Science Experiments for Preschoolers

Preschoolers are always looking for fun and creative things to do, so why not keep them busy with preschool science experiments? Besides teaching them some science basics, kids can have fun and get some other great benefits. When kids learn about science at a young age it teaches them how to be good problem solvers, encourages them to be creative and adventurous, and helps them to understand the world around them.

With just a few simple products you probably have lying around the house, you can try some preschool science experiments. Remember, keep them easy and keep them fun and you’ll keep them interested! Let’s check them out!

Dancing Rice Experiment

Try this acid-base reaction that will cause the rice to dance inside a cup of water. 

Supplies You’ll Need:

• White Vinegar
• Baking Soda
• Instant Rice (non-instant rice is too dense for this project)
• Clear Jar
• Water
• Food Coloring (Optional)

Instructions:

1. Fill the clear jar 3/4 full of water. Mix in food coloring if you want.
2. Add in 1 tablespoon of baking soda and stir. Be sure to mix completely.
3. Pour in 1/4 cup of uncooked instant rice.
4. Add in 1-2 tablespoons of white vinegar.

Once everything is added, watch the rice start to dance!

Lava Lamp experiment

Grab a few household items to make this science experiment work. Your child will love seeing how colored water and oil work together.

Supplies You’ll Need:

• Clean plastic bottle
• Vegetable oil
• Alka Seltzer tablets
• Food coloring

Instructions:

1. Fill the clean plastic bottle with a ½ cup of water.
2. Pour vegetable oil into the bottle until it’s almost full.
3. Add a few drops of food coloring and watch as the color sinks into the oil.
4. Break your Alka Seltzer tablet in half and drop half into the bottle.

Make Shaving Cream Rain Clouds

This very fun activity shows kids how clouds become saturated with water, causing rain. Parents will like this one too!

Supplies You’ll Need:

• A couple of clear glasses, vases, or bowls
• Food coloring
• Shaving cream
• Small bowls or containers that hold 1 to 2 ounces
• Water
• An eyedropper, syringe, or 1/4 teaspoon measuring spoon

Instructions:

1. Fill the containers with water. The less water you use, the faster your rain will fall. 
2. Add different food coloring to the containers.
3. Fill a clear glass with water about ⅔ full.
4. Top with a good amount of shaving cream.
5. Use the eyedropper to drop the different colors of water onto the shaving cream cloud. The closer you get to the edges, the faster it will travel through the shaving cream and “rain”.

Color-Changing Flower

This color-changing flower experiment is a crowd favorite. They’ll love watching their flowers blossom into beautiful colors.

Supplies You’ll Need:

• White flowers with long stems (daisies, hydrangeas, or white roses should be fine)
• Food coloring
• Several glasses or vases

Instructions:

1. Fill each glass with water and put 2-5 drops of food coloring in each glass.
2. Trim at least a half-inch off each stem before putting them into each glass.
3. Keep flowers in a cool place overnight.
4. Watch the changing colors in the petals.
5. Change the water every 2-3 days to keep flowers fresher for longer.

Rainbow in a Jar

Kids love rainbows, so building one will be just super fun! Watch them transform an empty jar into a full rainbow.

Supplies You’ll Need:

• 1 jar 
• Blue liquid dish soap
• Rubbing alcohol
• Light corn syrup
• Olive oil
• Food coloring 
• 5 spoons & mixing bowls

Instructions:

1. Make the purple layer by mixing ½ cup of light corn syrup with 1 drop of blue and one drop of red food coloring.
2. Carefully pour into the bottom of the jar.
3. Pour ½ cup of blue dish soap down the side of the jar.
4. Mix ½ cup of water with 2 drops of green food coloring.
5. Pour the green water down the side of the jar.
6. Gently pour ½ cup of olive oil down the side of the jar.
7. Mix ½ cup of rubbing alcohol with 2 drops of red food coloring.
8. Carefully pour the red rubbing alcohol down the side of the har.
9. Put your jar down and catch the rainbow!

Air Pressure Experiment

Kids can see how air can move objects with this simple experiment.

Supplies You’ll Need:

• 2 Kitchen Sponges
• Drinking straw
• Plastic Ziploc bag
• Pom poms or anything else kids want to see move
• Tape

Instructions:

1. Place the two kitchen sponges, one on top of the other, inside the plastic bag.
2. Place the drinking straw between the two sponges so that one end of the straw is inside the bag and the other end is sitting outside the bag.
3. Seal up the bag with the seal and with tape.
4. Blow into the straw to inflate the bag.
5. Place the pom-pom on a flat surface.
6. Place the bag behind so the straw can blow the pom pom.
7. Press hard on the sponges and watch the pom pom roll away

Blow Up Balloon Experiment

Your kids probably think the only way to blow up a balloon is to have you do it. But, after they do this experiment, they’ll realize there are other ways.

Supplies You’ll Need:

• Baking Soda
• Vinegar
• Empty Water Bottles
• Balloons
• Measuring Spoons
• Funnel {optional but helpful)

Instructions:

1. Blow up the balloon a bit to stretch it out.
2. Use the funnel and teaspoon to add baking soda to the balloon. 
3. Fill the container with vinegar halfway
4. When the balloons are made up, attach the containers tightly
5. Lift the balloon to put the baking soda into the container.
6. Water your balloon blow up!

Contact Our Raleigh Preschool

These cool and educational experiments will help spark your little one’s creativity while having fun in the process. At Primary Beginnings Child Development Centers, we value childhood learning through fun and stimulating activities. Contact our North Hills or  Spring Forest location in Raleigh to schedule a tour and learn more about our curriculum program.