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 “why?” 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’t 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’s 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 (simple–medium–complicated) and the estimated time commitment (low–medium–high). We’ve 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 “volcano” to dancing raisins, there are so many ways to entertain and amaze young minds.
1) Balloon Experiment:
- Materials: medium; basic household materials + balloons
- Time Commitment: low
- Science Concept: chemical reactions
2) Dancing Raisins:
- Materials: simple; basic household materials
- Time Commitment: low
- Science Concept: chemical reactions and density
3) Hot Ice Experiment:
- Materials: simple; basic household materials
- Time Commitment: low
- Science Concept: chemical reactions
4) Sand Volcano:
- Materials: medium; basic household materials + sand and optional themed toys
- Time Commitment: medium
- Science Concept: chemical reactions
5) Magic Potions Activity:
- 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… water! These beginner-level science experiments are sure to delight your preschoolers, as long as you don’t mind getting a little wet!
6) Sink or Float Activity:
- Materials: simple; basic household materials
- Time Commitment: low
- Science Concept: density
7) Grow a Rainbow:
- Materials: simple; basic household materials
- Time Commitment: low
- Science Concept: capillary action
8) Walking Water:
- Materials: simple; basic household materials + food coloring
- Time Commitment: low
- Science Concept: capillary action
9) Aluminum Foil Boats:
- Materials: simple; basic household materials
- Time Commitment: low
- Science Concept: buoyancy
10) Apple Boats:
- Materials: simple; basic household materials
- Time Commitment: low
- Science Concept: buoyancy
11) Leak-Proof Bag Experiment:
- Materials: simple; basic household materials
- Time Commitment: low
- Science Concept: flexible polymers
12) Blooming Water Flowers:
- Materials: simple; basic household materials
- Time Commitment: medium
- Science Concept: capillary action
13) Paper Towel Art:
- Materials: simple; basic household materials
- Time Commitment: low
- Science Concept: capillary action
14) Homemade Lava Lamp:
- Materials: simple; basic household materials + food coloring
- Time Commitment: low
- Science Concept: density
15) Pepper and Soap:
- Materials: simple; basic household materials
- Time Commitment: low
- Science Concept: surface tension
16) Layered Liquids Tower:
- Materials: medium; basic household materials + corn syrup and food coloring
- Time Commitment: low
- Science Concept: density
17) Penny and Water Experiment:
- Materials: simple; basic household materials
- Time Commitment: low
- Science Concept: surface tension
18) Color-Changing Water:
- Materials: simple; basic household materials + food coloring
- Time Commitment: low
- Science Concept: color-mixing, STEAM integration
19) Floating Drawings:
- Materials: simple; basic household materials + dry erase markers
- Time Commitment: low
- Science Concept: density
20) Ocean in a Bottle:
- 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’t 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) Five Senses Game:
- Materials: simple; basic household materials
- Time Commitment: low
- Science Concept: observation skills
22) Exploring Mirrors:
- Materials: simple; basic household materials
- Time Commitment: low
- Science Concept: light and reflections
23) Salt and Pepper Balloons:
- Materials: medium; basic household materials + balloons
- Time Commitment: low
- Science Concept: static electricity
24) Balancing Robot (balance and center of gravity)
- Materials: simple; basic household materials
- Time Commitment: medium
- Science Concept: balance and center of gravity
25) DIY Stethoscope:
- 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) Skittles Rainbow:
- 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) Popcorn Experiment:
- Materials: simple; basic household materials
- Time Commitment: medium
- Science Concept: kitchen science and volume
29) Oreo Moon Phases:
- Materials: simple; basic household materials + Oreo cookies
- Time Commitment: low
- Science Concept: basic astronomy
30) Fizzy Lemonade:
- Materials: simple; basic household materials
- Time Commitment: low
- Science Concept: chemical reaction
31) Bread in a Bag:
- Materials: simple; basic household materials
- Time Commitment: medium (about two hours)
- Science Concept: fermentation and food science
32) Homemade Pizza:
- 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’re 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 “gross”! Please note: some of these messy science experiments might be best executed outside!
