65 Engaging Science Activities for Preschoolers
March 13, 2025
Inquisitive. Curious. Creative. Innovative. These are just a few words one might use to describe a scientist. Someone who is enthusiastic about asking questions, solving problems, and finding interesting solutions. An expert in investigating and experimenting. But these are also a few words that you might use to describe your four-year-old, which is why we’ve rounded up 65 engaging science activities for preschoolers.
Why Science Activities Are Great For Preschoolers
How many times in a day do preschoolers ask 鈥渨hy?鈥 At that formative age, kids are trying to figure out how the world works. They are, quite naturally, tiny scientists of their own. And that natural curiosity isn鈥檛 just an endearing (and sometimes maddening) quirk they will grow out of as they grow up. If we nurture it, that curiosity can bloom into a very important skill that will serve them in the classroom and beyond.
The most important thing about any science activities for preschoolers is that they encourage curiosity, questioning, and problem-solving. These foundational skills will help kids as they grow and explore science and STEAM disciplines more broadly. The best age-appropriate preschool activities are grounded in exploration! Since preschoolers can have shorter attention spans, it鈥檚 important to choose activities that give them opportunities to engage, act, react, and play, rather than focusing on instructing or teaching a specific set of lessons or concepts.
65 Engaging Science Activities for Preschoolers
Keep scrolling to see our roundup of science activities for preschoolers! Each activity comes with a simplicity rating that includes the needed materials (蝉颈尘辫濒别鈥搈别诲颈耻尘鈥揷辞尘辫濒颈肠补迟别诲) and the estimated time commitment (濒辞飞鈥搈别诲颈耻尘鈥揾颈驳丑). We鈥檝e split our list into several categories for easier navigation:
- Simple Science Experiments with Baking Soda and Vinegar
- Water Play: Fun Science-Based Preschool Activities
- Easy Science Activities with Household Objects
- Kitchen Science: Edible Science Activities for Preschoolers
- Make a Mess! Messy Science Experiments and Sensory Play
- Movers and Shakers: Preschool Activities for Engineering and Motion
- Nature-Related Science Activities for Preschoolers
- Seasonal Science Experiments
Simple Science Experiments with Baking Soda and Vinegar
One of the easiest and most effective science experiments to try with preschoolers is one that showcases the chemical reaction between baking soda and vinegar. From the classic science fair 鈥渧olcano鈥 to dancing raisins, there are so many ways to entertain and amaze young minds.
1) :
- Materials: medium; basic household materials + balloons
- Time Commitment: low
- Science Concept:
2) :
- Materials: simple; basic household materials
- Time Commitment: low
- Science Concept: chemical reactions and density
3) :
- Materials: simple; basic household materials
- Time Commitment: low
- Science Concept: chemical reactions
4)
- Materials: medium; basic household materials + sand and optional themed toys
- Time Commitment: medium
- Science Concept: chemical reactions
5) :
- Materials: medium; basic household materials + pipettes, glitter, optional themed containers
- Time Commitment: low
- Science Concept: chemical reactions
Fun Water Play Science Activities for Preschoolers
There are so many simple and fun science activities for preschoolers that only require a few simple ingredients: paper, paper towels, oil, markers, and most importantly鈥 water! These beginner-level science experiments are sure to delight your preschoolers, as long as you don鈥檛 mind getting a little wet!
