Any good ideas for simple science projects to do with 3-5 year olds?

Answer 1

Here are a couple of ideas:

Bouncy balls
Dissolve one tbsp of Borax (form the laundry aisle of the supermarket) in 1/2 cup of hot water. put in a squirt bottle
Spread a thin layer of white glue on a plastic-protected table
spray the borax solution on top of the glue an let set for 20 seconds. (the surface will get "curly" as polymerization occurs"
Pick up the polymer with a wood stick
using you hands knead the mixture into a ball. (it will be gooey at first but it should be dry in a couple of seconds).
They really bounce!


The dissapearing styrofoam cup.
Fill a deep plate with acetone.
gradually lower your styrofoam cup into de plate. The cup will gradually dissolve and "disappear".
Show your students the goo that is left and let them try

Big big bubbles
I used this to teach about surface tension.
1 quart of water, 1/2 cup of dawn soap, about 100 ml of glycerine.
make a "cone" with white paper, keeping the point open. Soak the end of the cone in the mixture and blow slowly form the other side. measure the bubbles. Try with different formulas.

Best of luck

Answer 2

My preschool class used to love when I did the "magic trick" science project. I would get a large bowl of water. I would place a paper towel in the bottom of a large plastic cup. I would then put the cup into the water face down. The paper towel would not get wet. The kids thought it was amazing and did not realize that it was science.

Answer 3

Using a large sheet of paper, make a chart (SINK or FLOAT). Bring in a plastic fork, key, ping pong ball, block, ANYTHING you think will be interesting. Briefly talk about how some things float and others sink. Before adding each item to a large, clear container or water ask the kids if they think the item will sink or float, Mark "X" on your chart (SINK or FLOAT). You can even do a center for kids to use in small groups.

Answer 4

Wow, lots of good ideas already! I like to make a Hurricaine in a bottle. You need 2 plastic soda pop bottles, 1 or 2 liter, as long as they are both the same size. (I like the 2 liter better). It's pretty cool looking, so I found a link so you can see:
(you can even name the Hurricaine after the child who makes it, Tropical Storm Abigail, or Hurricaine Caleb, etc.)

Answer 5

Seismography is cool - you explain the science, then it's easy to find a book to help your child build an easy seismometer. Google science fair projects, they are usually a big help. Also try out "How Stuff Works" site.

Answer 6

you may try with the following:

* developing a seedling,you may use wet gram and some cotton
* how to get a new colour by mixing two different colours,e.g.
red and green if mixed,one will get blue
*how a piece of paper can change colour, use litmus paper and
mild acid and alkali like acetic acid(vinegar) and soda water
which are safe for children
* ice is a solid,but it floats in water

Answer 7

best one i know of that always works.....
get a pickle jar or similar that is clear, fill 2/3 full of soil, plant a navy bean (simple white bean always works) an inch or less deep...
over next week - 2 weeks, you can see the sprout start to emerge, leafs open, roots grow...

teaches them about growth, life, care (in watering etc)

when it gets about 1 foot tall, transplant it outside, you'll be amazed

Answer 8

You could find out what will sink or float. Gather several items drop them in a bucket of water and record the results.

Answer 9

What freezes faster- salt water or fresh water?

Or show them some static electricity. Comb your hair really fast and show them how you can bend water. Or rub a balloon against your hair and stick it to the wall.

Answer 10

one that's good and fun.

get two balloons (well more, depending on how many are going to do this) and a lot of ping pong balls (one for each group of two)

have them blow up the baloon, then place the ping pong ball in between them, then have them let the air go out.

it's a lot of fun, and it's an imitation to air hockey!!