Introduction

Have you ever watched your preschooler’s eyes light up when they discover something new? Early childhood is the perfect time to nurture your child’s curiosity with simple science experiments and other hands-on science activities. These science experiments for preschoolers aren’t just fun—they also lay the groundwork for critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and a lifelong love of learning! Each of the easy science experiments for kids below is simple to set up, uses everyday household materials, and can be done right in your kitchen or backyard. They make great preschool science experiments at home or in a classroom setting.

1. Magic Milk

• Materials: Shallow dish, whole milk, dish soap, cotton swab, food coloring
• Instructions:
  1. Pour enough milk to cover the bottom of the dish.
  2. Add drops of different food coloring.
  3. Dip the cotton swab in dish soap, then touch the surface of the milk.
  4. Watch as the colors swirl around in a dazzling display!

Science Tip: Milk has fats and proteins that react with the soap, causing the colors to move like magic. This is one of the most simple science experiments that preschoolers love!

2. Fizzy Volcano

• Materials: Small cup or container, baking soda, vinegar, food coloring (optional)
• Instructions:
  1. Place a teaspoon of baking soda in the cup.
  2. Add a drop or two of food coloring if you like.
  3. Pour vinegar over the baking soda and watch it fizz and overflow.

Science Tip: This classic reaction happens when the acid (vinegar) meets the base (baking soda), producing carbon dioxide gas. It’s a perfect example of science experiments for preschoolers that show chemical reactions in a fun way.

3. Rainbow Walking Water

• Materials: 6 clear cups, paper towels, water, food coloring
• Instructions:
  1. Arrange the cups in a row. Fill every other cup with water and add food coloring (red, yellow, blue).
  2. Roll paper towels into strips and place one end in a cup with water and the other end in an empty cup.
  3. Observe how water “walks” up the paper towel into the empty cups, creating new colors where they meet.

Science Tip: Capillary action allows the water to travel against gravity through the tiny fibers in the paper towel. This hands-on science activity helps children see how colors mix and move.

4. Static Balloon Dance

• Materials: Balloons, tiny paper scraps or tissue paper
• Instructions:
  1. Inflate and tie a balloon.
  2. Rub the balloon on your hair or on a wool sweater for about 10 seconds.
  3. Hold the balloon close to the paper scraps.
  4. Watch the bits of paper “dance” up to the balloon and stick to it.

Science Tip: Rubbing the balloon transfers electrons, creating static electricity that attracts light objects. This is an easy science experiment for kids that illustrates the basics of static charge.

5. Sink or Float?

• Materials: Large bowl or tub of water, various household objects (toy boat, rock, cork, spoon)
• Instructions:
  1. Fill a bowl or tub with water.
  2. Collect small items from around the house.
  3. Ask your preschooler to predict if each object will sink or float, then test it.

Science Tip: Objects float if they are less dense than water and sink if they’re more dense. This is one of those science activities for preschoolers that makes them think like little scientists.

6. Homemade Lava Lamp

• Materials: Clear plastic bottle or tall glass, oil, water, food coloring, fizzing tablet (like Alka-Seltzer)
• Instructions:
  1. Fill the bottle about 3/4 with oil, then top it with water.
  2. Add a few drops of food coloring.
  3. Drop in a fizzing tablet and watch the colored bubbles dance!

Science Tip: The fizzing tablet releases carbon dioxide bubbles that carry colored water to the top before they pop and sink again. This simple science experiment creates a mesmerizing effect kids love.

7. Bubbling Dinosaur Eggs (Frozen)

• Materials: Small plastic dinosaurs, baking soda, water, food coloring (optional), vinegar
• Instructions:
  1. Mix baking soda with a bit of water until you can form a thick paste.
  2. Encapsulate a small toy dinosaur in the paste, shaping it like an egg.
  3. Freeze the “eggs.”
  4. Once frozen, place them in a bowl and pour vinegar over them to melt and fizz away the “shell.”

Science Tip: This uses the same acid-base reaction as the fizzy volcano, but adds an exciting twist with hidden dinosaurs. It’s perfect for preschool science experiments that engage young imaginations.

8. Color-Changing Celery

• Materials: Celery stalks with leaves, water, food coloring, clear cups
• Instructions:
  1. Fill a cup halfway with water and add a few drops of food coloring.
  2. Place the celery stalk in the colored water.
  3. Observe over several hours (or overnight) as the celery leaves change color.

Science Tip: Plants absorb water through their stems, showing capillary action. This hands-on science activity helps illustrate how plants stay hydrated.

9. Egg in Vinegar (Naked Egg)

• Materials: Raw egg, glass or jar, vinegar
• Instructions:
  1. Carefully place a raw egg in a jar.
  2. Fill the jar with vinegar until the egg is fully submerged.
  3. Let it sit for 24-48 hours, then gently remove the egg. The shell dissolves, leaving a bouncy, translucent membrane.

Science Tip: The acetic acid in vinegar dissolves the calcium carbonate shell, revealing a soft membrane. Another great example of science experiments for preschoolers.

10. Musical Water Glasses

• Materials: Several identical glasses or jars, water, wooden spoon
• Instructions:
  1. Line up the glasses and fill them with different levels of water.
  2. Gently tap each glass with a wooden spoon.
  3. Notice how each glass makes a different musical note!

Science Tip: The pitch depends on the amount of water in each glass—the more water, the lower the pitch. This is an easy science experiment for kids that blends science and music.

Conclusion

Preschool science experiments don’t have to be complicated or expensive. With just a few household supplies and a bit of creativity, you can transform ordinary objects into hands-on science activities. These science activities for preschoolers help them discover how the world works and foster a sense of wonder that will last a lifetime. Feeling inspired? Gather your materials, pick a few simple science experiments, and watch your child’s face light up with each new discovery!

Useful Links:

• Science Buddies (Preschool STEM Activities)
  https://www.sciencebuddies.org/stem-activities/preschool
  Science Buddies offers a variety of science, technology, engineering, and math activities specifically curated for preschoolers.
• Steve Spangler Science
  https://www.stevespanglerscience.com/
  Known for exciting, hands-on experiments, Steve Spangler Science provides both free experiment ideas and related teaching resources.
• Exploratorium (Tinkering Studio & Educational Resources)
  https://www.exploratorium.edu/education
  The Exploratorium’s education portal is filled with creative science activities suitable for young learners and their teachers.
• NASA Kids’ Club
  https://www.nasa.gov/kidsclub
  NASA’s Kids’ Club features fun, space-themed activities and experiments that can spark early interest in astronomy and STEM fields.
• National Geographic Kids
  https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/
  Provides child-friendly articles, videos, and simple science project ideas focused on nature, wildlife, geography, and more.
• American Chemical Society – Adventures in Chemistry
  https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/education/whatischemistry/adventures-in-chemistry.html
  Offers easy chemistry-related activities and experiments designed with younger kids in mind, encouraging curiosity about reactions and materials.
• PBS KIDS
  https://pbskids.org/
  Features interactive games and videos tied to STEM concepts, along with parent and teacher resources for bringing science to life.
• Scholastic Parents (Early Learning)
  https://www.scholastic.com/parents/books-and-reading.html
  While focused on literacy, Scholastic Parents also shares early learning activities, including science experiments and tips for preschoolers.