6) :
- Materials: simple; basic household materials
- Time Commitment: low
- Science Concept: density
7) :
- Materials: simple; basic household materials
- Time Commitment: low
- Science Concept: capillary action
8) :
- Materials: simple; basic household materials + food coloring
- Time Commitment: low
- Science Concept: capillary action
9) :
- Materials: simple; basic household materials
- Time Commitment: low
- Science Concept: buoyancy
10) :
- Materials: simple; basic household materials
- Time Commitment: low
- Science Concept: buoyancy
11) :
- Materials: simple; basic household materials
- Time Commitment: low
- Science Concept:
12) :
- Materials: simple; basic household materials
- Time Commitment: medium
- Science Concept: capillary action
13) :
- Materials: simple; basic household materials
- Time Commitment: low
- Science Concept: capillary action
14) :
- Materials: simple; basic household materials + food coloring
- Time Commitment: low
- Science Concept: density
15) :
- Materials: simple; basic household materials
- Time Commitment: low
- Science Concept: surface tension
16) :
- Materials: medium; basic household materials + corn syrup and food coloring
- Time Commitment: low
- Science Concept: density
17) :
- Materials: simple; basic household materials
- Time Commitment: low
- Science Concept: surface tension
18) :
- Materials: simple; basic household materials + food coloring
- Time Commitment: low
- Science Concept: color-mixing, STEAM integration
19) :
- Materials: simple; basic household materials + dry erase markers
- Time Commitment: low
- Science Concept: density
20) :
- Materials: simple; basic household materials + food coloring
- Time Commitment: low
- Science Concept: density
Easy Science Activities with Household Objects
Are you looking for some easy science activities for preschoolers that don鈥檛 require any or many extra supplies? These activities will get your kids thinking and exploring with only a few simple materials you may already have around the house!
21) :
- Materials: simple; basic household materials
- Time Commitment: low
- Science Concept: observation skills
22) :
- Materials: simple; basic household materials
- Time Commitment: low
- Science Concept: light and reflections
23) :
- Materials: medium; basic household materials + balloons
- Time Commitment: low
- Science Concept: static electricity
24) (balance and center of gravity)
- Materials: simple; basic household materials
- Time Commitment: medium
- Science Concept: balance and center of gravity
25) :
- Materials: medium; basic household materials + plastic tubing and balloons
- Time Commitment: medium
- Science Concept: human biology
Edible Science Activities for Preschoolers
One surefire way to get your preschoolers engaged in a new activity is to make it edible! These kitchen science experiments and edible activities are a perfect way to get your kids curious about cooking and the science behind the food they eat!
26) :
- Materials: simple; basic household materials + Skittles candy
- Time Commitment: low
- Science Concept: diffusion
- Materials: simple; basic household materials
- Time Commitment: high, for results (crystallization takes two weeks)
- Science Concept: crystallization
28) :
- Materials: simple; basic household materials
- Time Commitment: medium
- Science Concept: kitchen science and
29) :
- Materials: simple; basic household materials + Oreo cookies
- Time Commitment: low
- Science Concept: basic astronomy
30) :
- Materials: simple; basic household materials
- Time Commitment: low
- Science Concept: chemical reaction
31) :
- Materials: simple; basic household materials
- Time Commitment: medium (about two hours)
- Science Concept: fermentation and food science
32) :
- Materials: simple; basic household materials
- Time Commitment: medium (about two hours)
- Science Concept: fermentation, food science, weights and measures
Make a Mess! Sensory Play and Messy Science Experiments for Preschoolers
If you鈥檙e willing to get a little messy, some of the best preschool activities are the ones that allow for sensory play or otherwise get a little 鈥済ross鈥! Please note: some of these messy science experiments might be best executed outside!
33) :
- Materials: medium; basic household materials + Diet Coke and Mentos candy
- Time Commitment: low
- Science Concept: surface tension and physical change
34) :
- Materials: medium; basic household materials + food coloring and shaving cream
- Time Commitment: medium
- Science Concept: chemical reactions and non-Newtonian fluids
35) :
- Materials: simple; basic household materials
- Time Commitment: low
- Science Concept: chemical reactions
36) :
- Materials: simple; basic household materials + food coloring
- Time Commitment: low
- Science Concept: surface tension and chemical bonds
37) :
- Materials: simple; basic household materials
- Time Commitment: medium
- Science Concept: non-Newtonian fluids
38) :
- Materials: simple; basic household materials
- Time Commitment: high, for results (several days)
- Science Concept: fungus growth, hypothesis, and observation skills
39) :
- Materials: simple; basic household materials
- Time Commitment: medium
- Science Concept: pressure
Movers and Shakers: Preschool Activities for Engineering and Motion
For kids who love building, movement, and physical play, these science experiments and activities will be a big hit! As with all science activities for preschoolers, if the focus is kept on exploration and experimentation, kids will stay engaged and excited.
