1.1. List science activities suitable for children aged: • 18 months to 2 years • 3 years to 5 years 11 months

This guide will help you answer 1.1. List science activities suitable for children aged: • 18 months to 2 years • 3 years to 5 years 11 months.

Science Activities for Children Aged 18 Months to 2 Years

At this age, children are developing basic sensory and motor skills. Science activities should be simple, safe, and focused on encouraging curiosity. Activities need to be hands-on. Young children benefit from opportunities to explore through touch, sight, sound, and movement. They learn about their environment by experiencing cause and effect.

Water Play

Children can explore water using containers and simple tools. They can fill, pour, and splash. This helps them notice changes in water levels. They may watch water flow from one container to another. Supervision is important to keep children safe.

Ideas for water play:

• Pouring water from cups and jugs.
• Using sponges to soak up and squeeze water.
• Floating small objects and watching them move.
• Adding food colouring to water and watching the colour spread.

Sand Play

Sand offers sensory experiences and introduces concepts like texture and volume. In a sandpit, children can dig, scoop, and fill buckets.

Ideas for sand play:

• Making shapes with damp sand.
• Filling containers and noticing weight changes.
• Adding small amounts of water to dry sand and feeling the difference.
• Burying and finding small safe objects.

Colour Mixing

At this stage, children can begin to see how colours change when mixed. Use toddler-safe paints or coloured water.

Ideas for colour mixing:

• Using red and yellow paint to make orange.
• Dripping coloured water onto white paper towels.
• Mixing two colours in transparent containers.

Exploring Nature

Natural items give sensory experiences and introduce new textures. Collect leaves, small stones, or pine cones during walks.

Ideas for nature exploration:

• Feeling smooth and rough surfaces.
• Observing shapes and sizes of leaves.
• Listening to birds or rustling leaves.

Simple Object Sorting

Sorting helps children recognise similarities and differences. Use safe household items.

Ideas for sorting:

• Sorting big and small balls.
• Grouping wooden blocks by shape.
• Separating bright and dark coloured toys.

Bubble Play

Bubbles wow young children and encourage observation of cause and effect.

Ideas for bubble play:

• Watching bubbles float and pop.
• Trying to catch bubbles in hands.
• Seeing how bubbles move in different directions.

Science Activities for Children Aged 3 Years to 5 Years 11 Months

Children in this age group are more able to understand why things happen. They can take part in activities with simple explanations. These activities should build on their curiosity from younger years. They can handle more tools and materials under supervision.

Planting Seeds

Planting introduces growth and life cycles. This teaches patience and observation.

Ideas for planting:

• Using pots with soil to plant sunflower seeds.
• Watering daily and recording how tall plants grow.
• Comparing seeds of different sizes.

Magnet Exploration

Magnets introduce children to attraction and repulsion. Use large safe magnets.

Ideas for magnet play:

• Picking up paper clips or large metal washers.
• Testing which objects are attracted to magnets.
• Using magnets in treasure hunts for small metal items.

Simple Cooking

Cooking allows children to explore changes in materials. Supervising is vital for safety.

Ideas for cooking:

• Mixing ingredients like flour and water to make dough.
• Observing butter melt when heated.
• Noticing how cake mix changes in the oven.

Float and Sink Experiments

Children can learn which objects float or sink in water.

Ideas for float and sink:

• Use plastic tubs of water outdoors.
• Test different shapes and sizes of objects.
• Record results through simple drawings.

Shadow Play

Light and shadows introduce concepts about light sources.

Ideas for shadow play:

• Creating shadow shapes on walls with hands.
• Moving lamps or torches to change shadow sizes.
• Using animal cut-outs to make silhouette shapes.

Ice Exploration

Ice gives a sensory experience and introduces states of matter.

Ideas for ice activities:

• Touching ice and noticing the cold.
• Watching ice melt and turn into water.
• Adding salt to ice and seeing changes.

Sound Exploration

Children can learn about vibrational sounds and volume differences.

Ideas for sound activities:

• Using different sized drums or pots.
• Listening to how sound changes when tapping gently or firmly.
• Using shakers filled with rice or pasta.

Weather Observation

Weather helps children recognise environmental changes.

Ideas for weather observation:

• Recording sunny, cloudy, or rainy days with pictures.
• Feeling warm and cold air outside.
• Watching clouds move across the sky.

Sink and Stir

Mix different safe substances in water to explore dissolve and mixture concepts.

Ideas for mixing:

• Stir sugar into water and see it disappear.
• Watching oil float on water and noticing separation.
• Adding flour to water and observing the lumps.

Animal Habitats

Learning about where animals live helps develop environmental awareness.

Ideas for habitat learning:

• Using toy animals that live in different environments.
• Matching animals to their homes like nests, burrows, or ponds.
• Creating simple habitats in play areas.

Colour and Light

Children can explore how light works with colours.

Ideas for light activities:

• Using torches with coloured cellophane.
• Seeing how colours look different under various lights.
• Making rainbow effects with prisms or CDs.

Safety Considerations

Science activities with young children should always be safe. Use materials that are non-toxic. Avoid small items that could be swallowed. Supervision is necessary for water play, cooking, and use of tools. Explain safety rules simply and repeat them often.

For example:

• Hands must be washed after nature exploration.
• Magnets should not be put near electronic devices.
• Sharp tools should only be handled by adults.

Supporting Learning in Science

Encouraging children to ask questions is important. Praise curiosity. Offer simple answers that match their age. Observation and discussion help children make links between cause and effect. Recording findings can be adapted to the age level. Younger children can use drawings or photos. Older children can write short notes.

Final Thoughts

Science activities in early years support development across many areas. They build problem-solving skills. They encourage communication between children and adults. They create opportunities for teamwork and sharing. They help children become confident in exploring their world.

Workers in children’s settings can create science experiences in daily play. Outdoor spaces, household items, and simple tools are enough to engage curiosity. By adapting tasks to different ages, science becomes fun and meaningful. This prepares children for more structured learning in later years, while keeping the experience enjoyable and accessible.