10 Easter Stem Activities for Preschool are the perfect way to channel your child’s natural curiosity into meaningful play. We often think of science and math as big kid subjects, but preschoolers are actually little scientists constantly testing how the world works.
These hands-on experiments explore gravity, magnetism, and chemistry using simple holiday items you already have. You will love seeing their eyes go wide when a prediction comes true! Get ready to make a little mess and learn a lot together.
1. Plastic Egg Sink or Float 💦
This is a classic physics experiment that never gets old for the under-5 crowd. It teaches density and buoyancy in the most visible way possible. You can talk about “heavy” and “light” while splashing around in the water. It is a great reason to play with water indoors.
How to Conduct
Fill several plastic eggs with different items (coins, cotton balls, jelly beans, empty). Ask your child to predict if the egg will sink to the bottom or float on top before dropping it into a clear bin of water. Open the eggs afterward to see why some sank and some floated.
Materials Needed
- Large clear plastic tub or bowl filled with water.
- Plastic Easter eggs.
- Fillers: pennies, rocks, feathers, marshmallows.
- A towel for spills.
2. Marshmallow Peep Catapults 🍬
Engineering has never been sweeter than launching sugary chicks across the table. This activity introduces the concepts of force, motion, and levers. It is hilarious to watch, and kids learn that pushing down harder makes the object fly higher.
How to Build
Stack 5-7 popsicle sticks and rubber band them together at both ends. Slide another stick perpendicularly between the bottom two sticks of the stack. Attach a plastic spoon to the top stick with a rubber band. Place a Peep in the spoon, hold the base, and fire away!
Materials Needed
- Jumbo popsicle sticks (craft sticks).
- Rubber bands.
- Plastic spoons.
- Marshmallow Peeps (chicks or bunnies).
3. The Great Peep Dissolve 🔬
Chemistry can be simple: observing how different liquids change a solid object. This “disappearing act” helps kids practice observation and patience. It is fascinating to see which liquid destroys the sturdy marshmallow first.
How to Experiment
Set out three clear glasses. Fill one with water, one with vinegar, and one with lemon-lime soda. Drop a Peep into each glass and set a timer. Come back every 10 minutes to poke them and see which one is dissolving, bubbling, or changing color the fastest.
Materials Needed
- 3 clear drinking glasses.
- Water, white vinegar, and clear soda (Sprite/7-Up).
- 3 Marshmallow Peeps of the same color.
- A spoon for poking.
4. Magnetic Egg Hunt 🧲
Magnetism is like magic to a preschooler. This activity turns a regular hunt into a science discovery mission. It helps them understand that some metals “stick” while other materials do not.
How to Set Up
Put small magnetic items (paper clips, magnetic letters, bells) inside some plastic eggs and non-magnetic items (erasers, paper) inside others. Close them up and give your child a magnetic wand. Have them test which eggs stick to their wand without opening them first.
Materials Needed
- Plastic Easter eggs.
- Magnetic wand or strong horseshoe magnet.
- Fillers: paper clips, jingle bells, coins (non-magnetic), pom-poms.
5. Rainbow Walking Water 🌈
This visual experiment demonstrates capillary action—how water can move upward against gravity. It uses Easter colors to make a beautiful, creeping rainbow. The color mixing aspect is a huge bonus lesson for art.
How to Experiment
Place 5 cups in a row. Fill the 1st, 3rd, and 5th cups with water and food coloring (Blue, Red, Yellow). Leave the 2nd and 4th cups empty. Fold paper towel strips and place them like bridges connecting the cups. Watch as the colored water “walks” into the empty cups to create green and orange.
Materials Needed
- 5 clear cups or jars.
- Water.
- Food coloring (Red, Yellow, Blue).
- Paper towels (absorbent ones work best).
6. Humpty Dumpty Egg Drop 🥚
This is a classic engineering challenge simplified for little ones. The goal is to design a “suit” to protect a fragile egg from a fall. It encourages problem-solving and critical thinking about soft vs. hard materials.
How to Build
Use hard-boiled eggs (less mess!) or plastic eggs filled with confetti. Provide materials like bubble wrap, cotton balls, and fabric scraps. Let the child wrap their egg in a protective layer, tape it shut, and drop it from a chair to see if it “survives” the crash.
Materials Needed
- Hard-boiled eggs or fragile plastic eggs.
- Bubble wrap, cotton balls, tissue paper.
- Masking tape.
- A chair or step stool.
7. Egg Ramp Friction Racers 🏎️
Physics is all about how things move, and ramps are the best way to test this. This activity explores friction and slope. Kids learn that rough surfaces slow things down while smooth surfaces make them go fast.
How to Play
Set up a “ramp” using a flat piece of cardboard propped up on books. Roll a plastic egg down the ramp onto a wood floor, then onto a carpet, and then onto a towel. Measure how far the egg rolls on each surface to see which one slows it down the most.
Materials Needed
- A flat piece of cardboard or a cutting board.
- A stack of books.
- Plastic eggs (weighted with playdough helps them roll better).
- Tape measure.
8. Jelly Bean Balance Scale ⚖️
Math is a huge part of STEM, and weighing is a practical skill. This activity visualizes “more than” and “less than.” It turns snack time into a comparison game.
How to Play
Set up a simple balance scale (or make one with a hanger and two cups). Place a plastic egg on one side and challenge the child to balance the scale using jelly beans on the other side. “How many jelly beans does the egg weigh?”
Materials Needed
- A balance scale (toy or DIY hanger version).
- Plastic eggs.
- A bowl of jelly beans.
9. Shadow Bunny Tracing ☀️
This utilizes natural light to teach kids about the sun’s position and outlines. It connects art with the science of light and shadow. It is a calming outdoor activity for a sunny afternoon.
How to Create
Take some toy bunnies or Easter figurines outside and place them on a piece of white paper so they cast a shadow. Give the child a crayon and have them trace the outline of the shadow. Wait an hour, move the paper back to the toy, and see how the shadow has moved!
Materials Needed
- Solid toy bunnies or chicks.
- White paper.
- Crayons or markers.
- Sunshine!
10. Stack the Shells Tower 🏗️
This engineering challenge tests stability and patience. Plastic egg halves are tricky to stack because of their curved shape. Kids have to figure out the best way to balance them (rim to rim or nesting) to build the tallest structure.
How to Build
Separate a bunch of plastic eggs into halves. Challenge your child to build the tallest tower possible using only the halves. They will quickly learn that a wider base makes the tower more stable as it gets higher.
Materials Needed
- 20+ plastic Easter eggs (separated).
- A flat, steady surface.
- A ruler to measure height.
Conclusion
Science doesn’t have to happen in a lab; it can happen right on your kitchen floor with a few plastic eggs. These 10 Easter Stem Activities for Preschool encourage your child to ask “what if” and “why.” By mixing holiday fun with critical thinking, you are helping them build a foundation for learning that lasts a lifetime.
