiment until they find a solution to the challenge.

Rescue toys from hot lava

While you might not want pre-K kids climbing all over the classroom furniture to play “The Floor Is Lava,” they can do the same thing with their toys in this cute STEM challenge.

Learn more: Floor Is Lava at Forward With Fun

Build a catapult

Challenge students to build a catapult using just three items: Popsicle sticks, elastics, and a plastic spoon. You’ll definitely want to have an extra set of adult hands available as this can prove challenging for pre-K kids. Finally, bring plenty of marshmallows or pom-poms to launch.

Learn more: Make a Catapult at Education.com

Discover strength in shapes

Learn shapes while also practicing some basic science. Fold paper into various shapes to form columns and ask kids to predict which will be able to support the most books.

Learn more: Strength in Shapes at All for the Boys

Build an aluminum foil boat

Teach kids about buoyancy and physics while having fun in the process. First, give your students some tinfoil and challenge them to build a sturdy boat. Then, challenge them to fill the boat with as many pennies as they can without it sinking.

Learn more: Foil Boat Challenge at Little Bins for Little Hands

Waterproof a boot

Ask kids to select various materials and tape them over the free boot printable found at the link. Then, test their hypotheses to see which ones work best.

Learn more: Waterproof a Book at Science Sparks

Reach for the sky

Round up all your building blocks and try this whole-class project. What will students need to do to be able to construct a tower that reaches all the way to the ceiling?

Learn more: Tower Engineering Challenge at Mama Smiles

Link up the longest paper chain

This incredibly easy preschool STEM activity really gets kids thinking. The challenge? Create the longest possible paper chain using a single piece of paper. So simple and so effective.

Learn more: Paper Chain Challenge at Frugal Fun for Boys and Girls

Build an apple toothpick tower

Put a healthy spin on a classic STEM challenge by substituting apple pieces for marshmallows. Kids will have a tasty snack when they’re done!

Learn more: Apple Toothpick Tower at N. Family Club

Stack up plastic cups

Kids absolutely love stacking cups ! Turn the play into a STEM challenge by adding index cards into the mix. Kids can experiment to see if they can build taller towers with or without the cards.

Learn more: Solo Cup Engineering Challenge at The Salty Mamas

Craft a nest

Take a nature walk and pick up items like sticks, leaves, and more. Then, build your own bird nests to protect little eggs and hatchlings.

Learn more: Build a Nest at Pink Stripey Socks

Seasonal Science Activities and Experiments for Preschoolers

Whether you’re looking for Halloween science activities , winter science experiments , or Easter egg activities , find them all and more here!

Make pretend snow

No snow where you live? Make some yourself! Find easy recipes for “snow” using baking soda, shaving cream, cornstarch, and other household items. Experiment to find the one that works best.

Learn more: Make Pretend Snow at Elf on the Shelf

Explore how mittens keep you warm

Ask little ones if mittens are warm, and they’ll likely answer yes. But when they measure the temperature inside an empty mitten, they’ll be surprised by what they find. Learn about body heat and insulation with this easy experiment.

Learn more: Mitten Body Heat Experiment at Classroom Magic

Measure the water content of snow

Two inches of snow is not the same as two inches of rain. This easy winter science experiment measures the amount of water actually found in an inch of snow.

Learn more: How Much Water Is in Snow? at KC Edventures With Kids

Create salt crystal hearts

Difficulty: Medium / Materials: Basic

Make these pretty red crystalized hearts as Valentine’s Day decorations, or anytime you want to show someone some love!

Learn more: Salt Crystal Hearts at Red Ted Art

Grow grass in an eggshell

Difficulty: Medium / Materials: Medium

What’s more fun than a preschool science experiment that doubles as a craft? You’ll need eggs, soil, grass seeds, water, and a permanent marker to bring this project to life. Kids will especially love personalizing their eggshell.

Learn more: Egg Grass Heads at Mother Natured

Decompose a jack-o’-lantern

Difficulty: Easy / Materials: Medium

When Halloween is over, plop your jack-o’-lantern pumpkin in the garden and observe it each day. Kids learn how organic matter breaks down over time.

Learn more: Pumpkin Decomposition at Gift of Curiosity

Send a ghost flying with magnets

Use magnets along with a few other supplies to make a tissue ghost seem to float in midair! It’s the perfect spooky Halloween science activity for preschoolers.

Learn more: Flying Ghosts at STEAM Powered Family

Conduct experiments on marshmallow Peeps

Pick up a package of marshmallow Peeps (they’re available during many seasons of the year now), and try turning them into little boats. Experiment with different sail sizes and types, and figure out how to make the candy boats go faster.

Learn more: Marshmallow Peep Boat Challenge at Lemon Lime Adventures

Launch plastic egg rockets

Put on some safety goggles and get ready for lift-off! This simple experiment uses Alka-Seltzer tablets to turn eggs into rockets.

Learn more: Easter Egg Rockets at The STEM Laboratory

Dissolve colorful turkey “feathers”

Baking soda and vinegar experiments are always popular, and this one is so cute for the Thanksgiving season. Build your own little turkey with baking soda feathers, then watch them foam up and dissolve when you add some vinegar.

Learn more: Turkey Feather Science at 123 Homeschool 4 Me

These science activities and experiments give preschoolers a chance to explore all sorts of science concepts, from plants and animals to germs and gravity and beyond.

Slice apples to learn about oxidation

Here’s another classic preschool science activity: using apple slices to learn about oxidation (and how to prevent it). When you’re done, you’ve got a tasty snack to eat too.

Learn more: Apple Oxidation at Teaching With Jennifer Findley

Show why sunscreen is important

First, have your students make four construction-paper people, each with varying conditions. Wrap one in plastic wrap, cover another in sunscreen, put a hat on one and a set of sunglasses on another. Ask kids to hypothesize what will happen when they’re left out in the sun, then see if they’re right!

Learn more: Sunscreen Experiment at 123 Homeschool 4 Me

Engage in some shadow science

Learn about animals and shadow science with these adorable and easy puppets. Use them to act out some scenarios involving these creatures in their natural habitats.

Learn more: Shadow Science at Little Bins for Little Hands

Mix up some “magic” milk

A drop or two of dish soap will make food coloring dance and swirl across the surface of a shallow bowl of milk. Preschool science experiments often seem like magic, but this one is all about surface tension and chemical reactions.

Learn more: Magic Milk at Laughing Kids Learn

See how easily germs spread

We love a preschool science experiment that reminds little ones of the importance of good handwashing. Help them see why it’s so important with this simple experiment that uses glitter to stand in for germs .

Experiment with wax paper

This wax paper experiment is interesting from both a science and art perspective. Ask kids to think about why wax paper behaves differently than other paper they use for art projects.

Learn more: Wax Paper Resist at Housing a Forest

Predict and observe what will melt in the sun

You’ll need a hot sunny day for this preschool science experiment. Help students choose a variety of items to place into a muffin tin and have them predict which ones will melt. Set the tin out in the sun for an hour or two, then bring it in and record your results.

Learn more: Melting Science at Frugal Fun for Boys and Girls

Drop balls to introduce gravity

Gravity can be a complicated subject, but all pre-K kids need to understand the basics. Drop balls of all sizes to discover that they all fall in the exact same way.

Learn more: Gravity Experiment at Inspiration Laboratories

Head to the playground to explore gravity and friction

What goes up must come down! A playground slide is the perfect place to help kids understand gravity. This is a good chance to learn about friction too.

Learn more: Playground Science at Buggy and Buddy

Test objects with magnets

Magnets are undeniably a source of fascination for kids. At this stage, you can worry less about explaining how magnets work and instead just let kids explore which items are attracted to magnets and which aren’t. Sort the items into categories, then see if the items have anything in common.

Learn more: Magnets at PreKinders

See sound waves in action

This series of simple experiments lets kids see sound waves at work. Start by making waves with a Slinky , then move on to tuning forks and bouncing confetti.

Learn more: Sound Experiment at Hands On Teaching Ideas

Make an orange volcano

Making erupting volcanoes is a staple of any childhood! We love this easy volcano experiment using an orange, baking soda, and vinegar.

Learn more: Orange Volcano at The Art Kit Blog

Grow delicious rock candy crystals

Preschoolers love science activities that involve food. While crystal experiments are a hit with kids of any age, this one is perfect for the young crowd. It requires a little patience, but kids get to eat the yummy results!

Learn more: Kool-Aid Rock Candy at Growing a Jeweled Rose

Move pom-poms with air pressure

Understanding the idea that air can have enough force to move objects can be a little challenging, but this simple experiment brings that concept to life. We love that this experiment is affordable since most people (especially teachers) already have these materials on hand.

Learn more: Air Pressure Experiment at Kids Activities Blog

Make a balance scale

This simple balance scale is so easy to make yet provides endless opportunities for weighing all kinds of objects. Have kids assemble a scale from a plastic hanger, a few paper cups, and some string, then let them hypothesize which items will be heavier and which will be lighter.

Learn more: DIY Balance Scales at Go Science Kids

Like these science activities for preschoolers? Don’t miss the 30 Best Educational Toys and Games for Preschool .

Plus, get all the latest teaching tips and ideas when you sign up for our free newsletters .

You Might Also Like

Paint with Bubbles + 20 More Cool Bubble Activities to Try

Kids will bubble over with excitement! Continue Reading

Copyright © 2024. All rights reserved. 5335 Gate Parkway, Jacksonville, FL 32256

45 of the Best STEM Activities for Toddlers and Preschoolers

Categories STEM

Introducing young kids to STEM is incredibly fun. When I first started looking into STEM for Toddlers and Preschoolers , I was thrilled to see so many easy ways to do it.

If you’re a mom at home or early childhood educators, there are so many benefits to teaching your kids STEM. Use their natural curiosity to develop problem solving skills, and have a great time doing it.

Disclosure: Adult supervision is required for all activities at all times.

Table of Contents

What is stem.

• STEM Activities
• FAQ’s

You May Also Like

Not sure what STEM stands for? It’s an abbreviation of S cience T echnology E ngineering and M ath. Or you may have heard of STEAM, where the A stands for arts. All toddlers (2-3 year olds) and preschoolers (3-5 year olds), can get involved with these amazing ideas.

STEM Activities for Toddlers and Preschoolers

1. magic milk.

All you need for this science activity is some food coloring, milk, and dish soap. With those three ingredients you can watch the colors dance around the milk all by themselves.  Learn how to turn regular milk into magic milk here.

2. Coke and Mentos

This was one of the best science experiments I’ve ever done with my kids. The look on their faces is absolutely priceless and has become one of my favorite memories. The only thing I struggled with initially was getting all of the mentos into the bottle fast enough. Fortunately, I came up with an easy hack, which allows toddlers and older kids to drop all of the mentos into the bottle at once. Check out the coke and mentos reaction and learn the super easy hack to make it toddler friendly.

3. Fizzy Painting

This is another science activity that works because of chemical reactions. But in this play idea, you’ll be using it to make a painting that bubbles and fizzes.  Learn how to use chemistry to make fizzy art .

4. Straw Rockets

These straw rockets are a free printable that you can download and use for STEM learning. Children of all ages love propelling the rockets through the air using the power of their lungs.  Get your free printable rockets and start having fun.

5. Rain in a Jar

All you need for this weather science activity is a cup of water, shaving cream and blue food coloring. Watch as the blue food coloring falls through the clouds and looks like rain when it travels through the water.  Learn how to make the rain in a jar STEM activity with your toddlers and preschoolers.

6. Fireworks in a Jar

This is similar to the rain in a jar experiment, but has enough of a twist to make it new and exciting. Along with other easy STEM activities, you already have everything you need for this idea in your kitchen cupboard.  If your kids are too scared of real fireworks, then learn how to make them in a jar and still enjoy some colorful bursts.

7. Color Changing Flowers

This is a fun way to explore capillary action with young kids. They get to see how flowers “drink” water and how it travels from the bottom of the stem, all the way up to their petals. Learn how to make flowers change colors , and see it start working in about 30 minutes.

8. Walking Water

Did you know that you can make water move and change colors all by itself? This is another fantastic STEM education activity that explores capillary action. Watch the water ‘walk’ and become a rainbow before your eyes. Click the link to see how it’s done.

9. Balloon Magic

Kids of all ages love watching the balloon in this science activity inflate all by itself , just like magic. With a couple of common household ingredients, your kids can be magicians too.

10. Magnet Exploration

Playing with magnets is the best way to explain the STEM concepts of magnetism. Learn what is magnetic and what isn’t, using whatever bits and bobs you have lying around the house or classroom.

11. DIY Magnetic Ball Run

Learn how to turn regular cardboard tubes into a fun fridge door activity. Younger kids will love doing a bit of engineering while making their own magnetic ball run and learning about gravity.

12. Salt Dough Dinosaur Fossils

This is without a doubt one of my favorite preschool STEM activities. Use the DIY dinosaur fossils to create a real dino dig in the sandbox, or just as a dinosaur matching activity. All you need is some salt dough, and small toy dinosaurs. It’s so easy.

13. Planet Match Activity

Do you have little astronauts running around at home? This matching activity is a simple way to let them explore the solar system. Get the free planet match printable to help teach your kids about outer space.

14. Butterfly Life Cycle

When the weather warms up, and the butterflies are out, this is the perfect chance to explore some Spring themed STEAM activities. Learn about the life cycle of a butterfly , while creating some beautiful art at the same time.

This activity also comes with a free printable template for you to use for the art. In addition, it also contains a whole lot of interesting butterfly facts to use during circle time.

15. How to Grow Crystal Snowflakes

These snowflakes can sit on your window and don’t melt. I love this science activity for older children, because it doesn’t snow where we live. But we still get to enjoy a bit of magic with this play idea.

Learn how to make crystal snowflakes for your windows.

16. Invisible Heart Activity for Kids

The secret behind this science activity is homemade invisible ink. Instead of making secret messages, I made a secret cardiovascular system. You can do individual pictures for kids at home, or large ones that kids in your early years classroom can do as a small group project. Learn how to make an invisible heart science activity , or just write secret messages.

17. Snowstorm in a Jar

If you’re looking for winter themed STEM ideas, make sure to try this snowstorm in a jar. Kids as young as toddlers can join in on this one. Not to mention it’s so much fun to watch no matter how old you are.

Learn how to turn a regular jar into an indoor snowstorm , using a bit of simple science.

18. Building Shapes

This is a fantastic engineering and math activity for children. Toddlers can focus on building 2D shapes, while preschoolers can also explore 3D constructions. I used toothpicks for this activity. However, if you’re going to try this play idea with toddlers, then I suggest you use pipe cleaners or paper straws instead. What 2D and 3D shapes will you build with your kids?

19. Popsicle Stick Shape Mats

Here is another way to build shapes, using craft sticks. These shape mats are a free printable that you can download and use today. Best of all, the craft sticks are the exact size on the mats, so everything fits together seamlessly.

Get your copy of the free craft stick shape mats printable , and do a bit of math with your kids.

20. Farm Animal Shadow Matching Game

This is one of the first simple STEM activities I did with my toddlers. In fact, it’s the exact one I used to get my kids interested in puzzles (they were hopeless before this). It’s such a simple puzzle, but you do need to recognise irregular shapes.

This game comes as a free printable. All you need to do is to match the farm animals to their shadows , and maybe make a few barnyard noises while you do. 

21. Parachute STEM Experiment

Can you make one of your toys fly? When we did this activity, we had one very brave cow that got caught in the rose bushes a lot.

This science activity is a simple way to experiment with wind resistance, different materials and parachute designs . Perfect for older kids to make, but still fun for toddlers and preschoolers to play with.

22. Water Cycle STEM for Kids

Did you know that you can make a working indoor water cycle ? One where your kids can taste the difference because it actually turns saltwater into freshwater?

Believe it or not, you can. This STEM idea is a fun way to talk about the weather in a way where kids can get some hands on learning.

23. Car STEM Experiments for Kids

Toddlers and preschoolers love playing with cars and ramps. Use their enthusiasm to learn a bit of rudimentary physics in easy ways. Don’t worry, it really is more simple than it sounds.

What happens when you let cars go down ramps? Kids learn about gravity. What happens when you adjust the ramps or the cars a little bit? Well that’s a whole afternoon of fun experimenting with toy cars .

24. DIY Pirate Ship: STEM Challenge

This engineering challenge is perfect for elementary school children. All you need to do is give them a few basic materials and tell them to build their own boat.

I spent hours as a kid building my own forts in the backyard. Tying the sticks together, and hating when it was not tight enough.

So let your kids build their own ship in the backyard this summer. You’ll have pirates running around all holiday.

25. Sink the Egg STEM Challenge

Simple STEM projects are always a treasure, and this one is no different. What does it take to make the egg sink ? What do you fill it with? What will your kids come up with?

26. Non Newtonian Fluid Science Activity

The non-Newtonian fluid in this play idea is also called Oobleck. Oobleck has the wonderful characteristic of changing form when pressure is applied.

Confused? Basically, when you push down hard on oobleck, it becomes hard and feels solid. But if you let it go and just hold it in your hand, it will flow like a liquid.

Can you imagine what a great time your kids will have playing with this amazing stuff? Learn how to make oobleck here.

27. Snowball Balance

Do you save your large cardboard tubes? Make sure that you do because it’s amazing what you can do with them. 

Here you are using the tubes to balance crumpled up paper balls . This is a fantastic activity for toddlers because it’ll help with hand-eye coordination and other fine motor skills as well.

28. Easy Heart Pump Model

How does the heart work? Here you can explore how the heart pumps blood with a working demonstration. How amazing is that?

29. Seed Germination Experiment for Kids

Growing seeds and beans is a science classic for a reason. The kids will learn about how plants grow, where food comes from and hopefully a little bit of healthy eating habits at the same time.

I’ve done this experiment a few times with my kids and they just love looking at how the plants grow more and more each day.

30. Water Transfer Activity with Sponges

Why do sponges hold water? Are they the best option when trying to transfer water from one container to another? Why?

Playing with sponges and water is a great summer time activity, especially if you’re trying to cool down.

31. Exploring Vegetable Seeds

What do you find when you cut open a capsicum (bell pepper)? A whole lot of tiny seeds that are perfect for exploring.

If you got excited about the idea of growing seeds, then imagine how excited your kids will be when they see where seeds come from .

32. DIY Balance Scales

Have you ever thought about using a regular clothes hanger to make a set of scales? Exploring simple machines with your kids can be as easy as this play idea. 

This is a fantastic way for kids to explore the concept of weight, and experiment with heavy and light objects . Which side will go down and why?

33. Sink or Float

Here is a science activity that you can try at bath time. What sinks and what floats ? Even toddler age children can explore this STEM concept while they splash around.

34. Static Hair

I definitely saved the best for last. At least I think so because I absolutely LOVED doing this as a child myself. 

Why does static electricity make your hair stand up ? You’re going to have a whole lot of fun and giggles while you’re finding out.

35. Floating City STEM Challenge

Your little engineer will love this toddler STEM activity at bath time. All you need to do is get some foam building blocks and put them in the bath. If your kids is a pro at making towers on dry land, see what happens to their creation once the water moves around. Build a floating city and develop problem solving skills at bath time.

36. Make a Book Invitation to Play

Learning about technology isn’t all about screens. Everyday tools like kitchen utensils and office stationary are technology too. In this make a book invitation , younger children can play around with different tools to make their own book. 

​37. Animal Sorting

Where do the animals belong? This is a super simple science activity that toddlers and even older babies can enjoy. Sort and group (which is a math skills) the different toys by where you can find them. This sorting animals activity is a fun way to explore all of the amazing creatures we find on land, sea or sky.

38. Building Animal Towers

If you’ve got your toy animals out for the previous activity, then keep them around for some more fun STEM activities. Little kids will love trying to build the tallest tower out animals or other different items. Their irregular shapes adds an extra challenge that is fun for the whole family.

39. Free Color Match and Clip Cards

Learning about the different colors is another essential math concept that toddlers can learn. These free printable color match and clip cards will help toddlers with their math and their fine motor skills at the same time.

40. Dinosaur Number Match

This cute dinosaur number match puzzle will get toddlers and preschoolers to practice counting, number recognition, fine motor skills and more. This is a great STEM activity for kids who love anything to do with dinosaurs.

41. Fizzy Heart Bombs

You can use household items to make a chemical reaction that is safe for toddlers and preschoolers to play with. These fizzy heart bombs are a simple experiment that you can use to get kids excited about science.

42. Free Measuring Flowers Activity

Grab your copy of this free measuring flowers activity . This activity will invite children to explore both formal and informal measuring, number formation and various other math concepts.