33) Diet Coke and Mentos:
- Materials: medium; basic household materials + Diet Coke and Mentos candy
- Time Commitment: low
- Science Concept: surface tension and physical change
34) Homemade Slime:
- Materials: medium; basic household materials + food coloring and shaving cream
- Time Commitment: medium
- Science Concept: chemical reactions and non-Newtonian fluids
35) Elephant’s Toothpaste:
- Materials: simple; basic household materials
- Time Commitment: low
- Science Concept: chemical reactions
36) Color-Changing Milk:
- Materials: simple; basic household materials + food coloring
- Time Commitment: low
- Science Concept: surface tension and chemical bonds
37) Oobleck:
- Materials: simple; basic household materials
- Time Commitment: medium
- Science Concept: non-Newtonian fluids
38) Moldy Bread Experiment:
- Materials: simple; basic household materials
- Time Commitment: high, for results (several days)
- Science Concept: fungus growth, hypothesis, and observation skills
39) Exploding Watermelon:
- 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) Ramps Experiment:
- Materials: simple; basic household materials
- Time Commitment: low
- Science Concept: friction and motion
41) Balloon Rockets:
- Materials: medium; basic household materials + balloons
- Time Commitment: low
- Science Concept: physics and thrust
42) Floating Ball Experiment:
- Materials: simple; basic household materials
- Time Commitment: medium
- Science Concept: air pressure, Bernoulli’s principle
43) Homemade Pulley System:
- Materials: medium; basic household materials + string and optional command hooks
- Time Commitment: medium
- Science Concept: simple machines
44) Tower-Building Challenge:
- Materials: simple; basic household materials
- Time Commitment: low
- Science Concept: engineering and balance
45) Paper Chain Challenge:
- Materials: simple; basic household materials
- Time Commitment: medium
- Science Concept: STEAM integration, geometry
46) Rube Goldberg Machine:
- Materials: simple; basic household materials (use what you have!)
- Time Commitment: medium
- Science Concept: engineering and problem-solving
47) Clementine Tower Inertia Experiment:
- Materials: simple; basic household materials
- Time Commitment: low
- Science Concept: inertia and gravity
48) Birthday Candle Experiment:
- 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’ 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) Growing Seedlings:
- Materials: simple; basic household materials + seeds
- Time Commitment: high, for results (several weeks+)
- Science Concept: plant science
50) Build a Bird’s Nest:
- Materials: simple; natural materials
- Time Commitment: medium
- Science Concept: observation skills, plant science, animal habitats
51) Flower Dissection:
- Materials: simple; basic natural and household materials
- Time Commitment: low
- Science Concept: plant science
52) Color-Changing Flowers:
- Materials: medium; basic household materials + white flowers and food coloring
- Time Commitment: high, for results (24 hours+)
- Science Concept: capillary action, plant science
53) Pollinator Garden:
- Materials: medium; basic household materials + seeds and optional raised beds or pots
- Time Commitment: high, for results (seasonal)
- Science Concept: plant science
54) Re-Growing Celery:
- Materials: simple; basic natural and household materials
- Time Commitment: high, for results (several days to several weeks)
- Science Concept: plant science
55) STEM Nature Hike:
- Materials: simple; no materials needed
- Time Commitment: low
- Science Concept: observation skills, plant science
56) Dinosaur Dig:
- Materials: simple; basic natural and household materials + dinosaur toys
- Time Commitment: low
- Science Concept: fossils and paleontology
57) Sun Print:
- Materials: simple; basic natural and household materials
- Time Commitment: high, for results (24 hours+)
- Science Concept: effects of sunlight, STEAM integration
58) Homemade Bird Feeder:
- Materials: simple; basic natural and household materials + birdseed
- Time Commitment: high, for results (24 hours+)
- Science Concept: ornithology
59) Homemade Sundial:
- Materials: simple; basic household materials
- Time Commitment: medium (to see the time change)
- Science Concept: light and shadow, the Earth’s rotation
60) Nature Shadow Boxes:
- Materials: simple; basic natural and household materials
- Time Commitment: medium
- Science Concept: plant science, STEAM integration
61) Backyard Geology:
- 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) Melting Experiment:
- 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) Pinecone Experiment:
- Materials: simple; basic natural and household materials
- Time Commitment: medium
- Science Concept: plant science
65) Maple Syrup Snow Candy:
- 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:
