Put on your lab coats, step into your classroom laboratory, and bring your first graders along for the ride! If you’re on the hunt for exciting science projects that are suitable for 1st graders, look no further! Follow along as we unpack an amazing collection of science projects and experiments to enjoy with your budding scientists. In the words of our favorite cartoon science teacher…Take chances, make mistakes, and get messy! Dive into the magical world of science with us!
1. Color Mixing
This exciting activity is perfect for teaching your students about primary colors and color mixing. Fill ice trays or cups with water and add red, yellow, and blue food dye to create primary-colored ice cubes. Then place two different-colored cubes into a cup and inspire your little science experts to observe and record their findings as they watch them melt and reveal a new color.
Learn More: Gift of Curiosity
2. Celery Science
Try this cool experiment to help your little learners understand more about how humans and plants survive and use capillary action to supply themselves with water. Place three cut stalks of celery into three glasses of water that have been tinted with food dye. Leave the celery to do its thing overnight and then amaze your students when they discover that their once-green celery is now turning a new hue!
Learn More: Lessons 4 Little Ones
3. Playdough Bones
This exciting experiment shows your students exactly how having a skeleton benefits their bodies. Using playdough, have your students create 2 human bodies. One body will be made of dough alone, while the other will be crafted using straws as internal supports. When built, your students will discover how having a skeleton is necessary to keep them upright and standing strong! What a fun science experiment for those weeks leading up to Halloween!
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4. Molecule Slime Monster
Your students will love making slime during science class, and they won’t even realize they’re learning! Teach your class about molecular and structural changes by demonstrating how combining the different slime-making ingredients will cause a change in their properties.
Learn More: Science 4 Us
5. Magnetized Money
Did you know that money is magnetic? We didn’t, and we bet your students don’t won’t either! This exciting science experiment displays the magnetic properties of U.S. money. Due to the iron-based inks used when printing money, those dollar bills will stick to a magnet! What a ‘valuable’ Science lesson for your little learners!
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6. Blubber Buffer
Help your littles explore the effects of temperature on animals and how they keep warm in colder environments. Cover the inside of a plastic bag in vegetable shortening and invite your students to then place a gloved hand inside of the shortening bag. Next, they can place their hand in ice water and discover how the fat forms a protective layer against the cold.
Learn More: Little Bins for Little Hands
7. Paper Cup Phone
This fun experiment, using paper cups, teaches children about how sound waves travel. To conduct it, help your learners string together two paper cups and get to playing around!
Learn More: The Stem Laboratory
8. Solar Crown Creation
Solar science hats are the perfect way to introduce outer space to your class. Have them color, cut, and paste their planets onto a strip of black cardstock in sequential order. Once complete, help them staple the two ends of the strip together to form a space-tastic crown!
Learn More: The Stem Laboratory
9. Electrified
Blow up balloons and teach your class about static electricity. Challenge your students to see how much of their hair they can get to stand up and what objects they can lift using an electrically charged balloon.
Learn More: Kids Activities Blog
10. Lava-lamp Creator
What could be better than a lava lamp? A homemade one! Help your students make one by mixing water, oil, and food coloring together in a bottle. Next, they can drop in 1 antacid tablet, close the lid, and watch the chemical reaction that occurs.
Learn More: 123 Homeschool 4 Me
11. Sprout House
Introduce plant science by having your students plant seeds in sponges and create a sprout house. As they water their creations, they’ll be amazed to see how they grow in the coming weeks.
Learn More: The Stem Laboratory
12. Apple Volcano
This simple chemical reaction experiment is one that is sure to wow! Help your students mix baking soda and white vinegar in the center of an apple and watch the magic unfold as their fruity volcano erupts.
Learn More: Little Bins for Little Hands
13. Slingshot Rocket
Help your little ones develop their engineering skills at an early age by engaging them in a slingshot rocket building project. All that’s required are large straws, masking tape, rubber bands, craft sticks, paper fasteners, card stock, and an eraser. Once your pupils piece their slingshots together, they’ll be able to rejoice in hours of fun and discover the basic principles of aerodynamics.