43. Snowman Shape Puzzles (Free Printable)

Learn about different shapes with these free printable snowman shape puzzles . 2D shapes is a math concept that young children need to learn before they go to school. And these cute little guys are the perfect way to help you.

44. Free Feed the Shark Math Game

Toddlers and preschoolers will have so much fun with this feed the shark math game . This free printable is a simple STEM activity that will get them to practice counting, one-to-one correspondence and even some simple addition.

45. Bauble Balance

Even babies can try their engineering skills with this Christmas themed challenge. Build your own Christmas tree out of pool noodles (or paper towel rolls) and see if you can balance the bauble on top.

Frequently Asked Questions

At what age can you start stem.

You can start exploring STEM with your child from day one. After all, we understand the world around us through STEM. All of our senses, like sound and vision, are all components of science that we experience very early on. As we get older we learn about nature and how the things around us work.

How do you teach a toddler STEM?

The best way to teach STEM is through hands on experience. Play based learning is the best approach when trying to explain concepts to kids. Keep it simple, age appropriate, and allow kids to explore and problem solve by themselves.

Do kids like STEM?

Absolutely. I have yet to meet a child who didn’t have a natural curiosity about the world around them. The key is to make it fun, without any pressure, because that is how they learn best. It’s also a great way to create toddlers and preschoolers who are intrinsically motivated to learn more.

Are you going to try any of these STEM activities for toddlers and preschoolers? Don’t forget to pin the idea for later.

STEM Activities for Kids

Water STEM Activities for kids

Share this:

• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)

Get Your ALL ACCESS Shop Pass here →

50 Easy Science Activities For Preschoolers

Curious kids turn into junior scientists with these fun and easy preschool science experiments . Th ese science activities for preschoolers are doable and use simple supplies for home or in the classroom. Plus, you can scale any of these activities to use with kindergarten through elementary-age students!

Science for Preschoolers Engages the Senses

Preschool science encourages observations of the five senses, including sight, sound, touch, smell, and sometimes taste. The more kids can fully immerse themselves in an activity, the greater their interest will be !

Kids are naturally curious creatures, and once you have piqued their curiosity, you have also activated their observation, critical thinking, and experimentation skills.

These science activities are perfect for the senses, allowing play and exploration without adult-led directions. Kids will naturally start to pick up on the simple science concepts presented just by having a fun conversation about it all with you!

• 5 Senses Exploration Station
• 5 Senses Coloring Book (Free)
• 5 Senses Discovery Bags
• Apple Taste Test with the 5 Senses
• Pop Rocks and 5 Senses

Awesome Science Activities for Preschoolers

💡 Many of the preschool science projects below can be adapted to your kids’ current level. Also, these are perfect for kids of multiple ages to work together in small groups.

Click on each link below for full instructions. Also, look through our seasonal preschool science activities and grab the free science experiment cards!

• Spring Preschool Science Experiments
• Fall Preschool Science Experiments: apples and pumpkins
• Winter Preschool Science Experiments

Check out how different materials absorb water with this simple what absorbs water activity. 

ALKA SELTZER CHEMICAL REACTIONS

Make an Alka Seltzer Rocket , try a simple 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 LIFE CYCLE

Explore the butterfly life cycle with a free printable pack and butterfly sensory bin idea. Or create an edible butterfly life cycle instead!

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 , bubble painting , and bubble snakes !

BUILDING BRIDGES

This bridge building activity is an easy engineering project for young kids. It starts with the planning and designing process and ends with the building process. Construct your own bridge from simple supplies.

BUILDING TOWERS

Kids love building, and building structures is a great activity that incorporates many skills and is also frugal. 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 AND FOOD COLORING

Watch how water moves through a plant with a simple celery food coloring 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 chickpeas are cooked in.

COLOR MIXING

Color mixing is a science. Learn colors through play with these preschool color activities .

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, make homemade dinosaur fossils , and then go on your own 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! They are perfect for themes, too, like these Earth Day ones!

Test how strong an egg is with this easy eggshell strength experiment. Find out what happens to an egg in vinegar , and try our mess-free egg drop challenge for young kids.

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 .

What goes up must come down. Have young kids explore concepts in gravity around the house or classroom with simple objects you already have.

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 a simple science you can set up in many different ways with many themes. Ice melting is a wonderful introduction to a simple science concept for young kids! Check out our list of ice activities for preschool.

Try 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!

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 is one of our most popular science experiments. It is also just plain fun and mesmerizing!

What’s magnetic? What’s not magnetic? You can set up a magnet science discovery table for your kids to explore and this fun magnet activity !

MIRRORS AND REFLECTIONS

Mirrors are fascinating and have wonderful play and learning possibilities plus it makes for great science!

BOUNCY 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.

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.

Make a simple pulley that really works, and test out lifting loads.

Learn about the science of rainbows as well as fun rainbow-themed science experiments. Check out our fun selection of simple-to-set-up  r ainbow science experiments . 

RAMPS AND FRICTION

We use cars and balls all the time with our rain gutters! Even flat pieces of wood or stiff cardboard work! 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!

FOUR SEASONS

What’s the reason for the seasons, perfect for kids?

SEED GERMINATION

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 are fun, too.

SHADOW SCIENCE

Explore shadows in several ways! Make shadows with your body (fun outdoor play and learning idea) and animal shadow puppets to check out!

Every kid should build a volcano with a simple chemical reaction, baking soda and vinegar! Build a sandbox volcano or a LEGO volcano ! Learn about fun volcano facts too!

Young kids learn by exploring, observing, and figuring out the way things work with hands-on activities. This volume activity encourages all of the above and is simple to set up.

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 .

WATER XYLOPHONE

Learn a little bit about the science of sound with a simple water xylophone.

WEATHER SCIENCE

Explore 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!

We made both an indoor and outdoor zip line this year. Explore science concepts through play.

How to Teach Science to Preschoolers

Teaching science to preschoolers is a wonderful way to spark their curiosity about the world around them. Making the learning process fun, engaging, and age-appropriate is essential.

Make sure to check out…

• STEM for Toddlers
• STEM for Kindergarten
• STEM for Elementary

Begin by incorporating hands-on activities and experiments that encourage exploration and observation. Use simple and relatable examples from their everyday lives, such as observing plants grow, mixing colors, or exploring the properties of water.

Encourage questions and provide simple explanations that align with their level of understanding. Picture books can also be valuable tools for teaching science concepts. Add fun themes and colors for the holidays and seasons!

Additionally, fostering a sense of wonder and excitement about the natural world will lay a strong foundation for their future scientific learning. Remember that patience, repetition, and a nurturing environment are key to helping preschoolers develop a lifelong love for science.

Helpful Resources

Check out the links below to prepare yourself, your family, or your classroom for these easy preschool science experiments and activities. The key to success is in the preparation!

• Preschool Science Center Ideas
• Sensory Science Activities
• Fine Motor Activities
• Preschool Math Activities
• STEAM Books with Activities for Kids
• Make a homemade science kit that’s inexpensive!

Science Activities By Age Group

• Science for Toddlers
• 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 6th Grade
• Science for Middle School

Printable Preschool Pack

Get ready to explore this year with our growing Preschool STEM Bundle ! Or grab the individual packs.

What’s Included:

There are 12 fun preschool themes to get you started. This is an ” I can explore” series! You’ll find both seasonal and non-seasonal themes appropriate to preschool learning throughout the year.

Each unit contains approximately 15 activities, with instructions and templates  as needed. Hands-on activities are provided to keep it fun and exciting. This includes sensory bins, experiments, games, and more! Easy supplies keep it low-cost, and book suggestions add learning time.

22 Comments

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!

• Pingback: Make Homemade Butter Science Activity an Edible Science Recipe
• Pingback: Halloween Candy Science Activities And Experiments For Fall STEM
• Pingback: Valentines Day Heart Slime Science Activity for Kids
• Pingback: STEM Activities That Will Get Your Kids Thinking – More Than a Mommy
• Pingback: Quick Water Science Activities for Kindergarten and Preschool Science
• Pingback: Magic Milk Classic Science Experiment Kids Science
• Pingback: Science Activities for Grade Schoolers (Part 2): A Guide for Kids

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.

• Pingback: Fizzy Lemonade Science Project for Kids Summer Science
• Pingback: Halloween Science Experiments STEM Activities for Kids
• Pingback: Christmas Science Experiments, STEM Activities, and Slime Recipes
• Pingback: Dissolving Gingerbread Men Cookie Christmas Science
• Pingback: Fake Snow Slime Recipe for Winter Science Activities
• Pingback: Ice Fishing Winter Science Experiment: Fishing for Ice!
• Pingback: Science Valentine Cards In A Test Tube FREE Printable for Kids
• Pingback: Walking Water Science Experiment for Kids STEM and Rainbow Science
• Pingback: Erupting Lemon Volcano Chemistry for Kids Science Activities
• Pingback: Fizzing Moon Rocks Activity | Little Bins for Little Hands
• Pingback: Fun Dinosaur Activities for Preschoolers | Little Bins for Little Hands
• Pingback: 40 Science Websites to Keep Kids Engaged and Entertained at Home – Educare Info

Comments are closed.

Subscribe to receive a free 5-Day STEM Challenge Guide

~ projects to try now ~.

• Skip to main content
• Skip to primary sidebar

This post might contain affiliate links. Click here for more information . Thanks for visiting!

10 Toddler Science Activities that Are Full of Fun

May 4, 2018 by Sheryl Cooper

Last Updated on July 30, 2024 by Sheryl Cooper

Inside: This collection of toddler science activities are perfect for little explorers! Hands-on, fun, and full of learning opportunities!

Toddlers can be very curious about how things work.

In fact, you might hear “why?” a lot.

This is a good time to give them opportunities to investigate, finding answers to those “why” questions.

Simple, hands-on science exploration should be a part of your toddler curriculum . Simple, short ideas that work with their shorter attention spans.

Today I’m going to share  10 easy science activities for toddlers that you can easily add to your home or classroom.

CLICK HERE to find science activities for preschoolers!

Exploring Sunflower Seeds : Strengthen those little fingers while pulling seeds from large sunflowers.

Painting on Ice Blocks : What happens to the paint as the ice starts to melt? Preschoolers love this activity, too!

What’s Magnetic : Fill a bin with large objects and a magnetic wand. Super easy! (Busy Toddler)

Which One is Heavier : This easy science activity only takes a couple of minutes to set up, using a child’s hanger and some paper cups. (Go Science Kids)

Will it Sink or Float : This is a favorite, mostly because it involves playing with water! (Hands On as We Grow)

Magnetic Discovery Bottle : Discovery bottles work well with toddlers because the small pieces are contained in the bottle. Move the wand and watch the pipe cleaner pieces move! (Frugal Fun 4 Boys and Girls)

Exploring Vegetable Seeds : This only takes a minute to set up! In fact, this would keep your toddler busy while you are fixing dinner. (Lemon Lime Adventures)

Magic Milk Science Experiment : Perfect for little ones who have not yet experienced chemical reactions. (Laughing Kids Learn)

Bubble Snake : Toddlers are learning how to blow bubbles, and they will love this easy DIY bubble snake activity! (One Little Project)

Color Surprise Eruptions : Add simple color recognition to this fun science activity. (Learn, Play, Imagine)

More toddler activities:

16+ Playful Toddler Alphabet Activities

30+ Toddler Indoor Activities

30+ Favorite Toddler Songs

Toddler and Preschool Activity Plans

Looking for an entire year’s worth of learning activities? We’ve done the work for you!

I have helped create each of these packets, along with a team of talented educators and homeschoolers.

Easy to follow lesson plans include activity modifications and adaptations to meet the needs of all learners.

Every theme comes with recommended reading lists, songs, material lists, and more.

Click on the graphics below for more details.

Toddlers (18 – 36 months):

Preschool (3 – 5 Years):

FREE CIRCLE TIME PLANNER!

Get your FREE circle time planner as a gift when you subscribe to my free weekly newsletters.

Here is my Privacy Policy

Success! Now check your email to confirm your subscription.

There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again.

About Sheryl Cooper

Sheryl Cooper is the founder of Teaching 2 and 3 Year Olds, a website full of activities for toddlers and preschoolers. She has been teaching this age group for over 25 years and loves to share her passion with teachers, parents, grandparents, and anyone with young children in their lives.

• Skip to primary navigation
• Skip to main content
• Skip to primary sidebar
• Skip to footer

Happy Hooligans

Crafts and Activities for Toddlers and Preschoolers to Tweens

20 Science Activities for Toddlers and Preschoolers

Last updated on April 8, 2020

• Facebook 3.5K
• Pinterest 22.6K

20 Terrific science activities for toddlers and preschoolers. Great for home, daycare, the classroom or even for kids’ parties! Simple enough for toddlers and preschoolers, but fascinating enough for kids of all ages!

I’ve been sharing a lot of simple science experiments for kids on my facebook page lately, and the response from you guys has been terrific!

Wow!  Your children really love science, don’t they?

Well guess what!  I’ve rounded up a whole bunch of my favourite science-based activities for toddlers and preschoolers  and put them right here, all in one place for you!

Pin this post, or bookmark it , and you’ll have it handy any time you need a fun and easy science-based activity to do with your kids!

For your convenience, this post contains affiliate links.

Colour Mixing Experiment for Toddlers and Preschoolers:

Set up a colour laboratory with water, bubbles and an assortment of containers and fine motor instruments.  It’s a great way for kids to explore liquids, colour and colour mixing.

Expanding Ivory Soap Experiment:

Watch a bar of Ivory soap expand to 6 times its size in a minute and a half!

Water Displacement Experiment for Preschoolers:

A few rocks, a jar and a small toy animal are fun for teaching kids about water displacement .

Art and Science with Salt, Glue and Watercolours:

Kids can practice spelling their name or simply create stunning pictures with this salt, glue and watercolour experiment.

Melting Ice Experiments for Preschoolers:

Watch and learn how salt helps to melt ice in the following FANTASTIC activities!  (Bonus:  They’ll all keep your kids busy for a good, long time too)

• Melting Ice with Salt and Watercolours (shown)
• Melting Elsa’s Frozen Hands
• Ice Age Bin

Enormous Homemade Bubbles Recipe:

Turn a Grape into a Raisin:

Watch a the slow process of a grape turning into a raisin .  You’ll require a little patience, but it really is cool!

Puffy Paint with 3 Kitchen Ingredients:

Puffy Painting:  Kids can watch their paintings go from flat to fluffy in a matter of seconds in the microwave.

Create an Ocean in a plastic Jar or Bottle:

Observe how oil and water behave together with an Ocean in a Bottle.   Your finished bottle will have a wonderfully mesmerizing and calming effect too.  Never a bad thing!

Wax Resist Art:

Through this beautiful, artistic process, kids can see how crayon wax and water resist each other.

Colourful Fizzing Baking Soda and Vinegar Science Experiment:

Kids LOVE the fizzing action that comes along with this colourful science activity. All you need is baking soda, vinegar and food colour or liquid watercolour.

Turn Cream into Homemade Butter:

Kids of all ages will get a kick out of making their own butter with nothing more than jar full of cream.

Water Absorption and Colour Blending Experiments for Toddlers and Preschoolers:

Learn about water absorption and colour blending with these simple experiments:

• Coloured Drip Painting
• Paper Towel Dip
• Paper Towel Art  (shown above)
• Coffee Filter Art
• Cotton Pad Art

And lastly,  there’s this classic science experiment.  Dyeing flowers with water and food colouring.  I haven’t a post to go along with this photo of mine, so I’ll send you over to  Twig and Toadstool to see how they recently coloured a bouquet of rainbow daisies .

More fun Science Activities for Toddlers and Preschoolers:

• 3 Chemical Reaction Experiments for Preschoolers
• Sink Or Float Experiment for Toddlers

Check out these cool and creative activities for kids!

• 2-Ingredient Goop and Nature Goop
• 25 Easy Art Techniques for Toddlers and Preschoolers
• 15 Homemade Paint Recipes for Kids
• 25 Water Play Activities

Get the 3-5 Playful Preschool e-Book!

25+ Preschool activities by 25 bloggers, 10 printables, PLUS 50 links to activities not featured in the book.

Click here to download your copy today

Follow the Hooligans on Facebook !

Follow the Hooligans on Facebook

for FREE crafts, 

activities & recipes!

Jackie is a mom, wife, home daycare provider, and the creative spirit behind Happy Hooligans. She specializes in kids’ crafts and activities, easy recipes, and parenting. She began blogging in 2011, and today, Happy Hooligans inspires more than 2 million parents, caregivers and Early Years Professionals all over the globe.

Reader Interactions

July 5, 2014 at 3:14 am

Love these – thank you! I’ve already tried some of them out from previous blog posts of yours!

July 22, 2014 at 8:19 am

Absolutely love the idea of gigantic bubbles for kids. My four year old has a bubble machine and will no doubt love trying this idea on the weekend. I will post a link on my site http://www.excitedkids.com to this page as these are great.

Superhero Mama

July 27, 2014 at 12:10 am

We’ve done some of these already and I can’t wait to add some new ones from your ideas to my bag of tricks. Any new ones I try I’ll be sure to link them on my site http://science4superheroes.wordpress.com !

September 1, 2014 at 4:21 pm

Thanks so much for this-can’t wait to try some of these out with my little girl 🙂

happyhooligans

September 3, 2014 at 6:02 pm

You’re welcome, Lisa! Have fun with them!

October 19, 2014 at 4:02 pm

greta ideas, thanks for posting. Have a very recently turned two year old niece who is advanced for her age so these will attract her attention. It has everything i see language skill, math as well in these

October 28, 2014 at 8:23 am

wonderful blog ! i like so much,bravo

February 24, 2015 at 5:42 pm

Thank you for great ideas! The idea with the soap I want to do on this weekend.

July 24, 2015 at 12:13 pm

November 9, 2015 at 5:19 pm

Way cool! Have you grown a pet TickleMe Plant yet?

November 9, 2015 at 7:56 pm

Not yet, but they look very cool!

Michelle Lee

July 24, 2016 at 8:37 pm

Love, love, love all your ideas!! Thanks for sharing!

June 6, 2017 at 2:31 pm

Great ideas! I can’t wait to try some of these! I really want to do the water displacement and color lab experiments with my son! I know he’ll love it and keep him entertained! Thanks for the ideas!

June 13, 2017 at 11:41 am

I wonder if you already aware currently mindful latest upcoming newest cards4 the Mega Knight, cannon cart, Skeleton barrelSkeletal ststem and Flying machineTraveling I wager those 4 cards are really enjoyable and also amazing tto use. Please update uss with more Clash royale contents.

Marie Schemmel

November 28, 2019 at 7:56 pm

I am really excited to do so many fun and engaging science activities with my kids this year! I would love for you to share your favorite science activities for preschoolers in the comments!

Science Experiments

May 31, 2020 at 12:07 pm

I really loved all the science activities especially this one “TURN A GRAPE INTO A RAISIN”. Thanks for sharing.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Join My Private Support Network!

Our Most Popular Posts

Intensive Therapy for Kids

The Best Therapy Tools for Kids

For Parents , For Therapists , Play Therapy ·

18 Fast and Easy Science Sensory Activities for Preschoolers

Are you seeking some fun and educational science sensory activities for preschoolers, including engaging sensory bins, sensory bottle activities, and sensory play ideas?  Look no further!

These eighteen activities are all quick and easy to set up, and they’re all sure to get young children excited about science. From exploring colors and textures to learning about the weather, these activities are a great way to help your child learn and expand their knowledge.

So why not give them a try?  Who knows, you may even inspire that little scientist in them!

1.  Bubbly Lemonade

Promotes: Enhance Sense of Smell, Fine Motor Skills , Visual and Tactile Stimulation

Activity By: Intensive Therapy for Kids

Items Needed

• Baking soda
• Clear glass
• Cut two lemons in half
• Juice the lemons into a clear glass over a tray
• Add baking soda (1/4 teaspoon)…does it start to bubble like crazy?
• Add water for a “visually stimulating effect” as it pours over the glass onto the tray

For this easy experiment, watch your lemonade concoction bubble in ACTION.

2.  Cloud Dough (or Air Dough)

Promotes: Tactile Sensory Stimulation, Creativity, Fine Motor Skills

Activity By: Intensive Therapy For Kids

• Hair conditioner (unscented for a neutral base, or scented for added sensory experience)
• In a mixing bowl, add 2 cups of cornstarch.
• Gradually mix in 1 cup of hair conditioner.
• Stir the mixture until it reaches a dough-like consistency. You may need to use your hands to knead and combine the ingredients thoroughly.
• If the dough is too crumbly, you can add a little more hair conditioner. If it’s too sticky, add more cornstarch until you achieve the desired texture.

Cloud Dough is a fun sensory experience for little ones as they squish, shape, and explore the unique texture with their hands.

The activity is not only a source of sensory stimulation but also an opportunity for creative play , making it a favorite for 3 to 5 year olds.

This recipe is easy to adjust, so you can add more of either ingredient to get the consistency you prefer. Remember to store the Cloud Dough in an airtight container to keep it fresh for future sensory play!

For a quicker option, you can buy pre-made air dough .

3.  Exploding Milk

Promotes: Color recognition, Fine Motor Skills , Visual Stimulation

Activity By: Blooming Brilliant

• Food coloring
• White vinegar
• Pour milk into a bowl
• Drop various hues of food coloring into the bowl
• Add a squeeze of liquid dish soap to the center of the bowl … do you see what happens?
• Sprinkle some baking soda on top
• Then add white vinegar…NOW watch what happens?!

If you want some messy play, this science experiment is EXPLODES of fun, literally!

The chemical reactions of baking soda and vinegar get the milk moving and grooving.

4.  Flour Sensory Tray

Promotes: Tactile Sensory Stimulation and Creativity

Activity By: Hands On As We Grow

You most likely have these household items on hand!

This activity uses simple ingredients and is perfect for hands-on fun for little fingers.

Simply pour flour onto a tray and let your little one explore the soft powdery texture with their fingers by drawing or making hand prints. It’s a fantastic way to engage a child’s senses.

To kick up the fun, consider adding baking utensils or small toys like cars, animals, or trains for your child to get creative with. Sensory play like this is not only enjoyable but also valuable for your child’s development.

5.  Fluffy Slime

Promotes: Fine Motor Skills , Tactile Sensory Stimulation, Bonding experience

Activity By: Especially Education

Items Needed and Directions

Step 1. mix these ingredients first..

• Shaving cream (3 cups)
• Glue (1/2 cup)
• Food Coloring (5 drops)
• Baking soda (1/2 teaspoon)

Step 2. Then add…

• Contact solution (1 tablespoon)

Step 3. Stir and need the slime with your hands.  Voila, that’s it!

The ULTIMATE tactile sensory activity .  Kids get a kick out of poking, pulling, twisting, and playing with the slime.

This easy-to-make slime recipe will have your kiddo playing in a jiff.

6.  How Water Travels Through Leaves

Promotes: Imaginary exploration, Patience, Visual and Tactile Stimulation

Activity By: Buggy and Buddy

• Red food coloring
• Magnifying glass (optional)
• Free observation sheet (optional)

Get ready to explore how water moves through leaves!

This is a fun preschool science activity to create over a 3-day time period.

Find a leaf outside and slightly snip the end of the stem.  Put the stem into the water with red food coloring.  Let it sit for three days.

Watch as the leaf SLOWLY changes its color.

7.  Lemon Volcano

Promotes: Smell, Visual and Tactile Stimulation, Fine Motor Skills

Activity By: Babble Dabble Do

• Craft stick

This is an amazing smelling science activity to stimulate a child’s senses!

Combine the chemical reaction of baking soda and citric acid to make a lemon volcano.

Simply cut a lemon in half or core it.  Add the baking soda, food coloring, and soap (which creates extra bubbles). Take your stick to poke and combine the ingredients in the lemon.

You’ll notice the bubbly colors begin to ooze like a volcano!

8.  Otis and The Tornado Science Activity

Promotes: Learning, Reading, Fine Motor Skills, Tactile and Visual Stimulation

Activity By: Stir The Wonder

• 2 plastic liter bottles

For the weather fans, this is a combined booked inspired activity and science experiment in one!  Based on the adorable kid’s book, Otis and The Tornado , you get to make an actual TORNADO.

Take two empty bottles (like a plastic liter pop bottle) and add water to one bottle along with a splash of food coloring.  Then take hot glue to seal the empty bottle on top.  After it dries, duct tape both bottles together.  The glue PLUS tape ensures no leaks.

Shake away while you turn the bottle over and watch the water swirl through like a tornado!

9.  Play Dough

Promotes: Fine Motor Skills, Creativity, Tactile Sensory Stimulation

• Homemade or store-bought playdough (various colors)
• Plastic playdough tools (e.g., cutters, molds, rolling pins)
• Small plastic toys (optional)
• Cookie cutters (optional)
• Beads, buttons, or other small decorative items (optional)

Play Dough is a classic sensory activity for little hands.

You can use store-bought or homemade playdough in various colors. Provide plastic playdough tools like cutters, molds, and rolling pins, allowing kids to shape and mold the playdough as they please. For added fun, offer small plastic toys, cookie cutters, or beads and buttons to incorporate into their creations.

This activity is a wonderful way for children to engage their fine motor skills, explore making different shapes and textures, and let their creativity run wild. Whether they’re making sculptures, pretending to cook, or creating a world of their own, playdough offers endless possibilities for sensory play.

10.  Salt Painting

Promotes: Fine Motor Skills, Color recognition

Activity By: A Dab of Glue Will Do

• Bottle of glue
• Watercolor paint
• Plastic cup

This simple art activity turns into a cool science experiment.

Draw a glue design on a piece of paper (like a letter or number) and pour salt over it.  After it dries, take a dropper (that has watercolor paint and water mixed in it) and pour it onto the salt.

Watch the beautiful colors absorb!

It transforms your glue drawing into a colorful piece of art. 🙂

11.  Sensory Bags

Promotes: Tactile Sensory Stimulation, Fine Motor Skills, Visual Stimulation

• Sealable plastic bags
• Various sensory materials (e.g., hair gel, colored water, beads, glitter, small toys)
• Duct tape (optional for sealing the bags)
• Permanent markers (optional for labeling)

Sensory bags are a versatile and mess-free way to promote tactile sensory stimulation and fine motor skills.

Fill sealable plastic bags with various items like colored water, hair gel, beads, glitter, or small toys. Seal the bags securely with duct tape for added safety, especially if young children are participating.

These bags provide a captivating visual stimulation as kids explore the different textures, colors, and shapes within the bags. They can squish, press, and manipulate the contents without any mess, making sensory exploration a breeze.

12.  Sensory Bin

Promotes: Sensory Play, Fine Motor Skills, Cognitive Skills

• Large plastic bin or container
• Sensory materials (e.g., rice, dried beans, sand, water beads)
• Small toys or objects for exploration
• Scoops, containers, and tools for manipulation

A sensory bin is a versatile sensory activity to encourage sensory play, fine motor skills, and cognitive skills.

Start with a large plastic bin or container and fill it with sensory materials like rice, dried beans, sand, or water beads. If you prefer, you can use little bins too.  Add small toys or objects for kids to discover within the bin. Provide scoops, containers, and tools for manipulation.

Sensory bins are a fun sensory activity that offers a range of tactile experiences, from the textures of the materials to the exploration of hidden treasures. Children can engage their creativity and cognitive skills as they play and learn within the sensory bin .

13.  Shaving Cream Rain Clouds

Promotes: Visual and Tactile Stimulation, Fine Motor Skills

Activity By: One Little Project

• 1 can of shaving cream
• Small 1 to 2-ounce size containers
• Eye dropper (you may also use a syringe or small measuring spoon)
• Pour water into a clear cup and top it off with shaving cream.
• In a few small one to two-ounce containers add water.
• Then add different colors of food coloring into each small container (several droplets).
• Last, pour SMALL (super tiny) amounts of food coloring over the shaving cream using a syringe, eye dropper, or small measuring spoon.  Don’t worry, you won’t over-saturate it or melt it too fast!

The sky’s the limit with the color combos you want to create for your kiddos.

Most of these items you can find at the Dollar Store or you may have at home.  

Watch in AWE as the gorgeous colors trickle through the shaving cream.  Preschoolers have so much fun with this one!

14.  Two Color Oil and Water Discovery

Promotes: Visual stimulation, Fine Motor Skills, Hand-Eye Coordination

Activity By: Play Trains!

• 2 plastic bottles
• Water-based food coloring
• Oil-based food coloring
• Long skewer stick

You may even add marbles or small objects to the water to intensify your visual experience!

• Fill one plastic bottle halfway with water (add a couple of drops of water-based food coloring)
• Fill another plastic bottle almost full with cooking oil (take a long skewer stick to gather the oil-based food coloring on it and then swirl it into the oil)
• Dump the oil into the water

What happens when you mix colored oil droplets and water together?  You create something mesmerizing.

Notice the beautiful pigments of oil droplets floating on top of the water.

15.  Vinegar Experiment

Promotes: Scientific Method, Visual and Tactile Stimulation, Cognitive Skills

• Clear containers or cups
• Food coloring (optional)
• Spoon or dropper

The vinegar experiment is a simple and exciting sensory activity for kids of all ages.

Fill clear containers or cups with baking soda and add a few drops of food coloring (if desired). Then, provide kids with vinegar and a spoon or dropper. As they pour the vinegar onto the baking soda, watch as a bubbly and colorful reaction occurs.

This experiment engages their sense of sight and touch while teaching basic scientific concepts. It’s a fun and educational sensory experience not only for young kids, but older kids too.

16.  Water Beads

Promotes: Tactile Sensory Stimulation, Fine Motor Skills, Color Recognition

• Water beads (available in various colors)
• Clear containers or bowls

Water beads are an easy way to promote sensory exploration and early learning of colors.

To create this sensory experience, simply soak water beads in water until they expand and become squishy. Place them in clear containers or bowls, and let kids explore the fascinating textures and vibrant colors of the water beads.

This activity offers a soothing and enjoyable sensory experience as they squish, pick up, and observe the beads. It’s a great way to introduce color recognition in a fun and hands-on manner.

17.  What Melts In The Sun?

Promotes: Tactile Sensory Stimulation, Taste, and Problem-Solving Skills

Activity By : Frugal Fun for Boys and Girls

• Objects of your choice (coin, marble, chocolate, crayons, ice, cheese, pom poms , soap, butter)

Explore items that melt in the sun!

This fun activity is a breeze to whip up on a hot sunny day.

Grab a muffin tin and fill it with different materials or objects that may or may not melt.  Get your kiddo involved in picking out what they want in the tin.

What does the simple experiment reveal? Did it melt or did it not?  That is the burning question!

18.  Whip Up Homemade Butter

Promotes: Fine Motor Skills, Taste, Encourages focus

Activity by: Mommy Poppins

• Jar with a lid
• Heavy whipping cream
• Open the jar
• Pour heavy whipping cream into the jar
• Seal up the jar
• SHAKE, shake, and shake until you have whipped butter!

This recipe is super quick and easy to whip up!  Not to mention, a great way to stimulate your sense of taste.

The smaller the jar the faster it takes to make your butter.  For instance, a baby jar takes about 10 minutes to whip up.

For faster results or to support kids with upper extremity challenges, use a hand mixer for blending the heavy whipping cream in a bowl.

Final Thoughts

So what are you waiting for?

These activities are not only focus on sensory play but also make fun preschool science experiments because they engage a child’s sense of touch, sight, and even taste.

Get started on these science sensory activities today and help your preschooler explore the world around them.

They’re sure to have a blast with all of the fun experiments, and you’ll love watching their little minds grow!

We want to wrap up by extending our gratitude to thank you for stopping by today!

What other science sensory activities for preschoolers do you recommend?

Let us know in the comments below. ♥

Was this information helpful?  If so, you’d make our day by sharing it! And if you don’t want to forget it, pin it !📌😊

Affiliate Disclaimer :   This post contains affiliate links for your convenience.  As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. We only recommend items we truly believe in based upon in-depth research, reviews, and/or personal experience.  Thank you for your ongoing support to keep this website thriving for kids.

The contents of the  Intensive Therapy for Kids  Site, such as text, graphics, images, and other material contained on the Intensive Therapy for Kids Site (“Content”) are for informational purposes only. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

You’ll Also Love

You need to be a part of a contest for one of the best blogs online.

I’m going to recommend this web site!

Thank you. 🙂

Excellent goods from you, man. I have understand your stuff previous to and you’re just too wonderful. I really like what you’ve acquired here, really like what you’re stating and the way in which you say it. You make it entertaining and you still take care of to keep it smart. I cant wait to read much more from you. This is really a terrific web site.

Thanks for stopping by!

Hi there. Thank you for this really lovely post. Such simple ideas with such wonderful results. I loved the one with the shaving foam. Going to try it later 🙂 It’s always so nice to be reminded how we are surrounded by wonderful things. I sometimes forget that and go searching far and expensive. Your post reminded me just that. Thank you for that too.

Thanks for sharing!  So glad to hear the post was helpful to you. 🙂

Very sensational and immersive experience. I can only imagine how great this will be for pre-schoolers aged 3-5. I loved how you expounded on the benefits of doing these activities and what to expect as a result.

This definitely felt like a science experiment.

I would love to see more images though — this would enhance some of the more explosive points. The only direction is up that is.

Wonderful!  I appreciate your feedback. 🙂

This is a really excellent post! There are some really cool and easy activities here that can be completed with stuff in your cupboards right now. My daughter is a childcare worker and is always looking for cool things to do with her kids. I will definitely forward this site to her. She will definitely do these little experiments with her kids. Thanks for sharing, very cool article!

Thanks so much for the kind words! I’m so glad to hear this post was helpful to you and to your daughter. 🙂

9 Signs To Know If Your Child Needs Feeding Therapy

• Occupational Therapy for Kids
• Pediatric Physical Therapy for Kids

Copyright © 2024 Intensive Therapy for Kids · Theme by 17th Avenue

30 Amazing Science Activities for Preschoolers

From science experiments to sensory explorations to STEM and STEAM activities, these science activities for preschoolers are sure to be a hit!

Science Experiments for Preschoolers

If you are looking for simple science experiments and activities to do with preschoolers, then this list is perfect for you.

Your kids are sure to have a blast exploring science!

My kids love science investigations so I am making a point of doing more of them. To get myself started, I decided create a collection of my favorite science activities.

Since I know many of you are also looking for science experiments and activities to do with preschoolers, I decided to share them here for you too.

If you are looking for science activities for preschoolers, this is going to be a HUGE help to you.

Top 30 Science Activities for Preschoolers

Lava Lamp Experiment

This lava lamp experiment is a HUGE hit with kids. It is one of our most popular science activities. I bet your kids will enjoy it too!

Leak-Proof Bag Science Experiment

Want to really WOW your kids? Try out this leak-proof bag science experiment . It’s like a magic trick, but it’s really science!

Make a Rain Cloud in a Jar

Make a rain cloud in a jar and develop fine motor skills too! This science activity allows young children to explore and investigate what happens when it rains.

Oil and Water Science Exploration

This oil and water science exploration is a fun and colorful way to observe how oil and water don’t mix together.

Fun and Colorful Skittles Rainbow Experiment

Grab some Skittles and water and make a Skittles rainbow for a fun and colorful surprise!

Magic Milk Experiment

Kids will be amazed by this Magic Milk Science Experiment !

Clouds and Rain Science Investigation

Explore clouds and rain with a simple science investigation that will totally engage young kids.

Color Changing Flowers Experiment

Dye flowers a variety of colors with this Color Changing Flowers Experiment .

Rust Resistant Magnetic Discovery Bottle

This Rust Resistant Magnetic Discovery Bottle  is a super cool way to explore magnetism.

Explore Colors with fun Chemical Reactions

This science activity encourages kids to explore colors with chemical reactions . It’s also a great way to develop fine motor skills.

Fun Weather Activity

This weather activity  combines a popular book and a classic experiment to introduce kids to tornadoes.

Learn about Animal Habitats

Teach kids about animal habitats while Sorting Animals on a Venn Diagram . It’s really easy to set up and even toddlers can participate.

Walking Water Science Experiment

This awesome Walking Water Science Experiment  will wow kids all of ages!

Learn about Water Density

Make a Rainbow Jar  and introduce young children to density. It’s really neat.

Dancing Raisins are a Blast

The kids will get a kick out of this super cool dancing raisins science experiment !

Water Xylophone Fun

This Water Xylophone Science Experiment  combines music and science. It’s easy enough for your kids to make too.

Dancing Rice Investigation

Amaze your kids with Dancing Rice ! This baking soda and vinegar investigation is very intriguing.

Shaving Cream Clouds

These shaving cream clouds are so gorgeous! I can’t wait to do this one!

Inflate a Balloon with Baking Soda and Vinegar

Did you know that you can inflate a balloon with baking soda and vinegar ? You have to try this one!

Solar System Scavenger Hunt

My kids absolutely love this Solar System Scavenger Hunt ! It’s a fun way to introduce preschoolers to the solar system and planets within it.

More Lava Lamp Fun

Your kids will love this super cool Lava Lamp Science Experiment .

Zones of the Ocean Sensory Bottle

Introduce preschoolers to the Zones of the Ocean  with these engaging sensory bottles!

Make a Pully to learn about Machines

Make a pulley and teach kids about simple machines with this activity that will have kids moving and learning!

Growing Plants Science Activity

This Growing Plants Science Activity  is a fantastic way to teach kids about plants! It even includes a observation sheet that is easy enough for preschoolers to use. (not pictured)

Explore Ramps and Friction

Explore ramps and friction with this super simple science activity for kids!

Ocean in a Bottle

This ocean in a bottle looks amazing! It is a great way to explore oil and water.

Dinosaur Excavation Activity

Did you know you can make your own dinosaur excavation activity and only use two simple ingredients that you probably have in your house? It’s really cool!

Static Electricity Butterfly Experiment

This static electricity butterfly experiment is so neat. It’s very easy to make and you’ll be surprised by how long this will occupy your kids.

Fun Preschool Science Activities

Baking Soda and Vinegar Reactions

My kids absolutely love baking soda and vinegar reactions ! This post will tell you how to get really amazing reactions.

Explore what Melts

Explore what melts in the sun with this fun science experiment. It’s perfect for a warm, sunny day.

Water Cycle in a Bag

Teach kids about the water cycle with this Water Cycle in a Bag ! It’s perfect for young children.

Lego Volcano

Kids will have a blast building a LEGO Volcano and watching it erupt.

Oobleck Recipe

This oobleck recipe is a fun and easy science activity for kids! You just need 2 ingredients and your kids will be ready for lots of fun sensory play!

Keep Paper Dry under Water

Our kids loved this simple keep paper dry under water science experiment. They were amazed when the paper didn’t even get wet!

Grow a Rainbow Science Experiment

This Grow a Rainbow science experiment was a blast! It is a simple way for young kids to learn about capillary action!

Catapult STEM Activity

This catapult activity is a fun and easy STEM activity that your kids will love!

Fireworks in a Jar

Your kids will love seeing the Fireworks in a Jar reactions in this easy experiment!

Floating Dry Erase Marker

This  floating dry erase marker  science activity is easy and fun! You just need dry erase markers and water!

Dancing Corn Science Activity

This dancing corn science activity  is quick to setup and you just need a few ingredients you can find around your house.

10 quick and Easy science experiments for toddlers that are totally awesome {2 years old and Up}

It is science week here at Tot School, and to celebrate, we had a week full of daily science experiments for toddlers.

If you are looking for easy science experiments for toddlers to learn and enjoy, these are our top favorites so far!

All of these science experiments for toddlers are age-appropriate, fun, and have been tested and approved by my own toddler 2-year-old toddler as well as my sensory students.

The Best science experiments for toddlers

#1 volcanic eruptions.

Also called witches brew. This science experiment for toddlers come in as number 1 in our list because it is so easy to make, it is so much fun to do, and the kids can do it themselves.

To do this experiment, all you need is some baking soda and vinegar. The mixture between the two created a magic explosion that is safe for the little ones and a lot of fun.

Use food coloring to change the color of the bubbles. Add water to the vinegar to dilute and expand the use of it, the kids love to pour and see the bubbles repeatedly, so this will extend the activity for extra playtime.

Learn how to set up this witches brew experiment with step by step instructions

#2 fizzy cubes.

To make fizzy cubes freeze a mixture of baking soda and water. Activate with the vinegar the same way mentioned above.

To change the activity and work fine motor skills , this activity was set up using a dropper to suck the vinegar and squeeze it into the fizzy cube.

My toddler tried it a few times but wanted a faster way to dissolve the cubes. He enjoyed grabbing each of the fizzy cubes and dropping them into the vinegar cup.

Making Oobleck is one of my favorite activities, but it can get very messy! When you grab this substance, it is solid, but it melts and becomes liquid when you let go of the pressure.

To do this science experiment all you need is two parts cornstarch and 1 part water.

