Effective early learning is interactive, and there’s no better way to foster curiosity than with engaging science experiments that teach your young ones about the world. Children learn by seeing and doing, not just listening! With these fun science activities, you’re getting your child school-ready and excited to learn about the world around them.
Early Learning with Science Experiments
A quality preschool education sets up your child for their academic career, nurturing their questions, experiments, and learning skills.
Dyed Flowers
While the complex inner structure of a flower is a little too advanced for young minds, you can teach them about how water travels up through the stem and into the petals of flowers. You’ll need some plain white flowers, food coloring, and a few cups to get started. Fill each cup roughly halfway with water, just enough to cover the bottom of the flower stems. Add a few food coloring drops to each, and stir to mix well. Place your flowers into the cups, and check back over the next few hours until the petals have soaked up a brand new color!
Magnet Magic
Playing around with magnets offers hours of fun. Collect some small metallic (and non-metallic!) objects from around the house, like bobby pins, coins, and paper clips. Give your child a larger magnet and let them discover what they can pick up, or how close they can get before the item sticks. If you keep the magnetic objects inside a clear box, you can also show how magnets still work through barriers!
Baking Soda Volcano
There’s a reason this experiment is a junior school classic: it’s memorable, fun, and creative. To create the volcanic eruption, you’ll need some baking soda, vinegar, and food coloring. Mix a few drops of food coloring into 2 cups of vinegar, and place a tablespoon of baking soda into an empty plastic bottle (or, if you’re really creative, a replica volcano). When you’re ready, pour in the vinegar and food coloring mix with a funnel, and stand back to watch the fun.
Creating Crystals
Did you know you can make crystal gardens with only one ingredient? This experiment is super simple, and also super engaging. Mix equal parts hot water and Epsom salt and fill up a few glass jars. If you want your crystals to be colorful, add a few drops of food coloring to the hot water before you add in the salt. Crystals need something to grow off of, so drop in a small pebble or pipe cleaner and let these jars rest in the fridge overnight. In the morning, you can enjoy your colorful crystal gardens!
Bouncing Bubbles
Bubbles are a great no-mess way to let your child explore science— and with very few ingredients needed! Mix together a cup of water, 4 tablespoons of dish soap, and 2 tablespoons of corn syrup to create your bubble solution. You can use a straw to create bubbles directly from the mixture, or even some small wire frames to blow bubbles. With a glove and some patience, you can also bounce larger bubbles up and down in your hand.
Engaging Learning At JLP Inspiring Minds
At JLP Inspiring Minds, we know how important the intersection between early learning and fun is. We strive to deliver a preschool curriculum that’s as engaging as it is educational, and encourages questions and exploration. By helping children develop their potential and their interests, we create a preschool environment that inspires. If you have any questions or would like to book a tour of our facility, don’t hesitate to call us at 954-933-2982.