Welcome to our collection of fun and easy science experiments for preschoolers. they are especially handpicked for our tiniest tinkerers and budding scientists. These experiments provide a safe and engaging environment for children to observe, question, and discover.
Activities on this list aren’t about complex theories or lengthy explanations. They’re about the joy of discovery, the magic of “why,” and the thrill of the “aha!” moment.
In the age of preschool kids, curiosity knows no bounds. Every raindrop is a mystery, every shadow a playful game, and every bubble a burst of joy.
At this tender age, the line between magic and science is delightfully blurred. Therefore, this is the perfect time for preschoolers to embark on whimsical science experiments. Science experiments for preschoolers tickle the imagination. It also brings about a foundational love for the wonders of the world.
Guided by experienced educators, each of this science experiments for preschoolers are thoughtfully crafted to ensure age-appropriate materials. Also, it involves simple instructions and plenty of opportunities for hands-on exploration.
It’s never too early to foster a love of science.
While preschoolers can’t comprehend advanced scientific concepts, you should still incorporate STEM and STEAM experiments into their everyday lives.
The science activities for preschoolers in this article will spark your little one’s curiosity, provide easy entertainment, and teach them about the world’s workings. Some activities have the bonus of sensory play and fine motor skill development.
Keep reading for instructions on some fun and engaging at-home science experiments for preschoolers.
What is the Importance of these Science Experiments for Preschoolers?
Science experiments for preschoolers at home are more than just fun. They help children learn in exciting ways. These science activities for preschoolers develop curiosity by encouraging kids to ask questions about the world. This builds critical thinking skills.
Hands-on science experiments for preschoolers improve problem-solving abilities. Preschoolers learn to observe, predict, and test ideas in creative ways. Science activities for preschoolers teach basic science concepts, like colors, shapes, and reactions. These lessons are easy to understand for young kids.
When kids do experiments with their parents, it creates bonding time. Families learn together and enjoy meaningful activities. Science experiments for preschoolers at home also prepare preschoolers for future learning. They develop skills needed for school and beyond.
In essence, these science activities for preschoolers make learning fun, strengthen family bonds, and build essential skills for little learners.
Every day is a new opportunity for our youngest learners to ask “Why?” over and over. Tap into that curiosity with these fun and engaging science activities for preschoolers.
These simple science activities for preschoolers 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 science activities for preschoolers based on difficulty and materials as seen below:
Difficulty:
- Easy: These are low-prep 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.
Materials:
- 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.
10 Fun and Engaging At-Home, but Effective and Impactful Science Experiments for Preschoolers
1. Milk Painting
Difficulty: Easy
This experiment is low-prep and quick to set up with minimal effort required.
Materials: Basic
All materials—milk, food coloring, dish soap, and cotton swabs—are commonly found at home.
This is one of the science experiments for preschoolers that will amaze visual and hands-on learners!
Steps for Milk Painting
- Fill a plate or bowl with milk (higher fat content works best) and add a few drops of food coloring.
- Dip a cotton swab or toothpick in dish soap, then encourage your child to swirl it around the colorful milk.
The motions will create a marbled effect that’ll generate plenty of “oohs” and “ahhs” from your preschooler. Be careful of over-mixing, though, or the masterpiece will turn brown.
You can also take this activity one step further by capturing your preschooler’s science experiment as artwork. Simply grab a piece of paper, and dip it in the milk solution to capture the swirls of color. When done, hang it up to dry. Voilà! A piece of abstract artwork for your fridge.
The detailed guide video for this experiment is below:
Milk Painting is perfect for preschoolers who enjoy creative and colorful activities. The swirling colors are a visual treat and a fun introduction to chemistry!
2. Oil and Water Experiment
Difficulty: Easy
This experiment is quick and simple to set up, requiring minimal preparation.
Materials: Basic
The materials—oil, water, food coloring, and glass—are everyday household items.
Steps for Oil and Water Experiment
- Squirt food coloring into a few tablespoons of vegetable or olive oil.
- Pour the mixture into a glass of water.
Oil, which is denser than water, will remain at the top of the glass. Food coloring, which is denser than oil because of its water base, will “fall down” and create “fireworks” below.
Your child will get a kick out of the colorful rain shower, and they’ll see the effects of density firsthand.
The detailed guide video for this experiment is below:
This experiment is an exciting way to teach preschoolers about density. The colorful “fireworks” will fascinate them and spark curiosity!
3. Invisible Ink Experiment
Difficulty: Easy
This experiment is low-prep and simple, requiring little setup or time commitment.
Materials: Basic
Lemon juice, water, paper, and a paintbrush or cotton swab are everyday household items.
With this unique science experiment, your preschooler will reach secret agent status!
Steps for Invisible Ink Experiment
- Squeeze the juice from one lemon into a bowl, along with a spoonful of water.
- Please have your child grab a paintbrush or cotton swab.
- Dip it in the lemon juice mixture, and paint on a piece of paper.
- Hold the paper up in the sunlight or near a lamp to see the science magic happen when the paper dries!
Once dried, you won’t be able to see where your child painted with the lemon juice. It’ll miraculously appear in sunlight, near a lightbulb, or under an iron. How? Lemon juice turns brown from oxidation when it heats up.
The detailed guide video for this experiment is below:
Invisible Ink is one of the magical science experiments for preschoolers. It’s an exciting way to teach about oxidation and create secret messages!
4. Homemade Slime
Difficulty: Medium
This activity requires a bit of mixing and measuring but is still manageable for preschoolers with adult help.
Materials: Medium
You may need to purchase specific items like glue, baking soda, and contact solution if they aren’t already at home.
No preschooler can turn down the joys of homemade slime! You can an infinite number of slime tutorials online, but here is one popular recipe that’s simple enough for little ones.
Steps to Making Homemade Slime
- A bottle of glue (such as Elmer’s).
- ½ teaspoon of baking soda.
- 1½ tablespoons of contact solution.
Combine the ingredients, adding fun mix-ins like glitter or food coloring if desired. Add warm water for stretchier slime, and mix in cornstarch for a drier variety.
Once it’s ready, encourage your preschooler to explore the slimy creation. Can they flatten it, roll it, stretch it out, or transform it into a ball? Playing with the slime offers a fun sensory and textural experience and helps develop motor skills.
The detailed guide video for this experiment is below:
Homemade Slime is one of the best exciting science experiments for preschoolers at home. It’s perfect for sensory play and boosts motor skills while having lots of fun!
5. Sink or Float Experiment
Difficulty: Easy
This is a simple activity that requires minimal setup and can be done anytime.
Materials: Basic
The required materials—water-safe items, a container, and water—are typically available at home.
Step to Conducting the Sink or Float Experiment
To set up this preschooler science experiment, you’ll just need a large container (think: kiddie pool, bathtub, storage box, or even a very large mixing bowl), water, and a variety of water-safe objects.
First, fill your container with water. Then lay out a variety of objects with different densities. Try sticks, stones, coins, bath toys, leaves, marbles, corks, sponges, rubber bands, and waterproof toys.
Have your child put each item into the water to see whether it sinks or floats. You can even practice giving a hypothesis by asking your child what they think will happen and why and then testing their idea.
This activity introduces the concepts of buoyancy and density, and the sensory and water play aspects will keep preschoolers entertained.
The detailed guide video for this experiment is below:
Sink or Float is a fun way to teach preschoolers about buoyancy and density. It’s hands-on, sensory, and encourages curiosity!
6. Cleaning Pennies without Scrubbing
Difficulty: Easy
This is a simple activity that requires minimal setup and can be done anytime.
Materials: Basic
The required materials—water-safe items, a container, and water—are typically available at home.
Although preschoolers don’t necessarily understand chemical reactions, they find the visual evidence appealing! This experiment from Science Buddies involves cleaning dirty pennies without scrubbing.
Steps for Cleaning Pennies without Scrubbing
First, scrounge up some pennies from your wallet and coin jar—the dirtier, the better! Then, pour some vinegar into a glass, add about a teaspoon of salt, and stir to combine.
Then have your child dump the dirty pennies into the concoction and mix them around for a few minutes. Remove the pennies, wash them off, and admire their new shiny surface (courtesy of the chemical reaction of the vinegar, salt, and copper oxide).
The detailed guide video for this experiment is below:
Sink or Float is a fun way to teach preschoolers about buoyancy and density. It’s hands-on, sensory, and encourages curiosity!
7. Make Music using Water
Difficulty: Easy
This experiment is simple and quick to set up, requiring very little preparation.
Materials: Basic
The materials—glasses, water, and a spoon—are items you likely already have at home.
This science activity for preschoolers from Hands On As We Grow involves making music.
Steps for Making Music Using Water
- Gather a handful of glasses and fill them with varying amounts of water.
- Have your child tap on the glasses with an object, such as a spoon, to create some catchy tunes.
They’ll quickly learn that each glass lends a different noise, thanks to the sound waves moving through the water. Fuller glasses make deeper sounds, while emptier glasses correlate to higher pitches.