Watch our quick video or get the step by step instructions and learn how to make oobleck

View this post on Instagram Make the coolest science experiment for toddlers and am kids of all ages. All you need is water, cornstarch and food coloring. (Be careful as some food coloring can temporarily stain the hand) 1 cup of water to about 2 cups of corns starch A post shared by Alexa | Kid Activities (@kidactivitieswithalexa) on Jul 15, 2020 at 6:38pm PDT

#4 Sink or Float

Understanding weight is one of the first science experiments that you can do at home. All you need is a bowl of water and a few water-safe objects.

Start by identifying what happens when each objects touches the water. Repetition here is key!

Once tout toddler grasps the new vocabulary words and correctly identifies what is happening then try to ask before the item gets dropped to guess what he thinks is going to happen.

You can repeat this experiment during bath time, at the pool or anywhere you have access to water.

Have you played the sink or float game? Well, actually is a science experiment and one of our favorite activities. I usually let Manu set up the whole thing form the beginning. I give him a pitcher of water and an empty bowl for him to pour h the e water into. Then we walk around and find different things to test out. Will it float? Will it sink? I let him pick what he wants to throw (as long as it can get wet and has no batteries) and this freedom lets him explore and learn. Who knew a bowl of water could be so fun! #2yearoldactivities #toddleractivitiesathome Posted by Kid Activities with Alexa on Monday, September 28, 2020

Learn how to set up the sink of float experiment with step by step instructions

#5 hot and cold.

Learn about temperature using sensory bottles. We filled out one bottle of water with cold water and added a few ice cubes and filled out a second one using hot water. We dyed the cold water blue and the hot water yellow to help associate the concepts.

We also paired this opposite lesson with a YouTube video which we learned the lyrics and acted out the finger-play actions throughout the week.

#6 mixing Colors

Once a toddler is familiar with the colors, can identify and name them correctly it is time to add colors into science experiments. Working with primary colors we have started to create a few experiments to make new colors. This week was all about yellow and blue makes green. We did it with some water, food coloring and soap as well as with paint.

What Primary colors make new colors?

• Red and Yellow makes Orange
• Yellow and blue makes Green
• Blue and Red makes Purple/Voilet

Discovering air is one of the very first science concepts that can be taught, Do this experiment if your child knows how to blow out already. Add a squirt of dish soap into a bowl and some water. Provide a straw and show your toddler how to blow to create bubbles.

Look at the colors the bubbles reflect, can you hold it? does it pop? can you blow on them? what happens?

As a variation of this experiment, you can add watercolor paint to the solution and allow the colored bubbles to pop into a paper to create a work of art.

#8 DIY Lava Lamp

This experiment was one of Manu’s favorite. To create your own DIY lava lamp you will need vegetable oil, water, food coloring and effervescent tablets.

For our first try we filled out 1/2 of the glass cup with water and added food coloring (too much!) and the other half with vegetable oil. I crushed the effervescent tablet in many pieces as I knew my toddler would enjoy dropping them tablets into the glass.

Once the tablet hits the water, it starts to dissolve and create bubbles who travel upwards on the glass, passing through the oil and popping into the surface. Because the water doesn’t mix with the oil, you can visually see how these bubbles travel towards the surface and once they pop how the water travel back down.

For our second try, we did only 1/4 of water and used a lot less food coloring and added a lot more vegetable oil to the glass. The lava lamp looked a lot better as the colored water bubbles had more room to travel.

Cutting up the tablets in different pieces was a great ideas. Manu loved creating the bubbles and enjoyed repeating it over and over.

Slime is a great tool to work on fine motor skills, it is also a cool chemistry experiment. Similar to oobleck, slime changes is composition when played with. It is solid but stretches or breaks. For toddlers, of course, they won’t really understand the science concept behind it but they will enjoy playing with the material and making their own little experiments as they learn and understand how slime behaves. Is not like playdough, it is not like oobleck, it is its own unique material.

I like to use fluffy slime , like the rainbow slime or the white fluffy slime with toddlers. Fluffy slime is less stretchy that other types so it is easier to handle by toddlers.

Learn how to make rainbow slime

Learn how to make white fluffy slime.

#10 Exploring light

Learning about light and dark, shadows and reflections are all science activities you can start exploring early on.

Make shadows using cutout woods or use your hands and a flashlight, use the sun to explore the light and it’s reflection. We have done colored bottles to explore the colors reflect on the floor, made apple shaped suncatchers and made a glow in the dark sensory bottle.

Last Thoughts

Science can be a lot of fun and as you can see, you can start even when they are toddlers. Allowing your toddler time and exposure to different materials and experiments helps them understand the world they live in, gives them the confident to experiment and explore and gain a ton of new information when doing so. Don’t forget to always supervise any experiment or invitation to play.

Get tons of creative ideas to do with your toddler at home! Become a PLAY MEMBER by signing up for the newsletter.

Play members get seasonal activity ideas right in their inbox, a special invitation to our Mommy & Me Virtual Circle time, and access to our free library with educational printables and activities to develop your child through sensory play and reach their developmental milestones while getting a head start when entering Pre-K.

like kt? Love it? Share it!

Share With Friends!

1 thought on “10 quick and easy science experiments for toddlers that are totally awesome {2 years old and up}”.

• Pingback: 12+ Of the best halloween activities for toddlers {2 year olds and up} - Kid Activities with Alexa

Comments are closed.

Let's Connect on Social

Terms and Conditions - Privacy Policy

45 Easy Science Experiments for Kids

Hello, STEM! These simple DIY activities can be done at home or in school.

We've been independently researching and testing products for over 120 years. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more about our review process.

Imagine blowing the biggest bubbles imaginable — or even making bubbles within bubbles. Or sending vessels — rockets, tea bags, airplanes — soaring through the sky for impossible distances. Now imagine making things explode, or change colors, or reveal hidden messages with just a few simple mixtures.

None of this is magic. It's all science that you can do at home, most likely with ingredients you already have in your house. So, next time you need a boredom-busting indoor activity on a rainy day or a DIY project to get their minds humming, try one of these best at-home science experiments for kids , which cover topics like cover magnetism, surface tension, astronomy, chemistry, physics and more.

First off, it's good to start them off with the scientific method. Give them a journal to record their observations, questions, hypotheses, experiments, results and conclusions. As always, safety counts: wear goggles and coats or aprons if need be (sometimes kids get a kick out of how scientific the protective gear makes them look), and always make sure that the kids are supervised when doing them. (Warning: Some of these are messy!)

These experiments are mostly designed for preschoolers through elementary schoolers — with a couple that are either demonstrations or better for older kids — but if you have a younger one, you can check out these 1-year-old learning activities , toddler learning activities and preschool/kindergarten learning activities , some of which also cover STEM subjects.

Floating Fish

Here's another one that deals with solubility and density.

• Draw the outline of a fish on the bottom of a glass plate or tray in dry-erase marker. Retrace your drawing to make sure all the lines are connected. Let dry for a minute or two.
• Fill the measuring cup with tap water. Place the pour spout just inside the corner of the dish and add water very slowly until it just covers the bottom. Be careful not to pour water directly onto your drawing or make splashes near it. The water will move toward your drawing, eventually surrounding it. Observe what happens. If the water splashes or it doesn’t work on your first try, empty the dish, erase the drawing with a paper towel, dry off the dish, and try again.
• Tilt the dish slightly from side to side. What happens? Jot it down.

The ink in dry erase markers is engineered to be slippery. It’s made with a chemical that causes it to easily release from surfaces. (Permanent markers are made with a chemical that makes the ink stick to surfaces, so be sure not to use these in your experiment!)

The easy-release ink lets go from a surface, but why does it float? There are two reasons. First, dry erase ink isn’t soluble, which means it won’t dissolve in water. Second, dry erase ink is less dense than the water, so it becomes buoyant, meaning it can float. When you tilt the dish, the fish moves around on the water’s surface.

From Good Housekeeping Amazing Science: 83 Hands-on S.T.E.A.M Experiments for Curious Kids! See more in the book »

Brush, Brush!

This one will really get them into brushing their teeth once they scientifically prove all the good things that toothpaste can do.

• Write on sticky notes: Soda 1, Soda 2, Juice 1, and Juice 2. Place them in a row on a counter.
• Fill two glasses halfway with brown soda and place behind the Soda 1 and Soda 2 sticky notes. Fill two glasses halfway with lemon juice and place behind the Juice 1 and Juice 2 sticky notes.
• Carefully place one egg in the bowl. Squeeze a big dollop — about one tablespoon — of toothpaste on top of the egg and gently rub the toothpaste all around with your hands until the egg is completely covered in a thick layer of toothpaste. Repeat with a second egg.
• Gently submerge the toothpaste-covered eggs into the liquids: one egg in the glass labeled Soda 1 and the other egg in the glass labeled Juice 1. Wash and dry your hands.
• Gently submerge the remaining eggs, without toothpaste on them, in the remaining glasses: one in the glass labeled Soda 2 and the other in the glass of juice labeled Juice 2. Wash and dry your hands. Leave the eggs in the glasses for 12 hours.
• After 12 hours, remove the eggs from the glasses of soda one at a time. Rinse them in cool water and pat them dry with the towel. Place each egg by the sticky note of the glass it was in. Are the eggs the same or different colors?
• Remove the eggs from the glasses of juice one at a time. Rinse them under the faucet and pat them dry. Place each egg by the sticky note of the glass it was in. Feel the eggs gently. Does one feel stronger or weaker than the other?
• Write down your observations in your science notebook.

The eggshells in this experiment represent the enamel (outer coating) on your teeth. Toothpaste cleans your teeth and prevents stains: it removes food and drink particles that are stuck on your teeth. Teeth can be stained easily by dark-colored liquids like cola, coffee or tea. The egg without toothpaste will be brown and discolored. The egg covered in toothpaste was protected from turning brown.

Toothpaste also protects your pearly whites from decay (breaking down). The egg without toothpaste left in the lemon juice was worn down and soft to the touch, while the egg that was protected with toothpaste is stronger. The lemon juice is acidic, and those acids broke down the shell just as acidic drinks can wear away your tooth enamel. When a tooth is worn down, a cavity can form more easily. But the fluoride in toothpaste mixes with your saliva to create a protective coating around your tooth enamel. It helps keep your teeth strong and cavity-free.

Grow an Avocado Tree

For an easy lesson in Earth Science, your family can grow an avocado tree from a pit. You can buy an AvoSeedo kit , or just peel the seed and suspend it over water with toothpicks.

Get the tutorial »

Milk Bottle Xylophone

No for an experiment in sound!

• Arrange six glass jars or bottles, all the same size with no lids, in a line. What will each jar sound like when you tap it with a spoon? Make a prediction, then tap each jar. Record your observations.
• Next, put water in each of the jars. Pour 1⁄4 cup (60 ml) of water into the first jar. Add 1⁄2 cup (120 ml) of water to the second jar. Continue in 1⁄4-cup increments, adding 3⁄4 cup (180 ml) of water to the third jar, 1 cup (240 ml) of water to the fourth jar, 11⁄4 cups (300 ml) of water to the fifth jar, and 11⁄2 cups (360 ml) to the sixth jar. Add a couple of drops of food coloring to each jar.
• What will each jar sound like? Will they sound the same or different than when the container was empty? Will they sound the same or different from one another? Record your predictions.
• Tap each jar with a metal spoon. Write down your observations about each jar’s pitch (how high or low a sound is) in your notebook.

Sound waves are created by vibrations, which are back-and-forth movements that are repeated again and again. Pitch depends on the frequency of the waves — how many are created each second. A high pitch is created by high-frequency sound waves, and can sound squeaky. A low pitch is created by low-frequency sound waves, and sounds deep and booming.

When you tapped the jar, it vibrated. The vibrations traveled from the jar to the water to the air and eventually to your ears. The jars with more water had a low pitch. The sound waves vibrated more slowly because they had more water to travel through. The jars with less water had higher pitches. The sound waves vibrated faster because they had less water to travel through. A jar with no water in it makes the highest pitch because it has the least substance to travel through.

"Elephant Toothpaste"

Okay, elephants don't really brush with this stuff, which is made from a chemical reaction between hydrogen peroxide, yeast, dish soap and a few other simple ingredients. But this experiment has a big "wow" factor since, when the substances are mixed, the "toothpaste" foams out of the bottle. You can use it to teach kids about catalysts and exothermic reactions.

Get the tutorial at Babble Dabble Do »

DIY Compass

Explore the way magnetism works, and how it affects everyday objects, by magnetizing a needle and making a DIY compass. You can even spin the compass in the water, and it'll end up pointing the right way again.

Get the tutorial at STEAM Powered Family »

Craft Stick Chain Reaction

Kids can learn about the differences between potential and kinetic energy with this chain reaction. It makes a big impact: Once the tension is released, the pom poms go flying through the air!

Get the the tutorial at Science Sparks »

Color-Changing Invisible Ink

Kids will feel like super-spies when they use this heatless method to reveal pictures or colors written with "invisible ink." You can try different acid/base combinations to see which one makes the most dramatic result.

Get the tutorial at Research Parent »

Paper Bridge

Get the engineering back into STEM with this activity, which challenges kids to create a paper bridge that's strong enough to hold as many pennies as possible. How can they manipulate the paper to make it sturdier? (Hint: Fold it!)

See the paper bridge tutorial at KidsActivities.com »

Challenge your little scientist to lift up an ice cube with just a piece of string. It's possible ... with a little salt to help. Salt melts the ice and lowers the freezing point of the ice cube, which absorbs the heat from the water around it, making the water cold enough to re-freeze around the string.

Get the tutorial at Playdough to Plato »

Marshmallow Catapult

Another lesson in potential and kinetic energy, kids will love sending mini marshmallows flying in the name of science. Change some of the variables and see how that affects the marshmallow's trajectory.

Get the tutorial at Hello, Wonderful »

Leaf Breathing

It's hard for kids to picture how plants and trees "breathe" through their leaves — until they see the bubbles appear on a leaf that's submerged in water. You can also teach them about photosynthesis by putting different leaves in different spots with varying levels of sunlight.

Get the tutorial at KC EDventures »

Hoop-and-Straw Airplane

We all remember how to fold those classic, triangular paper airplanes, but these hoop-and-straw airplanes fly way better (and straighter). Experiment by changing the length of the straw and the size of the hoops and see how it affects the flight.

Get the tutorial at Mombrite »

Film Canister Rocket

Blast off! You don't need jet fuel to make these rockets go, just Alka-Seltzer tablets and baking soda, but they'll be amazed when they achieve lift-off! (Note: If you can't find old film canisters, tubes of Airborne work, too.)

Get the tutorial at Raising Lifelong Learners »

Coin Inertia

Stack up about five or so coins on a piece of cardboard and place it over a glass of water. Then, flick the cardboard out from on top of the glass. Do the coins drop into the water, or ride with the cardboard? Due to inertia, they drop into the water — a very visual (and fun!) demonstration of Newton's First Law of Motion.

Get the tutorial at Engineering Emily »

Apple Oxidation

What works best for keeping an apple from turning brown? Test to find out! Slice up an apple, and let each slice soak in a different liquid. Then take them out, lay them on a tray, and check the brownness after three minutes, six minutes and so on. Not only does this test the properties of different liquids, it also helps students practice the scientific method if they create hypotheses about which liquids would be most effective.

Get the tutorial at Jennifer Findley »

RELATED: 50 Fun Activities for Kids Will Keep Them Entertained for Hours

Coffee Ground Fossils

By making a salt dough with coffee grounds and pressing various shapes into it (toy dinosaur feet, seashells), kids can get a better understanding of how fossils are made. If you poke a hole in the top before it dries, the kids can hang their "fossils" up in their rooms.

Get the tutorial at Crafts by Amanda »

Chromatography Flowers

Chromatography is the process of separating a solution into different parts — like the pigments in the ink used in markers. If you draw stripes around a coffee filter, then fold it up and dip the tip in water, the water will travel up the filter and separate the marker ink into its different pigments (in cool patterns that you can display as a craft project). This family made the end-result even brighter by adding an LED circuit to the center.

Get the tutorial at Steam Powered Family »

Water Walking

You'll need six containers of water for this one: three with clear water, one with red food coloring, one with blue coloring, and one with yellow coloring. Arrange them in a circle, alternating colored and clear containers, and make bridges between the containers with folded paper towels. Your kids will be amazed to see the colored water "walk" over the bridges and into the clear containers, mixing colors, and giving them a first-hand look at the magic of capillarity.

Get the tutorial at Fun Learning for Kids »

Sunscreen Test

This experiment puts the A (art) in STEAM: Paint different designs on construction paper with different sunscreens, leave the papers out in the sun and compare the results. Then, hang your "conclusions" on your fridge.

Get the tutorial at Tonya Staab »

Marisa (she/her) has covered all things parenting, from the postpartum period through the empty nest, for Good Housekeeping since 2018; she previously wrote about parents and families at Parents and Working Mother . She lives with her husband and daughter in Brooklyn, where she can be found dominating the audio round at her local bar trivia night or tweeting about movies.

Parenting Tips & Advice

Why Non-Nuclear Families Are on the Rise

100 Best Disney Baby Names

140 Chic French Baby Names

The 50 Best Animated Films to Watch With Your Kids

220 Top Gender-Neutral Baby Names

Here's What NOT to Do When Kids Go to College

The Case for the One-on-One Family Vacation

10 Things Adults Should Never Say to Kids

Tips for Getting the Kids to School on Time

Back-to-School Supply Shopping Lists

Why I Love Pilot Pens

100 Funny and Thoughtful New Baby Messages

• Science Activities For Kids

15 Fun Science Experiments for Preschoolers That Will Blow Their Minds

• FirstHeading

Why I Love Fun Science Experiments For Preschoolers

How i chose these fun science experiments for preschoolers, 15 of my favorite fun science experiments for preschoolers, 1. design your own planet, 2. build a bridge, 3. national geographic stunning chemistry set, 4. gravity experiment with a tube, 5. dissolving peeps, 6. diy lava lamp, 7. einstein box science experiment kit, 8. frozen flowers, 9. salt painting, 10. water refraction experiment, 11. snaen science kit, 12. electric eels, 13. straw rockets, 14. fireworks in a jar, 15. leak-proof science experiment, submit a comment cancel reply.

Every evening, my little one’s eyes light up with curiosity as he watches the world whirl around him.

One evening, as we were stargazing, I saw a budding scientist in my son. I wanted to nurture that spark, ensuring that science became a thrilling adventure for him, not just another dreary subject.

Realizing that fun was the key to his engagement, I scoured for the most delightful science activities for preschoolers .

Through these experiments, I’ve found the perfect blend of fun and learning to foster his innate passion. Dive in with us and ignite the scientific flames in your little one!

In the world of preschoolers, everything is a wonder waiting to be explored. Fun science experiments aren’t just playful activities, but stepping stones to a lifelong passion for learning.

When parents engage with their children in these delightful experiments, they’re laying the foundation for critical thinking, observation, and an inquisitive spirit.

By supporting fun science explorations, parents are telling their little ones: “I value your curiosity, and together, we’ll discover the wonders of the world.”

In my quest to find the ultimate fun science experiments for my little scientist, I delved deep into top activity sites.

My criteria were clear

• Activities should captivate for at least 20 minutes
• Brim with fun
• Inspire those little feet to dance with excitement!

But the real litmus test? Watching my son’s reactions.

Only those activities that got his seal of approval – a giggle, a curious glance, or an eager “Again, Mom!” – made the cut.

Join me as I share these handpicked gems, tried and tested to ensure maximum fun and learning for your preschooler!

Dive into the world of discovery with my top 15 handpicked fun science experiments, designed to captivate, educate, and energize your curious preschooler. Let’s spark some scientific wonder together!

Ignite your child’s imagination and scientific curiosity with the “Design Your Own Planet” activity.

This playful yet educational journey lets preschoolers create a world of their own while understanding basic planetary concepts, which makes it a great nature science project for preschoolers to learn how the Earth and solar system work.

With simple materials and an ocean of creativity, your little one can craft, learn, and dream big about the vast universe.

• Materials Needed : Craft supplies (colored paper, markers, glitter) and a large round balloon.
• Duration : About 45 minutes to 1 hour.
• Ideal Age : 4-6 years old.
• Science Discipline : Astronomy.
• Science Skills Focus : This activity cultivates an understanding of planetary characteristics, fostering observational skills and imaginative thinking.

Unveil the little architect in your preschooler with the ‘Build a Bridge’ experiment!

This easy science experiment for pre-k encourages creativity and introduces them to the magic of engineering. They’ll construct, adapt, and perhaps even marvel at their own handiwork. It’s a beautiful blend of art, science, and imaginative play that will keep their tiny fingers and growing minds busy.

