Fun outdoor science activities for young children
Science activities can be extremely exciting for young children. Not only will they learn about new subjects, but they will also have fun while doing it! Here are two great science activities you should try if you want to take your lesson out of your classroom:
1. I spy the great outdoors!
This is a low-prep, highly fun activity your students will love.
What you need:
- Various objects of different colors from nature (leaves, rocks, branches, etc.)
What you do:
Gather your students outside. Play a game of I Spy using the shapes and colors found in nature. For example, you could say, "I spy with my little eye something that is the color green." Students will offer up different guesses, and you can even offer small prizes for some of the best answers. They will learn about colors, shapes and nature, all while soaking up the sun's rays.
2. Color laboratory
If you want to inspire the next generation of chemists and research scientists, this is the perfect activity for when the weather is warmer and you can venture outside.
What you need:
- Dish soap
- Squeeze bottles (examples: dish soap, shampoo, or ketchup bottles)
- Pump bottles (example: hand soap bottles)
- Medicine droppers
- Test tubes
- Ice cube trays
- Small plastic bowls
- Whisks
- Measuring cups
- Craft sticks
- Food coloring or liquid watercolors
What you do:
Fill up your squeeze bottles with warm water. Add in a few drops of food coloring (or liquid watercolors) and dish soap. Shake up and set on tables around your "outdoor laboratory," along with pump bottoms, medicine droppers, test tubes, bowls, ice cube trays, whisks, measuring cups and more. Make sure your students are wearing aprons or ponchos to protect their clothing. Then let them have fun mixing colors and making new "chemicals" in the different containers.
At ProSolutions Training, we offer plenty of online child care courses including "Science for Young Children" and "Designing an Outdoor Classroom." Contact us today to learn more.