The detailed guide video for this experiment is below:
Make Music Using Water is a fun way for preschoolers to explore sound and pitch. It combines science and creativity in an engaging activity!
8. Yardstick Catapult
Difficulty: Medium
This activity requires some setup, including gluing and attaching parts, but it’s manageable with basic tools.
Materials: Medium
While many items (yardsticks, cups, rubber bands) are common, a clean metal can might need to be sourced.
This DIY catapult launcher project from Rachelle Doorley at Tinkerlab will provide hours of scientific fun.
Steps for Making a Yardstick Catapult
- Glue plastic party cups to the end of a yardstick.
- After it’s dry, position a clean metal can (like a coffee can) halfway down the yardstick
- Attach the metal can with rubber bands.
- Load small, soft items (like lightweight balls or toys) into the cups, and have your child step down on the opposite end of the yardstick.
The downward force will launch the items across the room! Your preschooler can also try different objects and varying amounts of effort.
The detailed guide video for this experiment is below:
The Yardstick Catapult is an exciting way for preschoolers to explore force, motion, and energy. They’ll love experimenting with different objects and launch techniques!
9. Volcanic Eruption
Difficulty: Easy
This experiment is quick to set up and involves minimal preparation, making it suitable for any time.
Materials: Basic
The materials—baking soda, vinegar, and optional water—are inexpensive and easily available at home.
Steps to Creating a Volcanic Eruption
This preschool science activity requires just two simple ingredients which are baking soda and vinegar. When mixed in equal amounts, a chemical reaction creates fizzing that resembles a volcanic eruption!
Experiment with different amounts of baking soda and vinegar, and add water to the mixture. How do the results change with each different concoction?
The detailed guide video for this experiment is below:
Volcanic Eruption is an exciting science experiment for preschoolers at home. It introduces kids to chemical reactions in a fun way!
10. Floating Dry Erase Rainbow and Shapes Experiment
Difficulty: Medium
This experiment requires a bit more effort to ensure the shapes float correctly, making it a little more involved.
Materials: Medium
You’ll need a dry-erase marker, a smooth surface (like a plate or glass), and water, which might not be on hand for everyone.
The Floating Dry Erase Rainbow and Shapes Experiment is a captivating preschool science activity that engages young minds. It also introduces fundamental concepts of buoyancy and color mixing.
Steps to Conducting the Floating Dry Erase Rainbow and Shapes Experiment
- Use a dry-erase marker to draw shapes or patterns on a smooth plate or glass surface.
- Let the drawings dry for a few seconds.
- Slowly pour water onto the surface, ensuring it gently touches the drawings.
- Watch as the shapes lift off the surface and float on the water!
Your preschooler can experiment with different designs to see how they float. It’s simple and amazing!
The detailed guide video for this experiment is below:
This experiment fascinates preschoolers as they watch drawn shapes lift off and float. It’s a great way to explore buoyancy and color blending!
11. Grow Grass in an Eggshell
Difficulty: Medium
This activity requires a bit of setup, including preparing the eggshells and planting the seeds.
Materials: Medium
While soil and grass seeds may not be readily available at home, they are easy to find in stores.
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 eggshells.
Steps for Growing Grass in an Eggshell
- Prepare the eggshells: Gently crack eggs, empty them, and rinse the shells. Let them dry completely.
- Decorate: Use a permanent marker to draw faces or designs on the eggshells.
- Add soil: Fill each eggshell about 3/4 full with soil.
- Plant seeds: Sprinkle grass seeds on top of the soil and lightly cover them.
- Water: Add a small amount of water to keep the soil moist, but don’t overwater.
- Place in sunlight: Put the eggshells in a sunny spot and water daily.
Growing grass in an eggshell is a creative way to teach preschoolers about plant life. However, decorating the eggshells makes it even more fun!
The detailed guide video for this experiment is below:
Watch the grass grow within a week, turning the eggshells into mini planters!
12. Send a Ghost Flying with Magnets
Difficulty: Medium
This activity requires some setup, including creating the ghost and positioning the magnets.
Materials: Basic
You’ll need common items like tissue paper, magnets, and string, which are easily available at home.
How to Create a Ghost Flying with Magnets
- Create the Ghost: Cut a small ghost shape from tissue paper.
- Add a Magnet: Attach a lightweight magnet or a small paperclip to the ghost.
- Set the Scene: Tie a string to the ghost to dangle it in the air.
- Use Another Magnet: Move another magnet near the ghost to make it “fly” by repelling or attracting it.