• Materials Needed : Craft sticks, playdough, small toys (like cars or animals).
• Duration : 20-30 minutes.
• Ideal Age : 3-5 years old.
• Science Discipline : Engineering and Physics.
• Science Skills Focus : This activity sharpens problem-solving skills, promotes understanding of structural integrity, and introduces weight distribution concepts.

The NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC Stunning Chemistry Set is a treasure trove for little budding scientists. With engaging experiments and safe, top-quality materials, this kit promises hours of educational fun.

Crafted meticulously by the experts at NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC, it ensures your child delves into the magical world of chemistry, all while fostering a deeper understanding of the world around them.

• Materials Included : Comprehensive set of chemicals, tools, and experiment guides.
• Activity Duration : Varied, with many experiments lasting 20-30 minutes.
• Ideal Age : Suitable for kids aged 8 and above.
• Science Discipline : Chemistry.
• Science Skills Focus : Encourages analytical thinking, observation, and hypothesis testing, developing a robust foundation for future scientific endeavors.

There’s a magical allure in watching things travel, tumble, and turn. Our gravity experiment with a tube offers preschoolers an enchanting way to understand this invisible force.

Using just a simple tube, children will be mesmerized as they discover the power and predictability of gravity, observing objects as they journey downward. This hands-on activity doesn’t just teach; it mesmerizes, making science feel like play.

• Materials Needed : A long tube (like a wrapping paper tube) and small objects to drop.
• Duration : About 15-20 minutes.
• Science Discipline : Physics (Gravity).
• Science Skills Focus : Fosters observation skills, prediction abilities, and understanding of cause and effect through hands-on exploration.

Easter treats and science unite in this delightful experiment with Dissolving Peeps! Watch as these sugary delights transform before your preschooler’s very eyes. It’s a magical blend of observation and wonder, all wrapped up in a simple and engaging activity.

Who knew that those little marshmallow birds could serve as more than just a tasty treat? As they dissolve and change, your child will be brimming with questions, making this a perfect springtime exploration.

• Materials Needed: Peeps (marshmallow chicks), jars, and various liquids (water, vinegar, etc.)
• Duration : About 20-30 minutes
• Ideal Age : 3-5 years
• Science Discipline : Chemistry
• Science Skills Focus : This activity sharpens observation skills, nurtures curiosity, and introduces the concept of solubility in a fun and relatable manner.

Who knew science could be so mesmerizing? Introduce your preschooler to the magical world of density and reactions with our DIY Lava Lamp experiment, which has become one of my son’s favorite preschool water experiments .

This hands-on activity combines simple household ingredients to create a symphony of bubbling beauty. Not only does it captivate young minds, but it also lays the foundation for understanding liquid interactions.

• Materials Needed : Water, vegetable oil, food coloring, and effervescent tablets.
• Duration : About 20-30 minutes.
• Ideal Age : 3-6 years.
• Science Skills Focus : Observing reactions, understanding liquid density, and predicting outcomes in a captivating, hands-on manner.

Ignite your little one’s scientific curiosity with the Einstein Box Science Experiment Kit. Thoughtfully curated to cater to inquisitive preschoolers, this kit seamlessly merges fun with foundational learning.

Each activity is an invitation to wonder, experiment, and learn, all while having a blast! Every parent looking to kindle a love for science in their child will find this kit an indispensable treasure.

• Materials Included : Comprehensive set including beakers, color tablets, pipettes, and more.
• Activity Duration : Approximately 15-30 minutes per experiment.
• Ideal Age : Tailored for children aged 4 to 6 years.
• Science Discipline : Touches on basic chemistry and physics principles.
• Science Skills : Encourages observation, hypothesis formulation, experimentation, and deduction, fostering a solid foundational scientific understanding.

Dive into a chilly sensory adventure with the Frozen Flower Activity! Allow your little ones to marvel at nature’s beauty, encased in icy wonder as a great pre-k winter science experiment .

This experiment uniquely marries art and science, allowing preschoolers to explore, learn, and develop an appreciation for nature while understanding the basic properties of water and ice.

Not only is it visually delightful, but it also serves as a tactile treat, making science both tangible and mesmerizing.

• Materials Needed : Fresh flowers, water, freezer-safe containers, and colored water (optional).
• Duration : 12-14 hours (including freezing time).
• Science Discipline : Physics and Natural Science.
• Science Skills Focus : This activity sharpens observation skills, understanding phase changes, and fostering an appreciation for nature’s wonders.

Every brush stroke brings a world of wonder with the enchanting Salt Painting Activity. Perfect for those springtime afternoons, watch as your preschooler’s imagination dances with the mesmerizing interplay of salt, water, and colors. A delightful blend of artistry and scientific exploration, this activity encourages tiny hands to observe, predict, and revel in the sheer magic of crystallization!

• Materials Needed : White glue, table salt, watercolor paints, and thick paper.
• Duration : About 30 minutes.
• Science Skills Focus : Encourages observation and understanding of absorption and crystallization in a visually engaging manner.

Introduce your little one to the mesmerizing world of light with the Water Refraction Experiment! Using just a glass of water and some printed letters, watch as letters magically reverse before your eyes.

Not only is it a visual treat, but it opens a delightful conversation about how light bends and interacts with different mediums. It’s the perfect blend of wonder and discovery, making science come alive in the simplest of ways.

• Materials Needed : Glass of water, printed letters or images.
• Duration : Approximately 10 minutes.
• Science Discipline : Physics (Optics).
• Science Skills Focus : Cultivates observation and critical thinking skills, while introducing kids to the fundamentals of how light behaves and refracts.

The SNAEN Science Kit is a treasure trove for budding scientists, beautifully combining hands-on learning with sheer fun.

Designed with preschoolers in mind, this kit makes complex scientific concepts accessible and thrilling for young minds.

Each activity encourages exploration, fostering a deep love for science and igniting an insatiable curiosity.

• Materials Included : Vibrant colored crystals, magnifying tools, and more!
• Activity Duration : Roughly 20-30 minutes per experiment.
• Ideal Age Range : Best suited for children aged 4-6.
• Science Discipline : Primarily focuses on chemistry and earth science.
• Science Skills : Enhances observation, prediction, and hands-on exploration, empowering kids to grasp foundational science principles actively.

Engage your little one’s senses with Electric Eels! This charming experiment is an immersive journey into the magical world of color and energy.

Watch as simple ingredients come together to create mesmerizing eel-like patterns, teaching your preschooler about reactions while promising a burst of fun.

• Materials Needed : Food coloring, oil, water, and a clear glass.
• Duration : Around 15-20 minutes.
• Ideal Age : Preschoolers aged 3-5.
• Science Skills Focus : This experiment nurtures observation skills, introduces the concept of liquid densities, and fosters an understanding of color mixing.

Propel your child’s curiosity to new heights with the Straw Rockets activity. In this hands-on experiment, little learners will marvel at the wonders of aerodynamics and force.

By crafting their own rockets and watching them zoom through the air with a simple blow, they’ll not only gain foundational scientific understanding but also revel in the sheer joy of creation and discovery.

Cooler weather is a great time to do this fall science experiment for preschoolers , because the temperature will be lower and your little one will love running around!

Prepare for a session of giggles, astonishments, and a whole lot of “Let’s do it again, Mom!”

• Materials Needed : Colorful paper, straws, tape, and scissors.
• Duration : Approximately 20 minutes.
• Ideal Age : 3-6 years old.
• Science Discipline : Physics.
• Science Skills Focus : Introduces kids to the basic concepts of force, aerodynamics, and cause-and-effect through hands-on exploration and playful learning.

Introduce your preschooler to a dazzling display reminiscent of the Fourth of July right within the confines of your home!

The “Fireworks in a Jar” activity creates an enchanting show of colors that whirl and twirl, captivating little eyes and minds. While it feels like pure magic, it’s also a fantastic gateway to introduce basic scientific concepts in a vibrant, hands-on way.

• Materials Needed : Clear jar, warm water, food coloring, and vegetable oil.
• Duration : About 10 minutes.
• Ideal Age : 3-5 years.
• Science Skills Focus : This activity fosters observation, prediction, and understanding of liquid density in a visually engaging manner.

Dive into this mesmerizing science experiment that combines the charm of everyday materials with the magic of polymer science. It’s simple, engaging, and offers a hands-on way for your little ones to understand the wonders of the molecules around them. With just a zip-lock bag, some water, and pencils, you can turn your kitchen into a mini science lab!

• Materials Needed : Zip-lock bag, sharp pencils, water.
• Duration : About 10-15 minutes.
• Ideal Age : Preschoolers (3-5 years old).
• Science Discipline : Polymer science.
• Science Skills Focus : This activity emphasizes observation, prediction, and understanding the behavior of polymers in a hands-on and engaging way.

Nurturing a child’s curiosity is a beautiful journey. By diving into these fun science experiments, we’re not just playing, but lighting the path of discovery. Be sure to check out my entire list of great STEAM science activities for kids with my easy-to-use filtered system to help you find the perfect activities!

Let’s cherish these moments, watching our little scientists blossom with wonder and knowledge.

Happy experimenting to all the inquisitive minds out there!

Hi there, I’m Ayasha

I’m a mom of an energetic son and the creator of Wonder Noggin. I write about educational parenting tips, simple parenting ideas, and many activities to help parents nurture young minds.

Blogs You May Like!

From Bridges to Bots: Top Engineering Shows for Kids

by Ayasha Giarratana | Jun 24, 2024

Curious about sparking your child's interest in engineering?...

8 Math Shows For Kids That Your Little Ones Will Love!

by Ayasha Giarratana | Jun 21, 2024

As a mom, I’m always on the lookout for ways to teach my little...

My 12 Favorite Math Books For Kids (My Son Loves #4)

by Ayasha Giarratana | Apr 24, 2024

Ready to turn math time into fun time? My son had a hard time...

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Submit Comment

25 Easy Stem Activities for 3 5 Year Olds

Introducing STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) activities to young children can be a fun and educational way to foster their curiosity and develop essential skills.

Engaging kids between the ages of 3 and 5 in hands-on STEM activities can help them explore the world around them, build problem-solving abilities, and encourage critical thinking.

To get you started, here are easy STEM activities for 3 5 Year Olds specifically designed for preschoolers, featuring simple materials and age-appropriate concepts.

These activities will not only provide hours of entertainment but also lay the foundation for a lifelong love of learning in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

Let’s dive in and watch your little ones’ imaginations soar as they embark on these exciting STEM adventures!

Sink or Float Experiment:

Introduce the concept of buoyancy to young children with a simple sink or float experiment. Fill a basin with water and gather a variety of objects such as a toy car, a rubber duck, a sponge, and a small rock. Encourage the children to predict whether each object will sink or float before placing them in the water. Observe and discuss the results together, noting the characteristics of objects that sink and those that float. This activity not only introduces the scientific method but also helps develop critical thinking and observation skills.

Building with Blocks:

Building structures with blocks is an excellent way to introduce engineering and spatial reasoning to young children. Provide a variety of building materials such as wooden blocks, plastic bricks, and cardboard tubes. Encourage the children to construct different structures, such as towers, bridges, and houses. Ask open-ended questions to prompt their thinking, such as how to make a tower taller or how to create a stable bridge. This activity promotes creativity, problem-solving, and fine motor skills.

Nature Scavenger Hunt:

Take the children on a nature scavenger hunt to explore the world around them and introduce basic scientific concepts. Create a checklist with items such as leaves, rocks, flowers, and insects. Guide the children to observe and collect these items while discussing their characteristics and functions. Encourage them to ask questions and share their findings. This activity fosters curiosity, observation skills, and an appreciation for the natural world.

Related: 20 Wonderful Wall Games for Kids

Color Mixing:

Explore the wonders of color mixing by conducting a simple experiment using primary colors. Provide three small cups filled with water and add a few drops of red, yellow, and blue food coloring to each cup. Give the children pipettes or droppers to transfer the colored water and encourage them to mix different combinations in clear containers. Observe the changes in color and discuss the results. This activity introduces the concept of primary and secondary colors, as well as promoting fine motor skills and creativity.

Building a Simple Circuit:

Introduce basic concepts of electricity and circuits with a hands-on activity. Provide materials such as batteries, LED lights, and copper wire. Demonstrate how to connect the components to create a simple circuit that lights up the LED. Encourage the children to explore and experiment with different ways to connect the components. Discuss the flow of electricity and how the circuit works. This activity promotes problem-solving, critical thinking, and an understanding of basic circuitry.

Related: 20 Brilliant Geoboard Activities for Kids

Magnetic Exploration:

Introduce the concept of magnetism by providing a variety of magnetic and non-magnetic objects such as paper clips, buttons, plastic toys, and wooden blocks. Allow the children to experiment with magnets and explore which objects are attracted to them. Encourage them to sort the objects into two categories: magnetic and non-magnetic. This activity promotes observation skills, critical thinking, and an understanding of basic magnetic properties.

Shadow Play:

On a sunny day, take the children outside to explore shadows. Provide objects of various shapes and sizes, such as toys, leaves, and blocks. Encourage the children to experiment by placing the objects in the sunlight and observing the shadows they cast. Ask questions about the size and shape of the shadows and how they change when objects are moved closer or farther from the light source. This activity introduces basic concepts of light and shadow and promotes observation and prediction skills.

Sensory Science:

Engage the children’s senses by creating a sensory science station. Set up different sensory bins filled with materials like rice, sand, water beads, or shaving cream. Add small objects like measuring cups, funnels, or toy animals for exploration. Encourage the children to touch, pour, and explore the materials while discussing their observations. This activity promotes sensory development, fine motor skills, and scientific exploration.

Nature Engineering:

Take a nature walk with the children and encourage them to collect natural materials like sticks, leaves, and rocks. Back indoors, provide playdough and challenge the children to use natural materials to build structures or sculptures. Discuss the different properties of the materials and how they can be used in construction. This activity promotes creativity, problem-solving, and an understanding of basic engineering principles.

Sink or Swim Boat Challenge:

Using aluminum foil, challenge the children to design and build boats that can float in a container of water. Provide various materials such as straws, popsicle sticks, and tape to assist with construction. Encourage the children to experiment with different boat designs and sizes to see which ones float and hold the most weight. This activity introduces the concepts of buoyancy, design thinking, and problem-solving.

Bubble Science:

Engage the children in the fascinating world of bubbles. Provide bubble solution and various tools such as bubble wands, straws, and pipe cleaners. Encourage the children to experiment with different bubble sizes and shapes by blowing bubbles or using the tools provided. Discuss what makes bubbles form and pop, and how different factors like air and surface tension affect them. This activity promotes curiosity, observation skills, and understanding of basic scientific principles.

Pattern Play:

Introduce patterns to young children using objects like colored blocks, buttons, or stickers. Start a simple pattern and invite the children to continue it, or let them create their own patterns. Encourage them to explore patterns in different ways, such as color, shape, or size. This activity develops critical thinking, pattern recognition, and mathematical concepts.

Gardening Exploration:

Allow the children to get their hands dirty and learn about plants and nature through gardening. Provide small pots, soil, and seeds or seedlings. Guide the children in planting and caring for their own plants. Discuss the growth process, parts of a plant, and the importance of sunlight and water. This activity fosters a connection with nature, observation skills, and an understanding of the plant life cycle.

Shape Hunt:

Take the children on a shape hunt adventure, whether it’s indoors or outdoors. Provide them with a list of shapes such as circles, squares, triangles, and rectangles. Encourage them to search for objects that match each shape. Discuss the attributes of the shapes they find and how they can be found in everyday objects. This activity promotes shape recognition, observation skills, and spatial awareness.

Sensory Experiments:

Engage the children in sensory experiments that explore different materials and their properties. Set up stations with materials like sand, water, clay, and rice. Provide tools such as spoons, funnels, and cups for exploration. Encourage the children to manipulate the materials and observe their characteristics, such as texture, weight, and responsiveness to touch. This activity stimulates the senses, develops fine motor skills, and encourages scientific exploration.

Shadow Tracing:

On a sunny day, bring out large sheets of paper and various objects with interesting shapes. Place the objects on the paper and let the children trace their shadows with pencils or crayons. Encourage them to compare the shapes of the objects and their corresponding shadows. Discuss why the shadows change shape and size throughout the day as the position of the sun changes. This activity promotes observation skills, critical thinking, and understanding of light and shadow.

Straw Rockets:

Engage the children in a fun and interactive engineering activity by making straw rockets. Provide paper, markers, scissors, and tape along with flexible straws. Help the children decorate and cut out rocket shapes from the paper, then attach them to the straws using tape. Encourage them to blow through the straw to launch their rockets and observe how far they fly. Discuss the concepts of force, motion, and trajectory. This activity stimulates creativity, fine motor skills, and understanding of basic physics.

Animal Tracks Exploration:

Take the children on an outdoor adventure to explore animal tracks. Look for tracks in mud, sand, or snow, or use pictures or plastic animal footprints if outdoor exploration is not possible. Encourage the children to observe and identify different animal tracks. Discuss the unique features of each track and encourage them to make predictions about the animals that made them. This activity promotes observation skills, critical thinking, and an appreciation for nature.

Sensory Sink or Float:

Create a sensory bin with various objects and fill it with water. Gather objects that sink, float, or do both, such as plastic toys, wooden blocks, and foam shapes. Invite the children to explore and predict whether each object will sink or float by placing them in the water. Encourage them to use their senses to observe the objects’ textures, weights, and buoyancy. This activity combines sensory play with scientific exploration and fosters observation skills and critical thinking.

Straw Building Challenge:

Provide the children with a set of straws and connectors like pipe cleaners or tape. Challenge them to build structures using the straws and connectors, such as towers, bridges, or houses. Encourage them to experiment with different designs and discuss what makes their structures strong or stable. This activity promotes creativity, problem-solving, and an understanding of basic engineering principles.

Recommended:

• 24 Fun Small Group Activities for Preschoolers
• 22 Polar Bear Art & Craft for Preschoolers
• 25 Amazing Technology Activities for Preschoolers

Sohaib Hasan Shah

Sohaib's journey includes 10+ years of teaching and counseling experience at BCSS School in elementary and middle schools, coupled with a BBA (Hons) with a minor in Educational Psychology from Curtin University (Australia) . In his free time, he cherishes quality moments with his family, reveling in the joys and challenges of parenthood. His three daughters have not only enriched his personal life but also deepened his understanding of the importance of effective education and communication, spurring him to make a meaningful impact in the world of education.

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Are you looking for fun and creative science ideas to do with the kids? Well, yay! Because that’s what this blog is all about …

Have a browse through our most recent posts below.

• Next Page »

Join us, as we attempt, experiment and stumble our way through fun science at home.

  Thanks for stopping by. We love having you here. Go science kids!

10 Comments

Saved as a favorite, I really like your website!

Thanks Flora!

Keep this going please, great job!

Yeah,I would say the same. Great job!

My name is Erin Marie. I am a fellow blogger. I LOOOOVE your website and use it all of the time with my daughter. So, I nominated you for the Liebster Award.

You can view the nomination post here: https://luckyinluv.com/liebster-award

Thank You! Erin Marie

Thank you for your exciting, educational and easy-to-follow experiments and activities. I help run a boys’ club (ages 7 to 11) and we are always looking for activities which will make their brains work harder while their hands have a bit of fun! I am looking forward to receiving your emails with more of these science activities.

You take experiments from Home Lab App in Google play

I haven’t heard of that app, so no, I haven’t taken any of their experiments. Although, many of them are ‘common’ science experiments that are available in many science textbooks and the like, so there’s likely to be unintentional double up.

is there a way to print the snowflake activity directions without having to print 20 pages? Thanks!

Ah, yes, I’m working on adding an easy ‘print instructions’ feature. sorry it’s not up and running yet, but watch this space!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Science Fun

Science Experiments for Kids:

Science experiments you can do at home!  Explore an ever growing list of hundreds of fun and easy science experiments. Have fun trying these experiments at home or use them for science fair project ideas. Explore experiments by category, newest experiments, most popular experiments, easy at home experiments, or simply scroll down this page for tons of awesome experiment ideas!

Making A Volcano:

Acids and Bases Can Erupt in Your Faces

Orange Fizz:

Awesome Experiments:

New Experiments:

Check Out Our Newest Experiments

Top Experiments:

Easy Experiments:

Storm In A Glass:

Home Made Play Dough:

Snow Fluff:

Snow Globe:

Squishy Turkeys:

Rainbow in a Glass:

Sizzlin’ Snowballs:

Jello Lenses:

Ice Fishing:

Super Cool Soda:

Jack-O-Cano:

Dancing Hearts:

Marbled Gift Wrap:

Massive Expanding Soap:

Surface Tension Art:

Fizzy Fruit:

Rotting Pumpkin:

Explode A Bag:

Invisible Extinguisher:

Paper Hovercrafts:

Fun Fossil Stamps:

Cool Crystals:

Balloon Pop! Not!

Solar Eclipse Kit:

Moldy Apples:

Cool Off Volcanoes:

Vinegar Pops:

Make It Rain:

Black Light Blue Beverage:

Changing of the Leaves:

Snowflakes:

Water Fireworks:

Mind of a Student:

Balloon Speakers:

Polar Bear Blubber:

Gorgeous Gooey Gobstoppers:

Olympic Medals:

Dyed Flowers:

Rain, Rain, Don’t Go Away Gauge:

Blossoming Beans:

Butter Fingers:

Polishing Pennies:

Dancing Liquid:

Floating Egg:

Bendy Bones:

Pot Of Gold:

Layers of Liquids:

Crystal Candy:

Love and Marriage

And A Baby Carriage.

10+ Simple Science Experiments for 3-4 Year Olds

kid activities

My pre-schooler Brady loves it when I tell him we are going to do science experiments .  He gets so excited and totally lights up.  They’re just so much fun!

I try to find science experiments I can do with him that are simple and don’t take a lot of time and patience.  We all know patience is not a virtue of a four-year-old.

I like them to only require a few ingredients and be completely safe and hands-on.  Here are my most favorite experiments I’ve found for a three to four-year-old.

10 Simple Science Experiments for 3-4 Year Olds

(affiliate links included throughout – see  my disclosure  for more information – thanks for your support) 

1.  Oil and water don’t mix , but what happens when you add this special ingredient?  From Play Trains.

2.  Test your kids hypothesis on what would happen if they stepped on raw eggs .  They will love this one!  From Housing A Forest.

3.  You can blow up a balloon with a combination of soda and candy.  So cool!  From Learn Play Imagine.

4.  This exploding baggie experiment is a twist on the classic baking soda and vinegar reaction and is super simple.  From Coffee Cups and Crayons.

5.  Exploding milk is one of the most fun and simple kid science experiments and you only need three kitchen ingredients.  From Laughing Kids Learn.

My friends just wrote a brilliant science books for kids that we just adore! You’ve gotta check out The 101 Coolest Simple Science Experiments .

6.  How do the ice trucks melt snow after a storm?  This is a great demonstration.  From The Artul Parent.

7.  Explain to your kids how sound waves work with this classic experiment.  From We Made That.

8.  Explaining the concept of air pressure to preschoolers can be tricky but this easy experiment shows it perfectly!  From Kids Activities Blog.

9.  Explore how plants “drink” with this experiment showing water moving through a leaf .  From Buggy and Buddy.

10.  Did you know you can make ice grow ?  Here’s how!  From Teach Preschool.

Amazing Science Kits For Kids

Kitchen Science Kit   |  Magnet Science Kit   |  Solar Science Kit   |  Grow A Maze Kit

Want More? Here’s Art Projects for 3-4 Year Olds

Liz is a just a mom trying to keep it real about how little she sleeps, how often she gets puked on and how much she loves them. You can find her here every day writing about real-mom moments.

Related posts:

• 27 Fun Easter Games for Kids
• Frozen Crafts :: For The Olaf Obsessed
• The Coolest Outdoor Play Areas To Make For Your Kids
• {25} Valentine Mailboxes That Are Almost Too Cute to Stand

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

February 27, 2015 at 8:20 am

There are SO MANY ads on your site that it runs so slow on mobile. It’s not user friendly. In fact, i just accidently hit the ad on the bottom of the screen that stays there while writing this. This could really hurt your traffic. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news. Remember that money isn’t everything. Also, less is more when it comes to ads on your site. Slow sites push away traffic, make sure the readers come back or don’t leave after 30 seconds. Just writing this was difficult. Way way way too many ads girl.

March 19, 2015 at 4:04 pm

Fantastic collection! I just bought a ton of eggs from Costco to let my boys try walking on them. 😉 Thanks for including our balloon experiment!

August 4, 2015 at 8:41 pm

thanks for sharing so many interesting activity with kids. i am a father with 2 children. a 6 years old girl and a 3 years old boy. i don’t want the kids to grow up with just movies and phones. that is why i am writing a book on “not just a father, but great Daddy”.

let’s all of us work together and bring a better child hood for kids

March 19, 2016 at 1:32 am

thank you for sharing. i am more interesting on that.

January 15, 2017 at 8:17 pm

This is very interesting activity for my kids, I love to try this at home to create something new. Thanks for sharing your idea. 🙂

January 15, 2017 at 8:24 pm

I like your idea very creative and I think this is so much fun. Thank you for sharing your great idea.

June 18, 2017 at 3:37 am

Thanks, I have been looking for some arts and crafts for my granddaughter. She will love these. I am a little hesitant on the stepping on eggs thing though. Can’t tell you how many times I have gotten egg shells stuck in the palm of my hands.

August 4, 2017 at 7:54 pm

What great ideas! My 4yo starts preschool soon and I’ll need more activities to keep him busy. Thanks for sharing!

August 15, 2017 at 12:45 pm

What’s up,I read your blog named “10 Simple Science Experiments for 3-4 Year Olds – Love and Marriage” regularly.Your writing style is awesome, keep up the good work! And you can look our website about اغانى 2018.

August 18, 2017 at 1:37 am

obviously like your web site but you have to check the spelling on several of your posts. Many of them are rife with spelling issues and I in finding it very troublesome to tell the reality then again I will certainly come back again.

September 5, 2017 at 11:30 pm

Good information you have mentioned in the post. You can locate similar facts at a website such as http://www.fixyoursearchresults.com . That type of site can be of help for individuals who hopes to fix their reputation online.

October 3, 2017 at 6:50 pm

What’s up,I read your blogs named “10 Simple Science Experiments for 3-4 Year Olds – Love and Marriage” regularly.Your story-telling style is awesome, keep it up! And you can look our website about fast proxy list.

June 4, 2018 at 11:22 am

Speed Up Your WP Sites Before The July 2018 Google Speed Slap Make Your WordPress Sites up to 10x Faster In 30 Seconds With The Cache That Beats All Competitors

It’s No Secret That Running Slow Sites Will Cost You… Speed is a Traffic Killer… More Than 50% of Visitors Leave… If a Site Takes 3+ Seconds To Load

Slow Pages = Lost Ranking Slow Pages = Less Opt-ins Slow Pages = High Bounce Rates Slow Pages = Lower Conversions Slow Pages = Higher Ad Costs

The Lowest Price & Coupons Held… Watch Viper Cache vs The Competitors ==> http://bit.ly/Viper_Cache

June 4, 2018 at 11:57 am

Discover This Little-Known FREE Software That Generates $80-$100 Per Day… TRAFFIC IS INCLUDED – 100% Newbie Friendly & Takes 3 Minutes To Set Up!

– You can start getting results right away – It doesn’t require you to invest any money to get started – You don’t have to spam anyone or use some traffic loophole to do this – It’s PROVEN and it will put $80 – $100 per day in your pocket with just a small amount of work each day (an hour or less most days, which is a very nice hourly wage) – You can scale this over time and make more money if you want… – If you’re tired of all of the hype and methods that promise everything and give you little to nothing in return…

THIS IS FOR YOU ==> http://bit.ly/RISERR_REVIEW

– BONUS 1 – FREE LIVE WORKSHOP You’ll be invited to our closed door webinar only for customers of Riserr where you’ll discover how to consistently earn a job replacing income of $4000 per day or MORE…

– BONUS 2 – MASTERMIND GROUP You’ll get access to our Private Mastermind Group where you can network with us and learn many of our secrets at no extra cost to you…

– BONUS 3 – SECRET BONUS This one is a surprise – and I know that you’ll absolutely love it, although it’s a bit WEIRD!

June 4, 2018 at 3:24 pm

How To Make Money On Instagram In 2018 (EASY FORMULA)

1. How to get more followers on Instagram in 2018 2. How to make money from Instagram in 2018 3. How to research hashtags on Instagram 4. The best tools to get more followers on Instagram 5. How to schedule posts on Instagram

Check out the video ==> https://forms.aweber.com/form/47/1052374047.htm

June 4, 2018 at 3:34 pm

How To Make $1000 A Day On Amazon FBA! BEST ONLINE BUSINESS TO START

I will be talking a lot about Amazon FBA, Affiliate marketing, Social media marketing and making money from home, and how to get yourself ready and motivated to get shit done!! I want to help you all find your entrepreneurship journey! LINK TO START ==> https://forms.aweber.com/form/14/535238614.htm

June 4, 2018 at 3:43 pm

How To Make Money On Facebook Page in 2018 [6 Simple Ways] Do you have a facebook Page with a growing list of fans and want to earn money online? Watch this video: https://forms.aweber.com/form/26/1490744226.htm

June 4, 2018 at 3:51 pm

How to Make Money On Pinterest In 2018! $200/Day With NO INVESTMENT – 4 Easy To Follow Steps Watch this video ==> https://forms.aweber.com/form/94/1220702694.htm

June 4, 2018 at 3:59 pm

How To Make Money On YouTube

1. How to make videos for YouTube without filming 2. How to get views and subscribers 3. How to get your first 1000 subscribers and 4000 watch hours 4. How to make money from YouTube Videos

Check out the video ==> https://forms.aweber.com/form/86/1095130586.htm

November 29, 2018 at 2:37 am

Hi loveandmarriageblog.com

SEO Link building is a process that requires a lot of time. If you aren’t using SEO software then you will know the amount of work load involved in creating accounts, confirming emails and submitting your contents to thousands of websites in proper time and completely automated.

With THIS SOFTWARE the link submission process will be the easiest task and completely automated, you will be able to build unlimited number of links and increase traffic to your websites which will lead to a higher number of customers and much more sales for you. With the best user interface ever, you just need to have simple software knowledge and you will easily be able to make your own SEO link building campaigns.

The best SEO software you will ever own, and we can confidently say that there is no other software on the market that can compete with such intelligent and fully automatic features. The friendly user interface, smart tools and the simplicity of the tasks are making THIS SOFTWARE the best tool on the market.

IF YOU’RE INTERESTED, CONTACT ME ==> [email protected]

Regards, Quentin Edmonson Australia, QLD, Breadalbane, 4800, 67 Stanley Drive

January 29, 2019 at 9:53 am

SEO Link building is a process that requires a lot of time fo loveandmarriageblog.com If you aren’t using SEO software then you will know the amount of work load involved in creating accounts, confirming emails and submitting your contents to thousands of websites in proper time and completely automated.

IF YOU’RE INTERESTED, CONTACT ME ==> [email protected]

Regards, Karolyn

May 25, 2020 at 3:46 pm

DFY Suite is an established, high-quality social syndication system that allows you to get stunning content syndication for your videos or niche sites WITHOUT having to do ANY of the work yourself.

+ There is NO software to download or install + There is NO account creation needed on your part + There is NO having to deal with proxies of captchas + There are NO complicated tutorials you have to watch

DFY Suite 2 with more advanced features will become your powerful tool to serve the online marketing industry which gets more and more competitive. You will be able to skyrocket your business with very little effort.

MORE INFO HERE=> https://bit.ly/2zNUZGl

June 6, 2020 at 10:09 pm

The Lockdown Formula is a breakthrough system that allows you to learn how to quickly make money online using affiliate marketing and using a simple-to-set-up system with basic squeeze pages that take people to an offer. Especially, it also offers you full traffic generation training.

MORE INFO HERE=> https://bit.ly/2WdQldB

September 17, 2020 at 11:30 am

June 28, 2021 at 5:42 pm

I have two years old baby , I wish I can be good father for him 🙂

October 8, 2021 at 1:44 am

Your website good for google. I love you sir.

October 29, 2021 at 3:53 pm

2021 yılının deneme bonusu veren sitelerine kesintisiz ve hızlı erişebilmek için sizlere en iyi bahis sitelerini sunuyoruz.

July 24, 2022 at 3:14 am

en ucuz instagram takipçi satın al sitesi nerede tabiki takipmax.com da

August 18, 2023 at 7:08 am

Yes, the number of ads on your site are ridiculous. Makes it nearly impossible to want to use.

July 22, 2024 at 3:27 pm

If you are looking for Valorant Cheat , you can browse our site.

• Privacy Policy

20 Amazing Life Science Activities for Preschoolers

As kids grow, they also become curious about things around them. They love to move and play around, try things out, and learn how everything works. Help your preschoolers explore and understand animals, plants, nature, the food they eat, and their own body better by introducing them to these 20 simple life science activities for preschoolers:

1. Parts of a Plant

Help preschoolers explore plants thoroughly with these easy parts of a plant learning practice. You can use actual parts of plants or printables of plant roots, stems, leaves, and flowers to teach kids about identifying plant parts.

Learn the full details here .

2. What Dissolves in Water

Finding out what dissolves in water is a fun experiment for kids. This is also an easy activity as you will only need things that can already be found in your kitchen – glasses or bowls of water, spoons, and kitchen ingredients like powdered milk, sugar, salt, nuts, and oats. Let kids mix the ingredients in the water to observe and predict what dissolves in water and what doesn’t.

Click here for more details.

3. Sink or Float Experiment

Another fun science activity for preschoolers is the sink or float experiment! This activity will allow them to understand important concepts such as buoyancy and density – but in a fun and easy way. All you need is a container or glass filled half full of water and some tiny toys. Then make the kids guess which items will sink or float in the water.

Interested? Click this link to find out more.

4. What Melts Under the Sun

This life science activity will help preschoolers understand the light and heat we get from the sun. It’s much better to do this activity on a warm, sunny day. Find some items that will most likely melt when placed under the sun such as butter, chocolates, and ice cubes. Also, place items that partially melt under the sun like candles and other solid items. Find others that are hard enough not to melt in the sun like stones or pebbles.

Learn the full guide through this link .

5. Goodbye, Germs!

This is a fun activity that will teach preschoolers about handwashing and keeping their hands clean from germs. You can use glitter to act as germs to illustrate how germs stick and spread easily. You will also teach them the proper ways of handwashing to eliminate germs to finish this activity.

Find out more about this activity through this link .

6. Supersize Your Fingerprints

Kids will find it interesting to learn how unique they are from each other. This experiment will highlight and compare how special and unique we all are. All you need to do is press down a fingerprint print onto a balloon . Inflate the balloon and notice how the fingerprint expands. Kids will learn how the lines, arches, and loops on their fingers differ so much from everyone else.

For the complete guide, click here .

7. Oil and Water

This oil and water activity is another fun and easy way for kids to explore what happens when oil and water are mixed in a bottle. Allow them to try mixing the two with all their might and let them find out themselves.

Learn more through this link .

8. Clay Modeling

Clay modeling is an attractive and colorful way to engage in learning with kids. You can help your kids use clay to create and mold models of natural objects such as animals, leaves, and flowers based on their understanding and observations.

Click this link to get the full guide.

9. Cool Erupting Volcano

This is a cool life science activity to illustrate to kids how amazing nature is. This helps them learn how a volcano erupts! For this easy volcano experiment, you will only need some baking soda and vinegar to recreate a lava eruption.

Click here for the full details of this activity.

10. Penny Boat

Find out how many pennies a boat made of aluminum foil pieces can hold before it sinks in the water. This will teach kids important concepts of buoyancy, and the cause-and-effect of going beyond the limits.

Ready to try it with your kids? Click here .

11. Mini Garden

Having this mini garden bin in one corner of the room will help engage kids to get more interested in plants. All you need is a rectangular bin, some colorful mini pots, toy flowers, leaves and stems, stones, and toy shovels for your preschooler to play around with while learning about gardening.

Visit this link for more details.

12. Color Mixing

Mixing colors is a fun learning activity for preschoolers. This will help them understand that as much as one color is nice as it is, it can transform into something different when combined with other colors. Color mixing is also a great way to help preschoolers learn how to recreate nature colors on their own – such as getting the color green for leaves by mixing blue and yellow together.

Click this link for the step-by-step guide.

13. Magic Milk

Magic milk is another fun and colorful experiment that your kids will love! All you need is some milk and food coloring. This activity will explain how molecules bond together. It will also be fun to see colors form and bump around into each other.

For more information, click here .

14. Seed Science Experiment

This seed science experiment is a fun activity to help preschoolers learn more about the fruits that they eat. Use bright and colored paper cutouts to create pictures of fruits. Match the pictures with actual seeds and teach your kids to identify each of the fruit seeds.

Get more ideas through this link .

15. Grow Mung Bean Sprouts

Growing bean sprouts is easy, interesting, and fun. This plant-growing activity will only take you a few days to get the desired results. The kids will spot the huge growth and difference – imagine seeing how sprouts grow from beans after 3 days or so.

Get started with this activity – click here .

16. Dancing Rice

Can you make rice grains dance? Yes, you can! Show your kids this easy science experiment with ingredients you may already have in your kitchen. You should prepare the materials beforehand but let your kids do the pouring into the container. This makes it more exciting for your child. Since this project can get a little messy, be sure to do this activity in an area where you can easily clean.

Need more information? Visit this link .

17. Eggshell Seed Bombs

When springtime comes, include this activity in your preschooler’s to-do list! Creating these eggshell seed bombs is a fun way to let them help with your gardening. Plus, eggshells are great fertilizers so you can expect pretty flowers to grow out of this activity.

For the full tutorial, check this link .

18. Animal Venn Diagram Activity

Does your child love animal toys? Then this activity is perfect for you and your child to recreate! Collect his toys and have him sort them in a colorful Venn diagram. This will help teach your child the different animal habitats and can even help them improve their math skills.

Learn more about this activity here .

19. Mini Terrariums

Terrariums are pretty and cute and your kids will love making them! They are quite easy to put together as long as you have the materials ready – and the tiny plants that go with them too! Let your child take charge of arranging the plants and decorating them with pebbles and mini figurines. This activity will not only teach them to be creative but will also encourage them to care for plants in the long term.

For the full guide, visit this link .

20. Rain Cloud in a Jar

Teach your kids about clouds and rain in a fun and colorful way with this rain cloud-in-a-jar experiment. This activity can get a little messy so make sure you cover your play area with disposable paper or do the activity on a surface that’s easy to wipe clean afterward.

Check here for the full details.

I hope you enjoy some of these amazing life science activities for preschoolers. I hope you have found some inspiration to use on projects with your kids. Also, don’t forget to try these fun outdoor physical activities for kids also. Let me know in the comments what are your favorite activities that you have done with your kids.

Hello, I'm Christine. On this blog, I share our adventures, ranging from children's printables, creative arts and crafts, to exciting family-centric activities. I hope to inspire you and hope you'll enjoy our complimentary printables. I invite you to embark on this journey with us!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Affiliate Disclaimer: Some of the links in this blog are affiliate links which means we can earn revenue if you make a qualifying purchase. This is at no cost to you! And we appreciate it.

Choose Your Test

• Search Blogs By Category
• College Admissions
• AP and IB Exams
• GPA and Coursework

37 Cool Science Experiments for Kids to Do at Home

General Education

Are you looking for cool science experiments for kids at home or for class? We've got you covered! We've compiled a list of 37 of the best science experiments for kids that cover areas of science ranging from outer space to dinosaurs to chemical reactions. By doing these easy science experiments, kids will make their own blubber and see how polar bears stay warm, make a rain cloud in a jar to observe how weather changes, create a potato battery that'll really power a lightbulb, and more.

Below are 37 of the best science projects for kids to try. For each one we include a description of the experiment, which area(s) of science it teaches kids about, how difficult it is (easy/medium/hard), how messy it is (low/medium/high), and the materials you need to do the project. Note that experiments labelled "hard" are definitely still doable; they just require more materials or time than most of these other science experiments for kids.

#1: Insect Hotels

• Teaches Kids About: Zoology
• Difficulty Level: Medium
• Messiness Level: Medium

Insect hotels can be as simple (just a few sticks wrapped in a bundle) or as elaborate as you'd like, and they're a great way for kids to get creative making the hotel and then get rewarded by seeing who has moved into the home they built. After creating a hotel with hiding places for bugs, place it outside (near a garden is often a good spot), wait a few days, then check it to see who has occupied the "rooms." You can also use a bug ID book or app to try and identify the visitors.

• Materials Needed
• Shadow box or other box with multiple compartments
• Hot glue gun with glue
• Sticks, bark, small rocks, dried leaves, bits of yarn/wool, etc.

#2: DIY Lava Lamp

• Teaches Kids About: Chemical reactions
• Difficulty Level: Easy

In this quick and fun science experiment, kids will mix water, oil, food coloring, and antacid tablets to create their own (temporary) lava lamp . Oil and water don't mix easily, and the antacid tablets will cause the oil to form little globules that are dyed by the food coloring. Just add the ingredients together and you'll end up with a homemade lava lamp!

• Vegetable oil
• Food coloring
• Antacid tablets

#3: Magnetic Slime

• Teaches Kids About: Magnets
• Messiness Level: High (The slime is black and will slightly dye your fingers when you play with it, but it washes off easily.)

A step up from silly putty and Play-Doh, magnetic slime is fun to play with but also teaches kids about magnets and how they attract and repel each other. Some of the ingredients you aren't likely to have around the house, but they can all be purchased online. After mixing the ingredients together, you can use the neodymium magnet (regular magnets won't be strong enough) to make the magnetic slime move without touching it!

• Liquid starch
• Adhesive glue
• Iron oxide powder
• Neodymium (rare earth) magnet

#4: Baking Soda Volcanoes

• Teaches Kids About: Chemical reactions, earth science
• Difficulty Level: Easy-medium
• Messiness Level: High

Baking soda volcanoes are one of the classic science projects for kids, and they're also one of the most popular. It's hard to top the excitement of a volcano erupting inside your home. This experiment can also be as simple or in-depth as you like. For the eruption, all you need is baking soda and vinegar (dishwashing detergent adds some extra power to the eruption), but you can make the "volcano" as elaborate and lifelike as you wish.

• Baking soda
• Dishwashing detergent
• Large mason jar or soda bottle
• Playdough or aluminum foil to make the "volcano"
• Additional items to place around the volcano (optional)
• Food coloring (optional)

#5: Tornado in a Jar

• Teaches Kids About: Weather
• Messiness Level: Low

This is one of the quick and easy and science experiments for kids to teach them about weather. It only takes about five minutes and a few materials to set up, but once you have it ready you and your kids can create your own miniature tornado whose vortex you can see and the strength of which you can change depending on how quickly you swirl the jar.

• Glitter (optional)

#6: Colored Celery Experiment

• Teaches Kids About: Plants

This celery science experiment is another classic science experiment that parents and teachers like because it's easy to do and gives kids a great visual understanding of how transpiration works and how plants get water and nutrients. Just place celery stalks in cups of colored water, wait at least a day, and you'll see the celery leaves take on the color of the water. This happens because celery stalks (like other plants) contain small capillaries that they use to transport water and nutrients throughout the plant.

• Celery stalks (can also use white flowers or pale-colored cabbage)

#7: Rain Cloud in a Jar

This experiment teaches kids about weather and lets them learn how clouds form by making their own rain cloud . This is definitely a science project that requires adult supervision since it uses boiling water as one of the ingredients, but once you pour the water into a glass jar, the experiment is fast and easy, and you'll be rewarded with a little cloud forming in the jar due to condensation.

• Glass jar with a lid
• Boiling water
• Aerosol hairspray

#8: Edible Rock Candy

• Teaches Kids About: Crystal formation

It takes about a week for the crystals of this rock candy experiment to form, but once they have you'll be able to eat the results! After creating a sugar solution, you'll fill jars with it and dangle strings in them that'll slowly become covered with the crystals. This experiment involves heating and pouring boiling water, so adult supervision is necessary, once that step is complete, even very young kids will be excited to watch crystals slowly form.

• Large saucepan
• Clothespins
• String or small skewers
• Candy flavoring (optional)

#9: Water Xylophone

• Teaches Kids About: Sound waves

With just some basic materials you can create your own musical instrument to teach kids about sound waves. In this water xylophone experiment , you'll fill glass jars with varying levels of water. Once they're all lined up, kids can hit the sides with wooden sticks and see how the itch differs depending on how much water is in the jar (more water=lower pitch, less water=higher pitch). This is because sound waves travel differently depending on how full the jars are with water.

• Wooden sticks/skewers

#10: Blood Model in a Jar

• Teaches Kids About: Human biology

This blood model experiment is a great way to get kids to visual what their blood looks like and how complicated it really is. Each ingredient represents a different component of blood (plasma, platelets, red blood cells, etc.), so you just add a certain amount of each to the jar, swirl it around a bit, and you have a model of what your blood looks like.

• Empty jar or bottle
• Red cinnamon candies
• Marshmallows or dry white lima beans
• White sprinkles

#11: Potato Battery

• Teaches Kids About: Electricity
• Difficulty Level: Hard

Did you know that a simple potato can produce enough energy to keep a light bulb lit for over a month? You can create a simple potato battery to show kids. There are kits that provide all the necessary materials and how to set it up, but if you don't purchase one of these it can be a bit trickier to gather everything you need and assemble it correctly. Once it's set though, you'll have your own farm grown battery!

• Fresh potato
• Galvanized nail
• Copper coin

#12: Homemade Pulley

• Teaches Kids About: Simple machines

This science activity requires some materials you may not already have, but once you've gotten them, the homemade pulley takes only a few minutes to set up, and you can leave the pulley up for your kids to play with all year round. This pulley is best set up outside, but can also be done indoors.

• Clothesline
• 2 clothesline pulleys

#13: Light Refraction

• Teaches Kids About: Light

This light refraction experiment takes only a few minutes to set up and uses basic materials, but it's a great way to show kids how light travels. You'll draw two arrows on a sticky note, stick it to the wall, then fill a clear water bottle with water. As you move the water bottle in front of the arrows, the arrows will appear to change the direction they're pointing. This is because of the refraction that occurs when light passes through materials like water and plastic.

• Sticky note
• Transparent water bottle

#14: Nature Journaling

• Teaches Kids About: Ecology, scientific observation

A nature journal is a great way to encourage kids to be creative and really pay attention to what's going on around them. All you need is a blank journal (you can buy one or make your own) along with something to write with. Then just go outside and encourage your children to write or draw what they notice. This could include descriptions of animals they see, tracings of leaves, a drawing of a beautiful flower, etc. Encourage your kids to ask questions about what they observe (Why do birds need to build nests? Why is this flower so brightly colored?) and explain to them that scientists collect research by doing exactly what they're doing now.

• Blank journal or notebook
• Pens/pencils/crayons/markers
• Tape or glue for adding items to the journal

#15: DIY Solar Oven

• Teaches Kids About: Solar energy

This homemade solar oven definitely requires some adult help to set up, but after it's ready you'll have your own mini oven that uses energy from the sun to make s'mores or melt cheese on pizza. While the food is cooking, you can explain to kids how the oven uses the sun's rays to heat the food.

• Aluminum foil
• Knife or box cutter
• Permanent marker
• Plastic cling wrap
• Black construction paper

#16: Animal Blubber Simulation

• Teaches Kids About: Ecology, zoology

If your kids are curious about how animals like polar bears and seals stay warm in polar climates, you can go beyond just explaining it to them; you can actually have them make some of their own blubber and test it out. After you've filled up a large bowl with ice water and let it sit for a few minutes to get really cold, have your kids dip a bare hand in and see how many seconds they can last before their hand gets too cold. Next, coat one of their fingers in shortening and repeat the experiment. Your child will notice that, with the shortening acting like a protective layer of blubber, they don't feel the cold water nearly as much.

• Bowl of ice water

#17: Static Electricity Butterfly

This experiment is a great way for young kids to learn about static electricity, and it's more fun and visual than just having them rub balloons against their heads. First you'll create a butterfly, using thick paper (such as cardstock) for the body and tissue paper for the wings. Then, blow up the balloon, have the kids rub it against their head for a few seconds, then move the balloon to just above the butterfly's wings. The wings will move towards the balloon due to static electricity, and it'll look like the butterfly is flying.

• Tissue paper
• Thick paper
• Glue stick/glue

#18: Edible Double Helix

• Teaches Kids About: Genetics

If your kids are learning about genetics, you can do this edible double helix craft to show them how DNA is formed, what its different parts are, and what it looks like. The licorice will form the sides or backbone of the DNA and each color of marshmallow will represent one of the four chemical bases. Kids will be able to see that only certain chemical bases pair with each other.

• 2 pieces of licorice
• 12 toothpicks
• Small marshmallows in 4 colors (9 of each color)
• 5 paperclips

#19: Leak-Proof Bag

• Teaches Kids About: Molecules, plastics

This is an easy experiment that'll appeal to kids of a variety of ages. Just take a zip-lock bag, fill it about ⅔ of the way with water, and close the top. Next, poke a few sharp objects (like bamboo skewers or sharp pencils) through one end and out the other. At this point you may want to dangle the bag above your child's head, but no need to worry about spills because the bag won't leak? Why not? It's because the plastic used to make zip-lock bags is made of polymers, or long chains of molecules that'll quickly join back together when they're forced apart.

• Zip-lock bags
• Objects with sharp ends (pencils, bamboo skewers, etc.)

#20: How Do Leaves Breathe?

• Teaches Kids About: Plant science

It takes a few hours to see the results of this leaf experiment , but it couldn't be easier to set up, and kids will love to see a leaf actually "breathing." Just get a large-ish leaf, place it in a bowl (glass works best so you can see everything) filled with water, place a small rock on the leaf to weigh it down, and leave it somewhere sunny. Come back in a few hours and you'll see little bubbles in the water created when the leaf releases the oxygen it created during photosynthesis.

• Large bowl (preferably glass)
• Magnifying glass (optional)

#21: Popsicle Stick Catapults

Kids will love shooting pom poms out of these homemade popsicle stick catapults . After assembling the catapults out of popsicle sticks, rubber bands, and plastic spoons, they're ready to launch pom poms or other lightweight objects. To teach kids about simple machines, you can ask them about how they think the catapults work, what they should do to make the pom poms go a farther/shorter distance, and how the catapult could be made more powerful.

• Popsicle sticks
• Rubber bands
• Plastic spoons
• Paint (optional)

#22: Elephant Toothpaste

You won't want to do this experiment near anything that's difficult to clean (outside may be best), but kids will love seeing this " elephant toothpaste " crazily overflowing the bottle and oozing everywhere. Pour the hydrogen peroxide, food coloring, and dishwashing soap into the bottle, and in the cup mix the yeast packet with some warm water for about 30 seconds. Then, add the yeast mixture to the bottle, stand back, and watch the solution become a massive foamy mixture that pours out of the bottle! The "toothpaste" is formed when the yeast removed the oxygen bubbles from the hydrogen peroxide which created foam. This is an exothermic reaction, and it creates heat as well as foam (you can have kids notice that the bottle became warm as the reaction occurred).

• Clean 16-oz soda bottle
• 6% solution of hydrogen peroxide
• 1 packet of dry yeast
• Dishwashing soap

#23: How Do Penguins Stay Dry?

Penguins, and many other birds, have special oil-producing glands that coat their feathers with a protective layer that causes water to slide right off them, keeping them warm and dry. You can demonstrate this to kids with this penguin craft by having them color a picture of a penguin with crayons, then spraying the picture with water. The wax from the crayons will have created a protective layer like the oil actual birds coat themselves with, and the paper won't absorb the water.

• Penguin image (included in link)
• Spray bottle
• Blue food coloring (optional)

#24: Rock Weathering Experiment

• Teaches Kids About: Geology

This mechanical weathering experiment teaches kids why and how rocks break down or erode. Take two pieces of clay, form them into balls, and wrap them in plastic wrap. Then, leave one out while placing the other in the freezer overnight. The next day, unwrap and compare them. You can repeat freezing the one piece of clay every night for several days to see how much more cracked and weathered it gets than the piece of clay that wasn't frozen. It may even begin to crumble. This weathering also happens to rocks when they are subjected to extreme temperatures, and it's one of the causes of erosion.

• Plastic wrap

#25: Saltwater Density

• Teaches Kids About: Water density

For this saltwater density experiment , you'll fill four clear glasses with water, then add salt to one glass, sugar to one glass, and baking soda to one glass, leaving one glass with just water. Then, float small plastic pieces or grapes in each of the glasses and observe whether they float or not. Saltwater is denser than freshwater, which means some objects may float in saltwater that would sink in freshwater. You can use this experiment to teach kids about the ocean and other bodies of saltwater, such as the Dead Sea, which is so salty people can easily float on top of it.

• Four clear glasses
• Lightweight plastic objects or small grapes

#26: Starburst Rock Cycle

With just a package of Starbursts and a few other materials, you can create models of each of the three rock types: igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic. Sedimentary "rocks" will be created by pressing thin layers of Starbursts together, metamorphic by heating and pressing Starbursts, and igneous by applying high levels of heat to the Starbursts. Kids will learn how different types of rocks are forms and how the three rock types look different from each other.

• Toaster oven

#27: Inertia Wagon Experiment

• Teaches Kids About: Inertia

This simple experiment teaches kids about inertia (as well as the importance of seatbelts!). Take a small wagon, fill it with a tall stack of books, then have one of your children pull it around then stop abruptly. They won't be able to suddenly stop the wagon without the stack of books falling. You can have the kids predict which direction they think the books will fall and explain that this happens because of inertia, or Newton's first law.

• Stack of books

#28: Dinosaur Tracks

• Teaches Kids About: Paleontology

How are some dinosaur tracks still visible millions of years later? By mixing together several ingredients, you'll get a claylike mixture you can press your hands/feet or dinosaur models into to make dinosaur track imprints . The mixture will harden and the imprints will remain, showing kids how dinosaur (and early human) tracks can stay in rock for such a long period of time.

• Used coffee grounds
• Wooden spoon
• Rolling pin

#29: Sidewalk Constellations

• Teaches Kids About: Astronomy

If you do this sidewalk constellation craft , you'll be able to see the Big Dipper and Orion's Belt in the daylight. On the sidewalk, have kids draw the lines of constellations (using constellation diagrams for guidance) and place stones where the stars are. You can then look at astronomy charts to see where the constellations they drew will be in the sky.

• Sidewalk chalk
• Small stones
• Diagrams of constellations

#30: Lung Model

By building a lung model , you can teach kids about respiration and how their lungs work. After cutting off the bottom of a plastic bottle, you'll stretch a balloon around the opened end and insert another balloon through the mouth of the bottle. You'll then push a straw through the neck of the bottle and secure it with a rubber band and play dough. By blowing into the straw, the balloons will inflate then deflate, similar to how our lungs work.

• Plastic bottle
• Rubber band

#31: Homemade Dinosaur Bones

By mixing just flour, salt, and water, you'll create a basic salt dough that'll harden when baked. You can use this dough to make homemade dinosaur bones and teach kids about paleontology. You can use books or diagrams to learn how different dinosaur bones were shaped, and you can even bury the bones in a sandpit or something similar and then excavate them the way real paleontologists do.

• Images of dinosaur bones

#32: Clay and Toothpick Molecules

There are many variations on homemade molecule science crafts . This one uses clay and toothpicks, although gumdrops or even small pieces of fruit like grapes can be used in place of clay. Roll the clay into balls and use molecule diagrams to attach the clay to toothpicks in the shape of the molecules. Kids can make numerous types of molecules and learn how atoms bond together to form molecules.

• Clay or gumdrops (in four colors)
• Diagrams of molecules

#33: Articulated Hand Model

By creating an articulated hand model , you can teach kids about bones, joints, and how our hands are able to move in many ways and accomplish so many different tasks. After creating a hand out of thin foam, kids will cut straws to represent the different bones in the hand and glue them to the fingers of the hand models. You'll then thread yarn (which represents tendons) through the straws, stabilize the model with a chopstick or other small stick, and end up with a hand model that moves and bends the way actual human hands do.

• Straws (paper work best)
• Twine or yarn

#34: Solar Energy Experiment

• Teaches Kids About: Solar energy, light rays

This solar energy science experiment will teach kids about solar energy and how different colors absorb different amounts of energy. In a sunny spot outside, place six colored pieces of paper next to each other, and place an ice cube in the middle of each paper. Then, observe how quickly each of the ice cubes melt. The ice cube on the black piece of paper will melt fastest since black absorbs the most light (all the light ray colors), while the ice cube on the white paper will melt slowest since white absorbs the least light (it instead reflects light). You can then explain why certain colors look the way they do. (Colors besides black and white absorb all light except for the one ray color they reflect; this is the color they appear to us.)

• 6 squares of differently colored paper/cardstock (must include black paper and white paper)

#35: How to Make Lightning

• Teaches Kids About: Electricity, weather

You don't need a storm to see lightning; you can actually create your own lightning at home . For younger kids this experiment requires adult help and supervision. You'll stick a thumbtack through the bottom of an aluminum tray, then stick the pencil eraser to the pushpin. You'll then rub the piece of wool over the aluminum tray, and then set the tray on the Styrofoam, where it'll create a small spark/tiny bolt of lightning!

• Pencil with eraser
• Aluminum tray or pie tin
• Styrofoam tray

#36: Tie-Dyed Milk

• Teaches Kids About: Surface tension

For this magic milk experiment , partly fill a shallow dish with milk, then add a one drop of each food coloring color to different parts of the milk. The food coloring will mostly stay where you placed it. Next, carefully add one drop of dish soap to the middle of the milk. It'll cause the food coloring to stream through the milk and away from the dish soap. This is because the dish soap breaks up the surface tension of the milk by dissolving the milk's fat molecules.

• Shallow dish
• Milk (high-fat works best)

#37: How Do Stalactites Form?

Have you ever gone into a cave and seen huge stalactites hanging from the top of the cave? Stalactites are formed by dripping water. The water is filled with particles which slowly accumulate and harden over the years, forming stalactites. You can recreate that process with this stalactite experiment . By mixing a baking soda solution, dipping a piece of wool yarn in the jar and running it to another jar, you'll be able to observe baking soda particles forming and hardening along the yarn, similar to how stalactites grow.

• Safety pins
• 2 glass jars

Summary: Cool Science Experiments for Kids

Any one of these simple science experiments for kids can get children learning and excited about science. You can choose a science experiment based on your child's specific interest or what they're currently learning about, or you can do an experiment on an entirely new topic to expand their learning and teach them about a new area of science. From easy science experiments for kids to the more challenging ones, these will all help kids have fun and learn more about science.

What's Next?

Are you also interested in pipe cleaner crafts for kids? We have a guide to some of the best pipe cleaner crafts to try!

Looking for multiple different slime recipes? We tell you how to make slimes without borax and without glue as well as how to craft the ultimate super slime .

Want to learn more about clouds? Learn how to identify every cloud in the sky with our guide to the 10 types of clouds .

Want to know the fastest and easiest ways to convert between Fahrenheit and Celsius? We've got you covered! Check out our guide to the best ways to convert Celsius to Fahrenheit (or vice versa) .

Trending Now

How to Get Into Harvard and the Ivy League

How to Get a Perfect 4.0 GPA

How to Write an Amazing College Essay

What Exactly Are Colleges Looking For?

ACT vs. SAT: Which Test Should You Take?

When should you take the SAT or ACT?

Get Your Free

Find Your Target SAT Score

Free Complete Official SAT Practice Tests

How to Get a Perfect SAT Score, by an Expert Full Scorer

Score 800 on SAT Math

Score 800 on SAT Reading and Writing

How to Improve Your Low SAT Score

Score 600 on SAT Math

Score 600 on SAT Reading and Writing

Find Your Target ACT Score

Complete Official Free ACT Practice Tests

How to Get a Perfect ACT Score, by a 36 Full Scorer

Get a 36 on ACT English

Get a 36 on ACT Math

Get a 36 on ACT Reading

Get a 36 on ACT Science

How to Improve Your Low ACT Score

Get a 24 on ACT English

Get a 24 on ACT Math

Get a 24 on ACT Reading

Get a 24 on ACT Science

Stay Informed

Get the latest articles and test prep tips!

Christine graduated from Michigan State University with degrees in Environmental Biology and Geography and received her Master's from Duke University. In high school she scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT and was named a National Merit Finalist. She has taught English and biology in several countries.

Ask a Question Below

Have any questions about this article or other topics? Ask below and we'll reply!

• Pregnancy Weeks
• Nursery Design
• Toddler Sleep
• White Noise

13 Science Activities for Toddlers That Make Learning a Blast

One of the best things about toddlers and preschool-aged kids is just how curious their minds are. Everything is endlessly fascinating, sparking lots of questions about how the world works. This makes toddlers and preschoolers the perfect age to start learning all about science with these 13 super-fun, hands-on activities that you can do right at home and with minimal supplies.

