Science Fun in the Preschool
It is widely known that young children learn science best by direct hands-on learning. Here are some very simple science experiments that children in your preschool can participate in.
Raisin
Rising
Pour clear carbonated soda water into a clear glass. Drop four or
five raisins into the glass.Show children how the air bubbles
make the raisins rise and fall.
Mini Ocean
Fill a clear plastic liter bottle 3/4 full with water. Add blue
food coloring then add cooking oil. Leave about 1 inch at the top
of the bottle. Show preschool children how the oil and water do
not mix. Tilting the bottle back and forth causes a wave effect.
Run Away
Pepper
A great science demonstration. Sprinkle pepper over the top of a
cup of water. Put a dab of soap on your finger and touch the
center of the pepper. Show children how the soap repels the
pepper to the side of the glass.
Dinosaur
Bone Hunt
Boil and clean chicken bones. Be sure there are no sharp edges.
Bury them in a sand box for the children to find.
Sun
Painting
Place various shaped flat objects on a dark piece of construction
paper. You can cut out shapes and designs or use common objects
like a ruler or key. Place paper in direct sunlight for a few
hours. Show children how the sunlight faded the paper, leaving
dark silhouettes.
Popcorn
Dance
Fill small a glass jar 3/4 full of water. Mix in 2 tablespoons of
baking soda and mix well. Add a drop or two of food coloring and
10 to 15 popcorn kernels. Then add a few drops of vinegar. The kernels
will start to move in one or two minutes.
Ice Magic
Fill a glass with water and add one ice cube. Let a child lay a
piece of string across the ice and try to pick up the ice with
the string. Sprinkle a little salt over the ice cube, count to 10
and have child try again. Show child how the salt melted the ice
just enough to bond around the string.
Volcano!
Place an empty baby food jar on a tray. Surround the jar with
playdough. Form the dough to look like a mountain. Put a drop of
red food coloring and a tablespoon of baking soda in the jar.
Then add some vinegar to it to make it erupt.
Invisible
Ink
Using a cotton swap or paint brush, let children write messages
or paint designs on white typing paper with lemon juice. Let dry.
The adult is to hold the paper close to a light bulb until the
writing becomes visible by turning brown.
More Preschool Science Resources
Preschool Science: A sense of wonder and discovery-
Online Class-4 credit hours
WONDER, INVESTIGATION, DISCOVERY
