Valentine’s Day is a special time for children to express love and affection for their friends and family. It is also a time to explore science and have fun. Valentine’s science experiments for preschoolers can be a great way to help children learn about the world around them. With just a few simple materials, young children can explore the properties of matter and how different objects interact with each other. Here are some fun and easy Valentine’s science experiments to try with your preschoolers.
Floating Hearts
This experiment is a great way to explore the properties of water and density. All you need is a clear glass container, water, and several red paper hearts. Have your preschooler drop the paper hearts into the glass of water and observe what happens. As the paper hearts float around, explain to your preschooler why this is happening. Explain that the paper hearts are less dense than the water and therefore float.
Fizzy Hearts
This experiment is a great way to explore the chemical reaction of an acid and a base. All you need are some red paper hearts, baking soda, white vinegar, and a shallow dish. Have your preschooler drop the paper hearts into the dish and cover them with baking soda. Then have your preschooler pour the white vinegar into the shallow dish and watch as the paper hearts start to fizz. Explain to your preschooler that this is a chemical reaction between the acid (vinegar) and the base (baking soda) and that this is what creates the fizzy effect.
Heart Bubbles
This experiment is a great way to explore the properties of air, water, and surface tension. All you need are some red paper hearts, a shallow dish, and some dish soap. Have your preschooler fill the shallow dish with water and add a few drops of dish soap. Then have your preschooler drop a paper heart into the dish and explain to them what is happening. Explain that the soap is creating a thin film on the surface of the water and that the air is pushing against the thin film, creating bubbles. Then have your preschooler blow a few breaths over the paper hearts and observe the bubbles that form around them.
Heart Art
This experiment is a great way to explore the properties of color and surface tension. All you need are some red paper hearts, water, and food coloring. Have your preschooler fill a shallow dish with water and then add a few drops of food coloring. Have your preschooler drop the paper hearts into the colored water and observe what happens. Explain to your preschooler that the food coloring is floating on the surface of the water and that the paper hearts are soaking up the color, creating colorful art.
Heart in a Jar
This experiment is a great way to explore the properties of air and pressure. All you need are a glass jar, some red paper hearts, and a straw. Have your preschooler drop the paper hearts into the glass jar and then place the straw into the jar. Explain to your preschooler that the air inside the jar is pushing against the paper hearts and that the straw is allowing them to float. Then have your preschooler blow a few breaths through the straw and watch as the paper hearts move around the jar.
Magnetic Hearts
This experiment is a great way to explore the properties of magnetism. All you need are some red paper hearts, a magnet, and a shallow dish. Have your preschooler drop the paper hearts into the shallow dish and then bring the magnet close to the paper hearts. Explain to your preschooler that the magnet is creating a force field around the paper hearts and that this is what is causing them to move.
Heart Jelly
This experiment is a great way to explore the properties of gelatin. All you need are some red paper hearts, gelatin, and a shallow dish. Have your preschooler dissolve the gelatin in a shallow dish of warm water and then drop the paper hearts into the gelatin. Explain to your preschooler that the gelatin is made up of tiny molecules that are attracted to each other and that this is what is causing the paper hearts to stick together. Then have your preschooler move the paper hearts around the dish and observe what happens.
Heart in a Cup
This experiment is a great way to explore the properties of air pressure. All you need are a clear plastic cup, some red paper hearts, and a straw. Have your preschooler drop the paper hearts into the cup and then place the straw into the cup. Explain to your preschooler that the air inside the cup is pushing against the paper hearts and that the straw is allowing them to float. Then have your preschooler blow a few breaths through the straw and watch as the paper hearts move around the cup.
Hearts in a Bottle
This experiment is a great way to explore the properties of air pressure. All you need are a clear glass bottle, some red paper hearts, and a straw. Have your preschooler drop the paper hearts into the bottle and then place the straw into the bottle. Explain to your preschooler that the air inside the bottle is pushing against the paper hearts and that the straw is allowing them to float. Then have your preschooler blow a few breaths through the straw and watch as the paper hearts move around the bottle.
Valentine’s science experiments for preschoolers are a great way to help children explore the world around them and have fun at the same time. With just a few simple materials, young children can learn about the properties of matter and how different objects interact with each other. So why not try some of these fun and easy Valentine’s science experiments with your preschoolers this Valentine’s Day?