DIY Raincloud Science Activity for Toddlers

Image & activity via Team Cartwright

If your child has ever wanted to know how rain clouds form then this is will be a super fun activity, especially on an actual rainy day! Just grab a mason jar, shaving cream, and food coloring and you’re ready to go.

Walking Water Science Activity for Toddlers

Image & activity via The Best Ideas for Kids  

What would your child say if you told them that water can walk? With a few materials from around the kitchen, you and your kids can watch as water travels from one cup to another, culminating in a marvelous rainbow, thanks to this colorful science activity for toddlers.

DIY Bouncy Ball Science Activity for Preschoolers

Image & activity via The STEM Laboratory

Your little engineer will have a blast creating their very own bouncy balls with this simple science activity for preschoolers. You can even make your bouncy balls glow in the dark or sparkle with glitter…meaning that this science experiment can double as an art project.

DIY Stethoscope Science Activity for Toddlers

Got an aspiring doctor? Your mini-MD can start their rounds with a stethoscope they make all by themselves (or, okay, maybe with a little help from Chief Resident Mom or Dad). Though this tool fashioned from paper towel rolls and funnels may not look exactly like the stethoscope slung around your pediatrician’s neck, it does work! So that means with this science activity for toddlers, your kiddo can practice listening to the heartbeats of your entire household. 

Water Xylophone Science Activity for Kids

Image & activity via Little Bins for Little Hands

This science activity for toddlers is minimal on materials but big on learning. Using the magic of STEM, your wannabe musicians can tap into science to create a musical instrument out of glasses and water…and then tap out tune after tune!

Will It Float? Science Activity for Toddlers

Image & activity via There’s Just One Mommy

The classic science game for toddlers ‘Will It Float?’ gets a fun update with the help of colorful plastic eggs. Have your child fill each egg with small items from around the house then make guesses about which egg will sink or float.

Lemon Volcano Science Activity for Toddlers

Have a blast—literally— with this fun volcano science experiment for kids that combines chemistry with natural science. Who knew a lemon could pack such a punch?

DIY Dancing Popcorn Science Activity for Toddlers

Image & activity via Chaos and Calm

It turns out that baking soda + vinegar + popcorn is the recipe for one super-awesome dance party! This toddler science experiment may change the way your kiddo looks at popcorn forever. 

DIY Oobleck Science Activity for Toddlers

Image & activity via Research Parent

Sure, there are around one million slime recipes for kids…but slime lacks the fun name and back story of oobleck. This simple activity will keep your child endlessly fascinated. Not only is it a hands-on, tactile experiment but the physics behind how oobleck works is pretty cool too (Research Parent includes an explanation in the ir blog po st !).

Nature Scavenger Hunt Science Activity for Toddlers

Image & activity via Stay At Home Mum

Print off a scavenger hunt or create your own and then spend an hour wandering in nature with your child and pointing out all the marvelous things you can find. It’s the perfect way to combine discovery, movement, and fresh air!

Fizzy Ice Cube Science Activity for Toddlers

Image & activity via Busy Toddler

This twist on the ol’ vinegar-and-baking-soda experiment, this science activity for toddlers prolongs the fun by introducing ice into the equation! Freeze baking soda and water in an ice cube tray, then let kiddos use droppers full of vinegar to dissolve them in the most spectacular way.

DIY Scale Science Activity for Toddlers

Image & activity via Go Science Kids  

This science activity for kids is super simple…and you probably already own all of the materials you need! Simply rig up a scale with a hanger, string, and cups, and your kiddo can make guesses about which objects are heavier and then put them to the test. 

Make Your Own Ocean Zones Science Activity for Kids

Image & Activity via I Can Teach My Child

You don’t need to travel 20,000 leagues under the sea to find out how many layers exist in the deep blue. With this simple science experiment, kids can learn about ocean layers and even look up cool facts about the different kinds of life that exist in different zones of the ocean.

View more posts tagged, education & learning

Have questions about a Happiest Baby product? Our consultants would be happy to help! Submit your questions here.

Disclaimer: The information on our site is NOT medical advice for any specific person or condition. It is only meant as general information. If you have any medical questions and concerns about your child or yourself, please contact your health provider.

You may also like

In the 48 contiguous United States, customers will be charged $59.50 + tax for the shipment of SNOO back to Happiest Baby. Added charges will apply for shipping to and from Alaska and Hawaii.

* An additional $185 shipping fee will be applied to SNOO purchases sent to Hawaii and Alaska.

• Toys & Games
• Learning & Education
• Science Kits & Toys

No featured offers available

• Quality Price,
• Reliable delivery option, and
• Seller who offers good customer service

Sorry, there was a problem.

Image Unavailable

• To view this video download Flash Player

Learning Resources Primary Science Lab Activity Set - Science Kits for Kids Ages 3+ STEM Toys for Toddlers, Science Classroom Decor,Science Experiments

• Preschool Science Kits: Foster a curiosity for science by conducting real hands-on experiments
• Science Lab Set: Visually appealing science tools and easy-to-follow, beginner science activities
• Real Life Tools and Toddler Science Goggles: Learn the names of science tools and broaden your child's understanding of science terms
• 22 PIECE SET: Includes beaker, magnifying glass, funnel, eyedropper, flask, tweezers, goggles, 1 large 6" test tube (with lid and stand), 2 small test tubes (with lids and stands), plus 10 activity cards
• Get ready to explore the wide world around you with science discovery toys and tools that help kids build observation and critical thinking skills used by real scientists, school supplies,teacher supplies!

Featured items you may like

Product information

Product Dimensions	10.2 x 4.8 x 13.8 inches
Item Weight	2.49 pounds
ASIN	B0035EQDTU
Item model number	LER2784
Manufacturer recommended age	36 months - 5 years
Best Sellers Rank	#40,116 in Toys & Games ( ) #434 in
Customer Reviews	4.7 out of 5 stars
Is Discontinued By Manufacturer	No
Release date	March 13, 2019
Department	unisex-child
Manufacturer	Learning Resources

Fields with an asterisk * are required

: : : Enter the store name where you found this product : Please select province : to provide feedback. \n' + ' ' ); } function getThankYouDiv(thankMsg) { return ( ' \n' + '

' ); } function getLoadingGifDiv() { return '

Product Description

Experiment and explore with real science tools, perfectly sized for little hands. This colorful set encourages early hands-on science investigations at the kitchen table. 22-pieces include: beaker, magnifying glass, funnel, test tubes and more, all made of durable plastic. Also includes activity guide and cards with fun, easy-to-do experiments.

From the Manufacturer

Primary Science Set. Real science tools perfectly sized for little hands. Supports hands-on early science investigations. Colorful, durable set features measurement markings. Ten double-sided Activity Cards cover science process skills, living and nonliving things, physical science, senses and more. Includes beaker, magnifying glass, funnel, eyedropper, flask, tweezers, goggles, large 6” test tube and stand, 2 small test tubes and stand, plus Activity Guide. Grades PreK+. Set of 15.

Important information

Safety information.

Small Parts Warning

Top Brand: Learning Resources

From the manufacturer.

Learning Resources Primary Science Lab Set

Turn your home or classroom into a real kid-safe science lab with the tools and activities in the Primary Science Lab Set from Learning Resources!

Experiment along with the lab's 10 activity cards to learn about early biology, measurement, observation, and more!	Modeled after real lab equipment, this set's kid-safe science tool are sized just right for little hands!	Made from durable, wipe-clean plastic, these tools clean and store easily when experiment time is done!

Ages & Stages

With this toy's kid-safe experiments, your little scientists can build essential critical thinking, observations, and other early science skills!	Turn your home into a working laboratory with this toy's fun hands-on lessons in reactions, observations, and other early chemisty essentials!	From measurement and comparison to cause and effect, this toy teaches kids valuable ways to observe, record, and analyze the world around them!

Customer Reviews
Ages	3+	3+	3+	3+	3+
Product Description	Experiment and explore with real science tools, perfectly sized for little hands.	This deluxe lab encourages early science exploration. The set includes sturdy, long-lasting pieces and comprehensive activity cards that help guide the learning. There's even a write-and-wipe journal - perfect for a budding young scientist!	Our bestselling science kit for kids, now in pink! Kids learn experimentation, observation, and other essential STEM skills when the dive into science	Little ones will take a closer look and observe the world around them with this set of 6 colorful magnifiers that are made specially for small hands. Features super safe plastic lens and a flip out stand for hands-free viewing.	The Science of STEM: Kids discover observation, experimentation, and other essential STEM principles
Pieces	22	44	22	6	45

What's in the box

• Beaker, Magnifying glass, Funnel, Eyedropper, Flask, Tweezers, Goggles, 1 Large 6” test tube (with lid and stand), 2 Small test tubes (with lids and a stand), 10 activity cards

Product guides and documents

Videos for this product.

Click to play video

Experimenting with just about everything!

All Things Ken

Learning Resources Primary Science Lab Activity Set, Science Exploration, 22 Pieces, Ages 4+

Merchant Video

Learning Resources Lab Set

Melinda Bisram

Similar brands on Amazon

Looking for specific info?

Customer reviews.

• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 5 star 80% 12% 4% 1% 2% 80%
• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 4 star 80% 12% 4% 1% 2% 12%
• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 3 star 80% 12% 4% 1% 2% 4%
• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 2 star 80% 12% 4% 1% 2% 1%
• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 1 star 80% 12% 4% 1% 2% 2%

Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.

To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.

Customers say

Customers like the fun and easy experiments in the science fundamentals kit. They say the pieces are sturdy and well made. Customers also appreciate the quality of the set, saying it's a really good starter set. They find the experiments easy to follow and understand. Customers appreciate the large pieces and the right size for their hands.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Customers find the experiments in the science fundamentals kit fun and easy. They say it's a great way to keep a kid busy on a rainy day without electronics, and fun projects for younger kids. They also say it builds a love of science and introduces little children to science. They mention that the set comes with all kinds of home experiment suggestions printed on vibrant laminated cards.

"...There is a nice set of ten laminated cards with experiments on them, but I'm honestly not sure how much value they add to the set...." Read more

"...It’s a great way to introduce little children to science . My little 3 year old granddaughter loves this set!..." Read more

"...It's really good for very young kids (2-3 yrs.)..." Read more

"...but the durability of the set, combined with the fact that it makes a great bath toy , has not only caused us to really fall in love with this set,..." Read more

Customers like the sturdiness of the science fundamentals kit. They mention that the pieces are large and sturdy, made of durable plastic, and the magnifying glass is particularly sturdy. The equipment is great quality and feels authentic. That said, some customers feel the materials and experiments are complicated enough that a preschooler wouldn't be able to do.

"...fight over the goggles, which are nicely designed for younger kids, durable and comfortable to wear...." Read more

"My 3 year old loves this set. It is sturdy , and chunky and easy to use. It is definitely the best science kit for the PreK age group I have seen...." Read more

"... Good quality , lots of suggestions, easy to do experiments. Love it!" Read more

"...the internet and some of your own kitchen containers, but the durability of the set , combined with the fact that it makes a great bath toy, has not..." Read more

Customers are satisfied with the quality of the science fundamentals kit. They mention that it's a great set, with quality pieces. Some say that it is a good starter set, functional for smaller and more fumbly kids. Overall, most are happy with the product's quality and durability.

"This is such a fun & educational science set. It includes the “lab equipment ” you’ll need for the experiments, and there is a set of large cards in..." Read more

"...It is sturdy, and chunky and easy to use. It is definitely the best science kit for the PreK age group I have seen...." Read more

"...It comes with a set of goggles that are really pretty good quality ...." Read more

"...The putty was amazing to watch , but it turned out slightly crumbly. I may have followed the directions wrong, but my little guy didn't really notice...." Read more

Customers find the experiments in the science fundamentals kit easy to follow, read, and practice. They also say the cards that are included have very simple experiments using common kitchen items that are easy for kids to understand. Customers also love the instruction cards, which tell them everything they need for the project. They mention the activities cards are simple, not time or resource intensive, and the tools are just what you need for these simple experiments.

"...For one thing, the experiments are so simple ..." Read more

"My toddler loved these easy to follow science experiments !! Highly suggest getting this...." Read more

"My 3 year old loves this set. It is sturdy, and chunky and easy to use . It is definitely the best science kit for the PreK age group I have seen...." Read more

"...Good quality, lots of suggestions, easy to do experiments . Love it!" Read more

Customers like the size of the science fundamentals kit. They mention that the pieces are the right size for their hands, the materials are sturdy, and the experiment cards are large enough for them to use. Some customers also say that the box is roomy enough that they can easily pack it all away with room to spare.

"...All of the instruments are just the right size for them to hold and manipulate and see through...." Read more

"...cards have pictures of the items to use and very toddler friendly sized science products !" Read more

"...The instruction cards are easy to use and printed on large laminated cards , but a lot of times I find the kids just making their own &#..." Read more

"...glasses for him well and the temple pieces extend so they should fit for some time ...." Read more

Customers find the design of the science fundamentals kit cute, eye-catching, and fun. They also appreciate the nice pictures and vibrant laminated cards. Customers also love that it comes with brightly colored laminated project cards.

"...I love that it comes with brightly colored laminated project cards ...." Read more

"...A cute little set of laboratory items that include: safety goggles; magnifying glass; flask; beaker; 2 short test tubes in a rack; one tall test..." Read more

"...It has a very realistic look to the young ones with the "official" beakers and test tubes...." Read more

"This is a really cute science set for little kids. I bought this for my friend's toddler and she loved it...." Read more

Customers find the science fundamentals kit worth the price. They say it's a great buy and will provide fun for years to come.

"...It is well worth the price paid for all the items that are included..." Read more

"...They're worth every penny . I'm even considering buying a second set so there's more for my kids to play with." Read more

"... Worth the price , we will have fun with this for years to come I am sure." Read more

"...But it isn't a great value .The bulk of what you are getting here is just plastic containers...." Read more

Customers find the science fundamentals kit to be a great product for a wide range of ages. They also say the product is sturdy and safe for young kids. Some mention that the activity cards are age appropriate and help to introduce basic STEM concepts.

"...They fight over the goggles, which are nicely designed for younger kids , durable and comfortable to wear...." Read more

"...I would recommend this to anyone. It's extremely sturdy and safe while being tons of fun. My kids beg to 'do' science...." Read more

"I bought this for my 3 yr old. The safety glasses for him well and the temple pieces extend so they should fit for some time...." Read more

"...worries about independent play since everything in this set is SAFE for little ones ...." Read more

Reviews with images

• Sort reviews by Top reviews Most recent Top reviews

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. please try again later..

Top reviews from other countries

• About Amazon
• Investor Relations
• Amazon Devices
• Amazon Science
• Sell products on Amazon
• Sell on Amazon Business
• Sell apps on Amazon
• Become an Affiliate
• Advertise Your Products
• Self-Publish with Us
• Host an Amazon Hub
• › See More Make Money with Us
• Amazon Business Card
• Shop with Points
• Reload Your Balance
• Amazon Currency Converter
• Amazon and COVID-19
• Your Account
• Your Orders
• Shipping Rates & Policies
• Returns & Replacements
• Manage Your Content and Devices

• Conditions of Use
• Privacy Notice
• Consumer Health Data Privacy Disclosure
• Your Ads Privacy Choices

A child accidentally smashed a 3,500-year-old artifact on a museum trip in every parent's worst nightmare

• A young boy accidentally smashed a 3,500-year-old jar at the Hecht Museum in Israel.
• The jar, dating back to the Bronze Age, was displayed without glass barriers.
• The museum will not punish the child and plans to restore the jar.

It's every parent's worst nightmare.

During a visit to the Hecht Museum at the University of Haifa in Israel, a young boy's father was shocked to see his son next to a shattered Bronze Age jar.

The boy's father told the  BBC  that he first thought, "It wasn't my child that did it," but then told the museum guards what happened after his son had calmed down.

The museum said it would not punish the child for the incident as it was an accident.

"There are instances where display items are intentionally damaged, and such cases are treated with great severity, including involving the police," said Lihi Laszlo, a spokesperson for the University of Haifa, which operates the museum.

The jar has been at the museum for 35 years, Sky News reported.

Related stories

The museum said it dates to the Bronze Age between 2200 BC and 1500 BC , predating the time of King David. It was likely intended to store and transport local supplies, mainly wine and olive oil.

Similar jars have been found in archaeological excavations, but most were found broken or incomplete, making this intact jar especially rare.

The jar was on display near the museum entrance without any glass barriers — an unusual practice for museums but one in keeping with the founder's vision to make archaeological items accessible to the public, Inbal Rivlin, the museum's director, said.

"The museum believes that there is a special charm in experiencing an archaeological find without any obstructions, and despite the rare incident with the jar, the Hecht Museum will continue this tradition," Rivlin told Business Insider in a statement.

Rivlin publicly invited the boy and his family to an organized tour of the museum later this week, which they have agreed to attend.

A conservation specialist was also asked to restore the jar, and it is expected to be returned to its former glory soon.

Editor's note: August 28, 2024 — An earlier version of this story may have misstated the age of the child who broke the vase. Business Insider has not independently confirmed his age, so references to it have been removed from the story.

Watch: Meet the artisan reviving the 2,000-year-old art of parchment-making in Turkey

• Main content

Officials probe death of Wells Fargo employee found in her cubicle 4 days after last scanning into work

A 60-year-old Arizona Wells Fargo employee scanned into her office on a Friday on what appeared to be an ordinary workday. Then, four days later, she was found dead in her cubicle.

Denise Prudhomme, 60, was found dead on Aug. 20 in her office in Tempe, police said.

She had last scanned in the building at 7 a.m. on Aug. 16, a Friday, and there was no further scan in or out of the office, authorities said.

Tempe police responded to the Wells Fargo office in the 1100 block of West Washington Street after on-site security called about an employee they believed to be dead. She was pronounced dead at 4:55 p.m., police said.

The cause of death is pending determination by the Maricopa County medical examiner. Police said the preliminary investigation showed no obvious signs of foul play.

The investigation continues.

It's not clear how Prudhomme had gone unnoticed for so long. NBC affiliate KPNX of Phoenix reported that she worked in a cubicle on the third floor, away from the main aisle.

An employee who spoke with KPNX on the condition of anonymity said that a colleague found her at her desk while walking around the building and that several people had smelled a foul odor but believed it to be faulty plumbing. 

Wells Fargo confirmed she sat in an underpopulated area of the building.

“We are deeply saddened by the loss of our colleague, Denise Prudhomme. Our thoughts are with her family and loved ones, and we are in contact to ensure they are well supported during this difficult time,” the company said in a statement Thursday .

It said that it is "committed to the safety and wellness of our workforce" and that it is "reviewing our own internal procedures after this event."

Counselors have been made available to support employees. Prudhomme's fellow employees were told of her death after the company notified her family, Wells Fargo said.

Marlene Lenthang is a breaking news reporter for NBC News Digital.

• Share full article

Advertisement

Supported by

Books for Kids Starting Middle School

From a Judy Blume classic to mysteries both otherworldly and close to home, these 11 titles capture the nerve-racking first days of tweendom — and all the wonderful and terrible days that follow.

By Jennifer Hubert Swan

Jennifer Hubert Swan is the library department chair at the Hackley School in Tarrytown, N.Y.

As a career school librarian, I have experienced many exhilarating (and exhausting) first days of middle school. All summer long, it seems like that fabled first day will never come: Then, in a rush of hugs, high fives and assemblies, it’s over before you’ve even had a chance to stop and smell the cafeteria pizza. These 11 titles that range from the sublime to the ridiculous aptly convey those nerve-racking first days of junior high — and all the wonderful and terrible days that follow.

Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.

By judy blume.

For many current and former middle schoolers, reading AYTGIMM is a rite of passage. This classic bildungsroman for the prepubescent pack is also an exceptional starting-school story: Who can forget Margaret’s argument with her mother about not wearing socks with her brown loafers because “Nancy says nobody in the sixth grade wears socks on the first day of school!” Fortunately, Gen Z doesn’t have that problem .

Dread Detention

By jennifer killick.

Sometimes middle school is actually hell. When seventh graders Angelo, Hallie, Gustav and Naira show up to serve Saturday detention at Dread Wood Academy, they have no clue that they are about to discover a mad scientists’ lab and be stalked by giant, mutant arachnids. Wickedly funny horror aside, what sets this paperback apart are the thoughtful character arcs: Each student is hiding a secret that, once shared, creates an unbreakable bond that allows the group to face their personal and real demons together.

We are having trouble retrieving the article content.

Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.

Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and  log into  your Times account, or  subscribe  for all of The Times.

Thank you for your patience while we verify access.

Already a subscriber?  Log in .

Want all of The Times?  Subscribe .