Science Learning Activity for Preschoolers

Make a Paper Snake

• Teach preschoolers about snakes, as well as the dangers they can pose, by creating paper versions of the reptile. Start with strips of colored paper about 2 inches thick and 6 inches long. Help the children fold the paper into tubes and glue or tape the ends together. Assist the youngsters in threading a piece of yarn through the paper tubes to make the wiggly snake. If you like, add eyes and snakeskin markings. Drag the snake across the table in an "S" motion to demonstrate how a snake moves. Tell the children about where snakes live and what they eat. At the end of the activity, warn children that snakes can be dangerous, and never to approach one without an adult's permission.

Baking Soda and Vinegar

• Teach preschoolers about chemical reactions with the combination of baking soda and vinegar. Provide a small cup, eye-dropper, spoon and separated containers of baking soda and vinegar. Help the students use the spoon or eye-dropper to put some vinegar in the cup. Then direct the children to add some baking soda. The mixture should start bubbling. Ask the children to explain what happened when the ingredients were mixed together and to guess how they could make more bubbles. While preschoolers won't completely understand how a chemical reaction works, they will see that some experiments have the same outcome each time.

Which Items Float?

• Introduce preschoolers to water and buoyancy with a science activity that asks which items float. Begin with a tub of water and an array of small objects that won't be damaged by water, including a cork, rock, leaf, rubber ducky, bottle and spoon. Let students take turns choosing an item to drop into the water. Ask each child whether he thinks the selected item will sink or float. At the end of the experiment, talk about why some items floated while others sank to the bottom.

Can Fly or Cannot Fly

• This science lesson will teach preschoolers about animals' abilities and how to categorize those that can fly or can't fly. Start by using some stuffed animals or other toys the children are familiar with. Ask students whether this real-life animal can fly in the air. Using two pieces of paper -- one labeled "Can fly" and one labeled "Cannot Fly" -- write down where each animal fits. When you run out of toys, ask the children to think of animals that go into either category. Look at the lists and discuss how some animals can fly and how this might help them.