Kindergarten science works best as short, hands-on looking and sorting, not reading. These four printable-style activities give young children a simple way to observe, record, and sort the world around them.
What does kindergarten science actually look like?
Kindergarten science is mostly observation: looking closely at something real and describing it in simple words or pictures. At this age, children are building the habit of noticing details, not memorizing facts.
These activities are designed for ages 4 to 6, working one-on-one or in a small group with an adult reading the prompts aloud. They fit well into a preschool or kindergarten homeschool routine. They are not a full science curriculum and do not cover topics that need reading independently.
Observation sheet: look closely
Use this with any small object: a leaf, a rock, a shell, or a toy. The goal is to slow a child down and get them describing instead of just naming.
My Observation Sheet
Object I am looking at: ______________________
Draw a picture of it here: (leave space for drawing)
What color is it? ______________________
Is it hard or soft? ______________________
Is it big or small? ______________________
One more thing I notice: ______________________
This sheet works for indoor objects too. It does not work well for anything moving fast, like a pet running around, since a young child cannot draw and track motion at the same time.
Five senses chart
This chart has a child use each sense on one object, usually something safe from the kitchen or yard, like an orange, a pinecone, or a flower.
My Five Senses Chart
| Sense | What I notice |
|---|---|
| I see | ______________________ |
| I hear | ______________________ |
| I smell | ______________________ |
| I touch | ______________________ |
| I taste (only if it’s food and an adult says it’s okay) | ______________________ |
Safety note: only taste something if an adult confirms it is food and safe for that child, and never taste anything found outdoors, like a plant or berry, without an adult’s identification first. Skip the taste row entirely for any object that is not food.
Weather log
A weather log has a child check outside at the same time each day and record what they observe, building a simple pattern over a week. Weather forecasters and scientists also observe conditions daily and track changes over time, the same basic idea at a much larger scale (NOAA NESDIS).
My Weather Log
| Day | Sunny | Cloudy | Rainy | Snowy | Windy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | □ | □ | □ | □ | □ |
| Tuesday | □ | □ | □ | □ | □ |
| Wednesday | □ | □ | □ | □ | □ |
| Thursday | □ | □ | □ | □ | □ |
| Friday | □ | □ | □ | □ | □ |
Have the child check one box per day, at roughly the same time, then look back at the end of the week and count which weather type happened most. This log only tracks what a child can see from a window or doorway. It does not measure temperature, which needs a thermometer and a separate lesson on reading numbers.
Sorting living and non-living things
This activity has a child sort a small pile of objects, or pictures of objects, into two groups: living and non-living. A simple test question helps: does it grow, eat or drink, and need air to survive?
Living or Non-Living?
| Living | Non-Living |
|---|---|
Suggested items to sort: a plant, a rock, a bug, a toy car, a fish, a spoon, a tree, a book, a dog, a chair.
Some answers need a short conversation, not just a rule. A seed looks non-living, but it is alive and will grow. Talk through any tricky item together instead of expecting the child to get every one right on the first try.
This activity covers common household and outdoor objects. It skips edge cases like bacteria or viruses, which need a microscope and are better saved for older grades.
General safety notes for these activities
- Adult supervision is needed for the five senses chart whenever tasting is involved.
- Never let a child taste, smell closely, or touch an unknown outdoor plant, berry, or mushroom without an adult identifying it first.
- For the weather log, keep outdoor observation time short in extreme heat, cold, or storms, and always check from a safe spot like a window or covered porch during lightning.
- Small objects used for sorting or observation should be checked for choking hazards with children who still put things in their mouths.
Where to go next
These four activities are a starting point. For more grade-level science material, see the site’s science printables hub and the broader science section.
Sources
- NOAA National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service. How to Read a Weather Map