- Experiment: Let your preschooler move the magnet around to see how the ghost floats!
It’s a simple and fun way to explore magnetism while celebrating Halloween. 🎃👻
The detailed guide video for this experiment is below:
13. Marshmallow Peeps Boat Experiment
Difficulty: Medium
This experiment requires some setup, such as crafting sails and testing designs, which takes extra effort.
Materials: Medium
Marshmallow Peeps and crafting supplies (e.g., toothpicks, paper for sails) may need to be purchased if not on hand.
Pick up a package of marshmallow Peeps (they’re usually available during all 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.
Steps to Conduct Marshmallow Peeps Boat Experiment:
- Gather Materials: Get marshmallow Peeps, toothpicks, paper, scissors, and a bowl or tub of water.
- Build the Boat: Insert a toothpick into a marshmallow Peep to act as the mast. Attach a small paper sail to the mast.
- Test in Water: Place the Peep boat in the water and see if it floats.
- Experiment with Sails: Try different sail sizes and shapes. Observe how they affect the boat’s movement.
- Make It Move: Blow air or use a fan to propel the boat. See which sail design works best for speed.
Enjoy experimenting and discovering what works!
The detailed guide video for this experiment is below:
This activity combines creativity with science as kids learn about buoyancy and aerodynamics. It’s a fun and engaging experiment for preschoolers!
14. Launch Plastic Egg Rockets
Difficulty: Medium
This experiment requires some setup and safety precautions, making it slightly more involved than simpler activities.
Materials: Medium
You may need to buy Alka-Seltzer tablets and plastic eggs if you don’t already have them.
Put on some safety goggles and get ready for liftoff! This simple experiment uses Alka-Seltzer tablets to turn eggs into rockets.
Steps for Launching Plastic Egg Rockets
- Prepare Materials: Gather plastic eggs, Alka-Seltzer tablets, water, and safety goggles.
- Add Water: Fill the bottom half of the plastic egg with water.
- Insert Alka-Seltzer: Break an Alka-Seltzer tablet into pieces and add to the water.
- Close the Egg: Quickly snap the top half of the egg onto the bottom half.
- Step Back: Place the egg on a flat surface and stand back.
- Watch the Launch: The chemical reaction creates gas, building pressure until the egg “blasts off”!
Always supervise preschoolers during this experiment to ensure safety.
The detailed guide video for this experiment is below:
This exciting experiment introduces preschoolers to chemical reactions and propulsion. It’s a fun and engaging way to learn about science safely!
15. Make a Bouncy Egg
Difficulty: Medium
This experiment requires some patience as the egg needs to soak in vinegar for several hours.
Materials: Medium
You’ll need vinegar and a raw egg—both are easy to obtain but not usually in your everyday supplies.
The bouncy egg experiment demonstrates a chemical reaction and changes in physical properties, making it a great hands-on learning experience for preschoolers.
Steps to Make a Bouncy Egg
- Place a raw egg in a cup or bowl.
- Cover the egg completely with vinegar.
- Let the egg soak in the vinegar for at least 24 hours.
- Check the egg—it should feel soft and bouncy due to the reaction between the vinegar and the eggshell.
- Carefully rinse the egg under water to remove the vinegar.
- The egg is now ready to be bounced without breaking!
The detailed guide video for this experiment is below:
16. Dissolve Colorful Turkey “Feathers”
Difficulty: Medium
This experiment requires a bit of setup to create the turkey with baking soda feathers.
Materials: Basic
Baking soda and vinegar are common household items, making this easy to prepare.
Steps for Dissolve Colorful Turkey “Feathers”
- Create the Turkey: Shape a small ball of dough or clay for the turkey’s body.
- Add Baking Soda Feathers: Mold “feathers” using baking soda or sprinkle baking soda on paper feathers attached to the turkey.
- Prepare Vinegar: Pour vinegar into a small container or bottle.
- Dissolve the Feathers: Using a dropper or spoon, pour vinegar onto the baking soda feathers.
- Watch the Reaction: Observe as the feathers foam and fizz, delighting your preschooler!
This Thanksgiving-themed activity combines creativity and science. The detailed guide for this experiment can be seen here. Preschoolers will love watching the fizzy reaction as the “feathers” dissolve!
Conclusion
These science experiments for preschoolers at home are simple and fun. They help kids learn through play and discovery.
These 16 activities will keep your preschooler curious and entertained. Try them today and enjoy quality learning time together. Make science fun for your little explorers!
Remember, It’s never too early to foster a love of science.