Kindergarten + 1st Grade Science Activities & Experiments | Summer + End of Year

Science Day is great for busy kindergarten and first grade teachers who need a fun and easy way to incorporate science and STEM each week ALL YEAR LONG.

There are 32 activities for students to explore, observe, investigate, experiment, and design! Ready for a lab a week ALL YEAR LONG?

Ready to Use

32 activities with directions and photos

Recording sheet options

Pacing suggestions

Skill and content lists

Recording Sheets

Because students' readiness levels may vary, there are recording sheet options for you to choose from. Students can simply draw their observations or include written explanations, as well.

32 Activities Included

1. 5 Senses Day: students use their 5 senses to determine what is hidden in a bag
2. Boat Day: students explore sinking and floating by building aluminum foil boats
3. Rock Collections Day: students sort rocks based on their physical properties
4. Nature Walk: students identify things in nature while on a rock then classify them as living or nonliving
5. Apple Day: students determine which type of liquid best stops an apple slice from turning brown
6. Pumpkin Day: students observe the physical properties of a pumpkin
7. Leaf Day: students observe the physical properties of a leaf
8. Chocolate Day: students explore changes to solid when heat is added
9. Race cars Day: students experiment to determine which ramp allows a toy car to roll farther
10. Magnets Day: students test objects to determine which are magnetic and non-magnetic
11. Monkey Tails: students explore the purpose of external characteristics of animals
12. Flashlight Day: students observe how light interacts with card stock, wax paper, clear plastic, and aluminum foil
13. Cookies for Santa Day: students determine which cookies are heavier and lighter using a primary balance
14. Snowflakes Day: students create snowflakes using Borax and water
15. A Windy Day: students test to determine which objects may be easily blown by the wind
16. Dirt Day: students create a model to show the layers of soil under Earth's surface
17. Bear Day: students make a model of a brown bear's habitat to show how its basic needs are met
18. Groundhog Day: students measure their shadows to see how they change during the day
19. Valentine's Day Candy Hearts: students explore how 3 liquids interact with candy hearts
20. Marble Maze Day: students build marble mazes to explore force and motion
21. St. Patrick’s Day: students observe the reaction of yellow vinegar and blue baking soda
22. Sound Day: students explore sound using their senses and tuning forks
23. In-straw-ment Day: students explore pitch by making a straw instrument
24. Rainbow Day: students explore what happens when primary colors are combined
25. Seeds Day: students plant lima bean seeds
26. Nest Day: students build nests
27. Plant Life Cycle Day: students use their plants to help identify the life cycle of a plant
28. Plant Parts Day: students explore different plants, vegetables, and fruits to determine their characteristics
29. Food Chains Day: students create food chains to show the flow of energy
30. Beach Ball Day: students investigate gravity and the importance of repeated trials by bouncing a beach ball
31. Cloudy Day: students observe how clouds change
32. Doghouse Day: students create a structure that will protect a dog from the sun

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Materials Needed:

Most materials needed for the activities are basic and commonly found in schools, at home, or at the store.

What type of things do you need for the year? primary balances, plastic cups, apples, vinegar, lemon juice, orange juice, orange slices, rocks, a pumpkin, leaves, chocolate kisses, baggies, toy cars, cardboard, magnets, magnetic and non-magnetic items, pipe cleaners, flashlights, wax paper, aluminum foil, Oreos, chocolate chip cookies, Fig Newtons, Borax, soil, sand, gummy bears, play dough, construction or tissue paper, plates, fish crackers, baking soda, food coloring, conversation hearts, balls, tuning forks, straws, paper towels, lima beans, beach balls, craft sticks, chart paper

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Product Notes:

1. This file is intended to supplement your science program.

2. This file is not editable.

3. This resource contains suggested videos and read-alouds.

4. See the preview for more details.

Teachers love it!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ These are great activities that do not require a lot of materials. They are great for the younger students, and I have even modified them to use with 2nd and 3rd grade. -Crystal J

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I am wanting to implement more STEM and themed units into my instruction this year, and this resource really helps with reaching this goal. Our science curriculum is lacking in STEM (plus we are always so short on time for Science in first grade), so this resource helps me give my students engaging, high-quality science lessons. -Sarah P

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ What kid doesn't love science!? Time is precious and limited in the classroom, and this unit allows you to provide 1 experiment per week- ideal for us!! -Lauren Z