4 Colorful STEAM Activities to Try with Your Preschooler
Scavenger Hunt
Materials
- Scavenger hunt list
- Bag or box to put objects in (optional)
Scavenger Hunt Instructions
- Choose a color and have children go on a scavenger hunt for it!
- Once you have exhausted one color, try a different color!
- Other categories to try:
- Shape
- Things that use batteries
- Things that make noise
- Specific objects within your home
- Living things
- Things that feel a certain way (soft, hard, bumpy, etc.)
- Nature objects
- Toys (animals, cars, dolls, etc.)
Graphing Our Environment
Materials
- Piece of paper
- Crayons, markers, or pencils
Instructions for Graphing Our Environment
- Choose a category and have your child graph it!
- What color the cars are that pass by outside?
- How many of each shape or color you see in your home?
- Have children count up how many of each object they have.
- Other categories to try:
- Food (cereal, noodles, beans, etc.)
- How many of each sticker
- Different types of coins
- Buttons
- Daily weather
- Nature objects
- Toys (animals, cars, dolls, etc.)
Magic Milk
Materials
- Plate
- Milk
- Food coloring
- Q-tip
- Dish soap
How to Make Magic Milk
- Pour milk onto a plate.
- Put drops of food coloring on milk (do not mix).
- Dip Q-tip into dish soap so the tip is coated.
- Dip soap-covered end of Q-tip into the milk near the food coloring drops.
- See what happens!
Questions To Ask Your Child
- What do you think will happen when you dip the Q-tip into the milk?
- What colors were created when the food coloring mixed?
- Why does the food coloring move away from the Q-tip?
Walking Rainbow
Materials
- 6 see-through containers
- 6 paper towels
- Red, yellow, and blue food coloring
- Water
How to Make a Walking Rainbow
- Place the six cups in a circle.
- Fill all cups with water (about half full).
- Put red food coloring in first cup, yellow food coloring in third cup, and blue food coloring in fifth cup.
- Roll paper towels into strips and put one end in colored water and other into jar next to it. Continue with all six jars.
Questions To Ask Your Child
- What colors do you think will be made in the clear water?
- Why is the water traveling between the jars?
- What other colors can you make when you mix colors?