40) :
- Materials: simple; basic household materials
- Time Commitment: low
- Science Concept: friction and motion
41) :
- Materials: medium; basic household materials + balloons
- Time Commitment: low
- Science Concept: physics and thrust
42) :
- Materials: simple; basic household materials
- Time Commitment: medium
- Science Concept: air pressure, Bernoulli鈥檚 principle
43)
- Materials: medium; basic household materials + string and optional command hooks
- Time Commitment: medium
- Science Concept:
44) :
- Materials: simple; basic household materials
- Time Commitment: low
- Science Concept: engineering and balance
45) :
- Materials: simple; basic household materials
- Time Commitment: medium
- Science Concept: STEAM integration, geometry
46) :
- Materials: simple; basic household materials (use what you have!)
- Time Commitment: medium
- Science Concept: engineering and problem-solving
47) :
- Materials: simple; basic household materials
- Time Commitment: low
- Science Concept: inertia and gravity
48) :
- Materials: simple; basic household materials + birthday candles
- Time Commitment: low
- Science Concept: motion and simple machines
Nature-Related Science Activities for Preschoolers
A great way to engage young kids鈥 scientific curiosity is to get outside in nature! These preschool activities and simple nature-related science experiments are perfect for budding naturalists. Many of them are easy enough to do right in your own backyard!
49) :
- Materials: simple; basic household materials + seeds
- Time Commitment: high, for results (several weeks+)
- Science Concept: plant science
50) :
- Materials: simple; natural materials
- Time Commitment: medium
- Science Concept: observation skills, plant science, animal habitats
51) :
- Materials: simple; basic natural and household materials
- Time Commitment: low
- Science Concept: plant science
52) :
- Materials: medium; basic household materials + white flowers and food coloring
- Time Commitment: high, for results (24 hours+)
- Science Concept: capillary action, plant science
53) :
- Materials: medium; basic household materials + seeds and optional raised beds or pots
- Time Commitment: high, for results (seasonal)
- Science Concept: plant science
54) :
- Materials: simple; basic natural and household materials
- Time Commitment: high, for results (several days to several weeks)
- Science Concept: plant science
55) :
- Materials: simple; no materials needed
- Time Commitment: low
- Science Concept: observation skills, plant science
56) :
- Materials: simple; basic natural and household materials + dinosaur toys
- Time Commitment: low
- Science Concept: fossils and paleontology
57) :
- Materials: simple; basic natural and household materials
- Time Commitment: high, for results (24 hours+)
- Science Concept: effects of sunlight, STEAM integration
58) :
- Materials: simple; basic natural and household materials + birdseed
- Time Commitment: high, for results (24 hours+)
- Science Concept: ornithology
59) :
- Materials: simple; basic household materials
- Time Commitment: medium (to see the time change)
- Science Concept: light and shadow, the Earth鈥檚 rotation
60) :
- Materials: simple; basic natural and household materials
- Time Commitment: medium
- Science Concept: plant science, STEAM integration
61) :
- Materials: simple; basic natural materials
- Time Commitment: low
- Science Concept: geology
Seasonal Science Experiments for Preschoolers
These science activities for preschoolers may work best in certain seasons since they require certain weather conditions to get the best results! Mark your calendar and try these science experiments when the weather is right!
62) :
- Materials: simple; basic household materials
- Time Commitment: low (but must be in spring/summer)
- Science Concept: physical change
- Materials: simple; basic household materials
- Time Commitment: low (but must be in winter)
- Science Concept: physical change
64) :
- Materials: simple; basic natural and household materials
- Time Commitment: medium
- Science Concept: plant science
65) :
- Materials: simple; basic natural and household materials
- Time Commitment: medium (but must be in winter and have access to snow)
- Science Concept: physical change, food science
Science Activities for Preschoolers – Additional Resources
We hope you found some engaging new science-related activities to try with your preschoolers! Looking for more activities for young kids? Check out these resources:
