Spark Young Minds: Playful Scientists: 7 Easy STEM Activities for Preschoolers
Spark Young Minds: Playful Scientists: 7 Easy STEM Activities for Preschoolers
Welcome, #early-childhood- #educators, caregivers, and curious #parents! At ChildCareED, we believe that even the youngest learners can begin exploring the world through STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics). Here are engaging, #developmentally-appropriate ways to bring STEM into your #preschool environment—plus a few pointers on how to deepen your own professional learning.
🧪Color-Mixing Magic with Water (Science + Art!)
What to do:
Set out clear cups with water, food coloring (primary colors), droppers or pipettes, and extra clear cups. Let children mix colors and observe what new hues emerge.
Why it's STEM:
They form hypotheses (“What if I put yellow and blue together?”), experiment, and observe results. You can extend by measuring drops ( #math) or timing how long before colors fully mix (science).
For a guided version of this, check out our Water Drop STEM Activity.
🧰DIY Bridges & Towers (Engineering + Problem Solving)
What to do:
Offer materials such as popsicle sticks, straws, blocks, cardboard, and tape. Challenge children to build a bridge that can hold a small toy car or a tower that reaches a certain height.
Why it’s STEM:
Every child becomes an engineer: they test designs, rebuild after failures, and iterate based on what works or doesn’t. Encourage them to sketch ideas first (pre-writing, planning), test, and compare.
🍽️Cooking Up STEM in the Kitchen
Food is chemistry you can eat! Try something like making #homemade ice cream in a bag, baking cookies (watching mixtures transform), or experimenting with soluble vs. insoluble ingredients.
For a deeper dive into kitchen-based STEM, see our full article STEM in the Kitchen.
🎲Pattern Play & Block Math (Early Math Foundations)
What to do:
Provide colored blocks, beads, or cubes and ask children to create and extend patterns (e.g., red-blue-green, red-blue-green). Ask them what comes next, or have them design their own.
Why it’s STEM:
Patterning is a foundation of algebraic thinking. Preschoolers also begin counting, sorting by attributes (shape, color), and comparing quantities.
If you’d like to strengthen your understanding of early math pedagogy, check out Math Foundations in Early Childhood or No Such Thing as Boring Math from ChildCareED.
🌱Plant Science: Germination in Action
What to do:
Have children plant seeds in clear plastic cups, placing paper towels or cotton balls and observing daily. Encourage them to sketch roots, #stems, and leaves as they grow.
Why it’s STEM:
They’ll see life cycles, record changes over time, compare rates of #growth (math), and ask questions about what plants need to survive (light, water, soil).
🔬Sink or Float? (Physics in the Water Table)
What to do:
Fill a large bin with water and provide a collection of items (e.g., coins, corks, small toys, rocks, paper clips). Ask children to predict whether each item will sink or float, test it, and record the results (using drawings, tallies, or check marks).
Why it’s STEM:
They form hypotheses, test predictions, and refine—key steps in the scientific method. You can challenge them to explain why an object sinks or floats.
📦Shadow & Light Exploration (Science + Discovery)
What to do:
Use a flashlight and opaque objects (blocks, toys). In a dim room, shine the light and let children trace shadows, move objects closer or farther to see how shadows change, or block part of the light.
Why it’s STEM:
It builds foundational understanding of light, angles, and spatial relationships (geometry).
🧩 Extending STEM: Professional Learning for Teachers & Caregivers
If you’re excited by these activities and want to deepen your pedagogical expertise, consider these ChildCareED courses:
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Tomorrow’s Einsteins: Infant & Toddler Science — Perfect for starting STEM early
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Building Early Science Foundations — Ground your practice in science pedagogy
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Math Foundations in Early Childhood — Strengthen math thinking in young learners
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No Such Thing as Boring Math — Bring math to life in #playful, engaging ways
These courses can help you scaffold STEM intentionally, reflect on best practices, and design curriculum with confidence.
✅ Tips for Success in Preschool STEM
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Let questions #lead. Sometimes the best learning starts with “What do you wonder?”
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Celebrate trial and error. Emphasize that “failures” are part of experimentation.
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Keep it hands-on. Young children learn best by doing, manipulating, and exploring.
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Connect to everyday life. Point out science and math in routines — counting steps, measuring cups, shadows on the wall.
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Document and revisit. Take photos, make charts, discuss what changed over time.
We hope these STEM ideas spark discovery, delight, and rich conversations in your #classroom or home. Be sure to also explore our Water Drop STEM Activity for another fun experiment.
If you found this article helpful, please follow ChildCareED on social media for more ideas, inspiration, and professional learning resources. Let’s grow discovery and joy together!
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