Science Day: 32 Science Experiments and STEM Activities for Kindergarten and First Grade

Science Day is perfect for busy kindergarten and 1st grade teachers who need a fun and easy way to incorporate science and STEM each week.

Providing young students with these hands-on experiences is fun for everyone and helps build thinking, science, and writing skills.

There are 32 activities for students to explore, observe, investigate, experiment, and design!

Let’s take a closer look!

What's included?

32 activities with directions and photos
Recording sheet options (differentiated based on students’ readiness levels)
Pacing suggestions
Skill and content lists

Do I need complicated materials?

No! Most materials needed for the activities are basic and commonly found in schools, at home, or in a local store. Check out the list of items.

What activities are included?

Let’s take a closer look at some of the 32 activities you’ll find in Science Day.

Dive into the depths of science with our sink-or-float STEM.

Students explore sinking and floating by designing boats that will float in water using only aluminum and some things that will weigh down to try and make it float!

Your students will enjoy the engineering aspect of problem-solving!

Do you ever wish your apple wouldn’t brown so fast after you slice it?

In scientific terms, it’s due to an oxidation process. Lean into making predictions and observations with your students about which liquid they think will keep the apple from turning brown.

Through observations, your little scientists will see how well they predicted!

Rev your engines and race to the finish line with our ramp-racing cars!

Your students will enjoy predicting whether a tall or short ramp will cause a racecar to go the farthest distance.

Little will your students know that they are laying the foundation of force and motion concepts!

Your students will be BLOWN away with excitement discovering whether certain objects will blow away using a straw!

Have students predict if they think the objects will move, and have them test out their investigation with a little breeze.

See if they can figure out what the objects that got blown have in common to analyze their results.

There will be some bear-y excited students when discovering the needs of bears.

Your students will engage with making an edible habitat that will support the life of a brown bear.

Students can also write a sentence with what brown bears need on their own or through a class chart. Finish off by enjoying a tasty snack!

Let’s roll in and A-MAZE your students with force and motion!

Your engineers will be tasked with designing a marble run that will change the direction of the marble as it moves.

This a great time to emphasize the importance of teamwork and a growth mindset as they test out their designs and have to redesign as needed.

Pass the energy, please!

Your students will discuss how energy helps animals stay alive, grow, and move.

Using paper chain models, your students will practice their fine motor skills by creating a paper chain showing the energy flow from the sun to the organisms.

Be the lucky charm of the day with a magical science reaction!

What if you could add a little spark to vinegar and baking soda? Your students will predict what will happen when you mix yellow vinegar and blue baking soda.

This is a great way to see if they can apply their art knowledge of primary colors coming together to make a secondary color!

Explore the wonder of clouds with our little eyes!

Take your students outdoors using a cloud viewer to discuss the movement of clouds and the different types of clouds.

Your students can sketch drawings and write about how clouds change through observations. Follow up with a class discussion of their observations and what cloud changes mean.

Create shade for man’s best friend!

With various scrap materials, your class will work in teams to design a shade structure to protect their dog figurine from getting too hot from the sun using some parameters.

Students create a plan, improve their ideas, and test their creations in class before going outdoors to see them in action.

What a fun way to bring out engineering practices and creativity!