4 Preschool Science Experiments

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4 Preschool Science Experiments

4 January 2016
 Categories: , Blog


Does your child have a natural curiosity for nature? Why not encourage your child's scientific abilities? Preschools offer fun ways for children to be involved in science through fun experiments. You can replicate these experiments in your own home. Here are four science experiments for preschoolers:

1. Make fossils

Making fossils is a fun way to teach children about the prehistoric past while also creating fun art. Here is a list of supplies:

  • Plaster of Paris
  • Paper bowls and plates
  • Plastic spoons
  • Straw
  • Seashells

Mix one cup of plaster with a half cup of water. Lay the straw across the paper plate. Spread the plaster on the plate and wait until it thickens. Have your preschooler press the seashells into the plaster and remove them. Let the plaster dry overnight and remove the straw and plate.

2. Observe ice melting

Teach your preschooler about ice melting and how a solid can change to a liquid by combining ice and water colors. This is a fun experiment that shows children how ice melts, and how factors like salt can affect the speed at which it changes to a liquid.

Supplies:

  • Cake pan
  • Watercolors
  • Salt
  • Paint brushes
  • Ice cube tray or paint palette

Fill the cake pan with water and let it freeze overnight. Take the pan out of the freezer and set it inside a plastic container. Prepare the watercolors by pouring them into the tray or palette. Add salt to some of the colors. Your preschooler will observe the effects of the salt while they paint the ice block.

3. Float and sink objects

Teach your child all about density by having him or her drop various objects into water. Simply fill a tub or kiddie pool with about six to eight inches of water and gather different objects. Objects you can test include coins, paper, erasers, toys, balls, or rubber objects. Let your preschooler pick different objects and ask whether it will float. Then let your preschooler drop the objects in and see what happens.

4. Draw the night sky

This is a fun experiment to try on a summer night that will get your child interested in astronomy. On a clear night, take your preschooler outside and show him or her different constellations. A popular constellation for kids is the Big Dipper. You can use a green laser pointer to trace the constellations in the sky. Then, bring your preschooler inside. Prepare a piece of paper by painting it with blue or black paint and letting it dry. Have your preschooler draw the night sky with yellow and white crayons.

For additional reading, visit the website of a preschool or another educational resource.