7 Easy Preschool Science Activities That Double as Centers

One day, I was sitting through a wonderful preschool science activities workshop where the speaker focused on the power of sorting. (Bless her heart, I can’t recall that speaker’s name now!) She was expounding on how learning to sort what IS and what is NOT relevant to a science subject is a very important basic skill for preschool science activities.

Previously, I had thought of sorting as more of a math concept. However, she got us all fired up about using this naming and sorting tactic with our preschoolers as a way to introduce beginning science concepts. If you think about it, many science concepts are actually built around this concept of classification. For example, just consider animal taxonomy or sorting food into food groups on the nutrition pyramid.

Preschool science activities such as sorting and classifying not only build vocabulary but help young learners form mental categories that establish a foundation for all future scientific learning. That is exciting!

>>> Take me to Preschool STEM Science Sorting Cards!

How to Use Sorting Cards as Preschool Science Activities

In the workshop, the speaker used these amazing real photos of science items, passed them out to the participants and had us physically and visually sort what belonged and what did not belong. This makes a wonderful whole-group preschool science activity! This is how it went down:

1. Pass out the photo cards.

If possible, give one card to each student in the class. Name each photo as you pass it out. Have students repeat the name.

2. Sit in a large circle on the floor.

Of course it’s optional, but circle-time activities are powerful! When you are gathered on the rug, the images are more visible to all learners and kids are more likely to repeat the new vocabulary aloud together.

3. Make a large T-chart on chart paper.

Put it in the middle of the circle on the floor. You could also use an easel.

4. Label each side of the T-chart.

Identify the 2 categories you want students to learn. For example, LIVING and NON-LIVING.

5. Allow each child to come up with their photo.

Each student gets to show the class their image, and place it on the chart in the category where it belongs.

6. Tell why it fits in that category.

Encourage rich language, labeling, and full sentences. If students are reluctant to speak, try a sentence prompt such as “I have a xyv. It is living.”

7. Use it in centers!

After introducing this science activity in whole group, use it in centers as independent practice. Students already know what to do and will gain knowledge through repetition and practice. This works even better when they can practice in pairs!

READ: How to Pep Up Your Preschool Lesson Plans

7 Science Preschool Activities

Well, as soon as that workshop was over, I ran home and started trying to compile photos to use in sorting. After a bit, I decided it was much easier to just create exactly what I wanted using images that were age appropriate for early childhood! So, I developed this set of seven sorting cards just perfect for science preschool activities, tied to the different thematic units I teach in preschool. I wanted this to be as realistic as possible, so I used real photos instead of clip art. Finally, I labeled each photo according to its set just in case the sets got mixed up somewhere along the way.

You can grab a copy of my Preschool Science Sorting Cards here!

Preschool Science Activities 1: Living Non-Living

Science Preschool Activities Set 1: LIVING & NON-LIVING

This set of 12 photos includes simple, recognizable living items such as trees, animals, flowers, and bugs then contrasts them with non-living items such as a doll, a fork, a truck, a toaster and other items.