Top 20 Science Activities for Preschoolers: Fun, Easy, and Educational Experiments

Science activities offer more than just fun, they support young children’s overall development in meaningful ways:

• Boost Cognitive Skills: Experiments encourage observation, comparison, and problem-solving. Children learn to make predictions, notice patterns, and understand cause-and-effect relationships.

Read more: 15 BEST COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES FOR PRESCHOOLERS

• Enhance Motor Skills: Handling materials, pouring, stirring, and manipulating objects strengthens fine motor coordination and hand-eye control.
• Foster Social and Emotional Growth: Working alongside peers promotes communication, cooperation, and confidence while allowing children to share ideas and celebrate discoveries.
• Lay the Foundation for STEM Learning: Early exposure to science, technology, engineering, and maths concepts sparks curiosity and encourages logical thinking from a young age.
• Encourage Curiosity and Creativity: Hands-on activities inspire children to ask questions, explore solutions, and develop a love of learning that extends beyond the classroom.

By integrating science activities into daily routines, children not only enjoy playful experimentation but also build essential skills that support lifelong learning.

Science can be fun, hands-on, and part of everyday learning. These activities are designed to be safe, engaging, and educational, using simple materials you likely already have at home or in the classroom.

Each activity includes materials, step-by-step instructions, learning outcomes, and tips to encourage observation and discussion.

1. Dancing Rice Experiment

Materials: Rice, vinegar, baking soda, food coloring, bowl

Instructions:

1. Color some rice with a few drops of food coloring.
2. Put the colored rice into a bowl.
3. Add a spoonful of baking soda and stir gently.
4. Pour vinegar over the rice and watch it “dance” as bubbles form.

Learning Outcomes: Children explore chemical reactions in a visual, hands-on way and begin to understand how mixing substances can create changes.

Tips: Ask children what they notice, what they hear, and what they feel. Encourage them to predict what will happen before adding the vinegar.

2. Sink or Float Challenge

Materials: Water container, small objects (spoon, cork, coin, toy)

Instructions:

1. Fill a container with water.
2. Ask children to guess which objects will sink or float.
3. Test each object and discuss why some float while others sink.

Learning Outcomes: Introduces concepts like density and buoyancy while strengthening observation and prediction skills.

Tips: Turn it into a game by giving points for correct guesses. Ask children to explain their reasoning.

3. Magic Pepper and Soap Experiment

Materials: Shallow plate, water, pepper, dish soap

Instructions:

1. Fill a plate with water and sprinkle pepper on top.
2. Dip a finger in dish soap and touch the water’s surface.
3. Watch the pepper move away immediately.

Learning Outcomes: Demonstrates surface tension in a simple, visual way. Children see cause-and-effect in action.

Tips: Encourage children to experiment with different amounts of soap or pepper. Ask them why they think the pepper moves.

4. Color Mixing with Water

Materials: Clear containers, water, primary color food coloring

Instructions:

1. Fill three containers with water and add primary colors: red, blue, yellow.
2. Mix two colors in a new container to see what new color appears.
3. Observe and discuss the results.

Learning Outcomes: Teaches basic color theory and encourages creativity, observation, and prediction.

Tips: Ask children to guess what color will appear and encourage them to draw or paint what they see.

5. Plant Growth Observation

Materials: Seeds (beans or sunflowers work well), soil, containers, water, sunlight

Instructions:

1. Plant seeds in containers filled with soil.
2. Place the containers in sunlight and water them regularly.
3. Watch the plants grow over days or weeks, and note changes.

Learning Outcomes: Teaches biology basics, responsibility, and patience. Children learn about the life cycle of plants.

Tips: Encourage children to keep a simple “growth journal” with drawings or notes about the plants’ changes.

6. Homemade Lava Lamp

Materials: Clear bottle, vegetable oil, water, food coloring, Alka-Seltzer tablet

Instructions:

1. Fill the bottle mostly with oil, leaving some space for water.
2. Add a few drops of food coloring.
3. Drop an Alka-Seltzer tablet in the bottle and watch bubbles rise.

Learning Outcomes: Demonstrates chemical reactions and density differences in a fun and visual way.

Tips: Ask children to predict how long the bubbles will last and describe what is happening inside the bottle.

7. Magnet Exploration

Materials: Magnets, small objects (paperclips, coins, plastic toys)

Instructions:

1. Test which objects are attracted to the magnet.
2. Sort the objects into “magnetic” and “non-magnetic” groups.
3. Discuss why some items react and others don’t.

Learning Outcomes: Introduces magnetism and encourages observation and categorization skills.

Tips: Encourage children to try magnets of different sizes or strengths. Discuss everyday uses of magnets.

8. Ice Melting Race

Materials: Ice cubes, salt, timer, small plates

Instructions:

1. Place two ice cubes on separate plates.
2. Sprinkle salt on one cube and leave the other plain.
3. Time how long each ice cube takes to melt.

Learning Outcomes: Shows how salt affects ice and introduces children to experimentation and observation.

Tips: Ask children to predict which ice cube will melt first and discuss why.

9. Bubble Science

Materials: Soap, water, bubble wand or straw

Instructions:

1. Mix soap and water to make a bubble solution.
2. Blow bubbles and observe their shapes, sizes, and movement.

Learning Outcomes: Explores surface tension, air properties, and light reflection while promoting sensory learning.

Tips: Encourage children to count bubbles, notice colors, or experiment with blowing different sizes.

10. Weather in a Jar

Materials: Jar, hot water, ice, plate

Instructions:

1. Pour hot water into a jar to create warm air inside.
2. Place ice on a plate and position it on top of the jar.
3. Watch condensation form inside the jar, like clouds.

Learning Outcomes: Introduces the water cycle, condensation, and basic weather concepts.

Tips: Ask children to predict what will happen before placing the ice. Discuss how this is similar to clouds in the sky.

11. Rainbow Milk Experiment

Materials: Shallow plate, milk, food coloring, dish soap, cotton swab

Instructions:

1. Pour milk into a shallow plate until it covers the bottom.
2. Add a few drops of different food colors.
3. Dip a cotton swab in dish soap and touch the milk’s surface.
4. Watch the colors swirl and mix magically.

Learning Outcomes: Introduces chemical reactions and surface tension. Children observe how soap affects molecules in milk.

Tips: Encourage children to predict what will happen with different colors or amounts of soap.

12. Walking Water Experiment

Materials: 3–5 clear cups, water, paper towels, food coloring

Instructions:

1. Fill every other cup with water and food coloring, leaving the others empty.
2. Fold paper towels into strips and place them connecting a full cup to an empty cup.
3. Watch the water “walk” along the paper towel into the empty cup.

Learning Outcomes: Teaches capillary action and observation skills while sparking curiosity about how liquids move.

Tips: Encourage children to note how long it takes for the water to travel and discuss why it moves.

13. Fizzy Lemon Volcano

Materials: Lemon, baking soda, food coloring, small plate or tray

Instructions:

1. Cut a lemon in half and place it on a plate.
2. Add a few drops of food coloring for fun.
3. Sprinkle baking soda on top and watch the lemon fizz.

Learning Outcomes: Introduces acid-base reactions in a safe, exciting way. Children learn to see cause and effect in action.

Tips: Encourage children to count how many bubbles appear or describe the fizzing sound.

14. Cloud in a Jar

Materials: Jar, hot water, ice, aerosol hairspray (adult supervision required)

Instructions:

1. Pour hot water into a jar.
2. Spray a tiny amount of hairspray into the jar.
3. Place ice on the lid and watch a cloud form inside.

Learning Outcomes: Demonstrates condensation and cloud formation in a simple, visual way.

Tips: Discuss how clouds are formed in nature and why condensation happens.

15. Homemade Rock Candy

Materials: Sugar, water, glass jar, string, pencil

Instructions:

1. Dissolve sugar in hot water to create a supersaturated solution.
2. Tie a string to a pencil and place it in the jar so it hangs in the solution.
3. Wait several days to observe crystals forming on the string.

Learning Outcomes: Teaches crystallization, patience, and observation of slow chemical processes.

Tips: Let children check daily and record changes in a journal. Discuss why crystals grow over time.

16. Balloon Rocket

Materials: Balloon, string, straw, tape

Instructions:

1. Thread a string through a straw and secure the string tightly across the room.
2. Inflate a balloon without tying it and tape it to the straw.
3. Release the balloon and watch it zoom along the string.

Learning Outcomes: Demonstrates propulsion, air pressure, and basic physics concepts.

Tips: Ask children how changing the balloon size or angle affects speed. Encourage predictions before releasing.

17. Oobleck – Solid and Liquid

Materials: Cornstarch, water, bowl, food coloring (optional)

Instructions:

1. Mix 2 parts cornstarch with 1 part water until it forms a gooey mixture.
2. Let children press, poke, or squeeze the mixture.
3. Observe how it behaves like both a solid and a liquid.

Learning Outcomes: Explores non-Newtonian fluids, material properties, and sensory learning.

Tips: Discuss what makes it behave differently under pressure. Let children experiment safely.

18. Static Electricity Butterfly

Materials: Tissue paper, balloon, scissors, string

Instructions:

1. Cut tissue paper into the shape of a butterfly.
2. Hang it from a string.
3. Rub a balloon on your hair and hold it near the butterfly to make it “fly.”

Learning Outcomes: Introduces static electricity and attraction in a visual, hands-on way.

Tips: Encourage children to test different materials (wool, plastic) and predict which works best.

19. Color-Changing Cabbage Water

Materials: Red cabbage, water, strainer, small cups, vinegar, baking soda

Instructions:

1. Chop red cabbage and boil it in water to make cabbage water.
2. Strain the liquid into small cups.
3. Add vinegar to one cup and baking soda to another, observing color changes.

Learning Outcomes: Introduces pH levels and chemical reactions in a safe, colorful way.

Tips: Ask children to describe the colors and explain why the liquid changes.

20. Floating Paper Clip

Materials: Paper clip, water, bowl, tissue paper

Instructions:

1. Fill a bowl with water.
2. Place a small piece of tissue paper on the water.
3. Gently place the paper clip on the tissue and let the paper sink, leaving the clip floating.

Learning Outcomes: Teaches surface tension and careful observation.

Tips: Encourage children to test different objects and see which float and which sink, and why.

To make science activities for preschoolers enjoyable, engaging, and enriching, try these approaches:

1. Create a Safe and Comfortable Environment

Use child-friendly materials and ensure the space allows children to explore freely and confidently.

2. Ask Open-Ended Questions

Spark curiosity by asking, “What do you notice?” or “What do you think will happen next?” This encourages critical thinking and observation.

3. Keep Activities Short and Engaging

Plan 15–20 minute sessions that maintain interest and excitement, matching preschoolers’ natural attention span.

4. Adapt to Individual Interests and Abilities

Offer simple adjustments to make experiments more accessible or challenging, helping each child feel confident and successful.

5. Celebrate Observations

Encourage children to draw, describe, or photograph what they notice during experiments. This reinforces learning and builds communication skills.

6. Rotate and Repeat Activities

Revisiting experiments or trying variations helps children notice differences, explore patterns, and deepen understanding.

7. Connect to Everyday Life:

Relate experiments to daily experiences like cooking, gardening, or observing weather so children can see science in the world around them.

Science activities for preschoolers provide a wonderful way to nurture curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking. Through hands-on experiments, children learn to make predictions, observe changes, and explore basic scientific concepts, all while having fun.

At La Petite Ecole Ho Chi Minh city, we integrate play-based learning and discovery into everyday routines, helping children develop essential skills that support lifelong learning. From colorful milk experiments to exploring magnets, our activities encourage children to connect learning with the world around them, building confidence, curiosity, and a love for exploration.

Ready to spark your child’s love for science? Visit La Petite Ecole Ho Chi Minh and discover how our hands-on, play-based approach can inspire your little scientist today!

• Phone: 028 3519 1521
• Email: contact@lpehochiminh.com
• Address: 172 – 180 Nguyen Van Huong, An Khanh Ward, Ho Chi Minh city