Learn More: Instructables
14. Ladybug Life Cycle
Invite your pupils to explore natural science themes by analyzing various animal and insect life cycles. A great insect to begin with is a ladybug! To craft this nifty wheel, help your kiddos use a split pin to fasten a moveable Pacman-shaped piece of cardstock over the top of images that depict the various life stages of a ladybug.
Learn More: The Stem Laboratory
15. Temperature Tester
Introduce the concept of temperature by having your class craft a thermometer. To do so, they’ll need to mix water, alcohol, oil, and food coloring in a jar. Then, they can place a straw in the jar and use molding clay to secure it 1” from the bottom of the jar. Next up is testing time where they can move the jar between hot and cold areas and watch the liquid level rise and fall up the straw.
Learn More: Little Bins for Little Hands
16. Bouncy Bubbles
Here’s a project that can be enjoyed indoors or out! Help your first graders create a bubble solution by mixing dish soap, corn syrup, and water together. Then, they can use a baster to blow into the mixture and bring about bouncing bubbles.
Learn More: Little Bins for Little Hands
17. Porosity Project
Non-porous objects and properties thereof are perfect points of study when analyzing rocks submerged in water. Engage your littles in this project by having them fill a bucket with pebbles before topping it off with water and gathering everyone round for an observation and discussion.
Learn More: Science Buddies
18. Melting Crayons
Teach your students about melting points, solids, and liquids by creating a wax painting together. This project is great for combining both science and art into one fun lesson. Simply line up and glue wax crayons onto a canvas backing before helping your littles use a hairdryer to melt and spread them.
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19. Marble Momentum
Here’s a project that will quite literally help you get the ball moving on the front of scientific notions! Set out to roll a marble down a ramp in order to bump and move a folded card. Teach your littles that the further the car moves, the more momentum the marble has gained. To get the best results, have them play around with distance and speed.
Learn More: Frugal Fun 4 Boys
20. Rock Candy
This edible rock classification is sure to rock the socks off your 1st grade class! Growing sugar crystals is one of the best edible science experiments for kids. All they’ll need to do is place a metal skewer into a colorful solution of equal parts water and sugar, before leaving it for a couple of days to begin crystalizing.
Learn More: Growing a Jeweled Rose
21. Colorful Chromatography
Here’s an experiment that’s sure to help your little scientists’ knowledge bloom like never before! Have them use markers to draw colorful circles on coffee filters before attaching them to pipe cleaners to resemble flowers. Next, they can place their blossoms in a jar with a little water, and watch as the colors on the filters start to disperse.
Learn More: 123 Homeschool 4 Me
22. Growing Gummies
If you’re looking for a simple, edible science project, then look no further! Help your students learn about expansion and discover the properties of gelatin with this easy gummy-growing experiment! All they need to do is place a few gummy bears in a bowl of water and then leave them to grow.
Learn More: Tinker Lab
23. Sunscreen Science
Teach your learners about the importance of using sunblock to protect their skin, with the help of some sunscreen and black construction paper. Have them dab sunblock onto one half of their piece of paper and leave it in the sun for about 5 hours. Once they’ve collected their sheets, have them smear away the sunblock and take note of how the side with no sunblock has faded significantly in color!
Learn More: Funshine
24. Soil Type and Liquefaction
Have your learners test out various soil liquefaction by measuring how much water gets absorbed by each type. Next, get them to consider what makes some soils more or less absorbent than others by playing a simple explanation video.
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25. Make A Penny Disappear
This magical project is sure to fascinate your learners! Assist them in performing this simple experiment where you’ll have them use a glass of water, a trusty penny, and the power of light refraction to make the penny disappear.
Learn More: Mombrite
26. Inventor poster project
Inventor poster projects are perfect for your 1st grade class. Simply task your students with designing a creative poster about any scientific inventor of their choosing.
Learn More: Twitter
27. Water Xylophone
Help your learners craft a water xylophone to learn more about sound science. All they’ll need are 4 mason jars, a few wooden skewers, food coloring, and water to help bring this glass orchestra to life!
Learn More: Little Bins for Little Hands
28. Fossilized Footprints
Time to discover how fossils are formed! Help your pupils leave their mark by squishing a hand, foot, or small toy into a bed of DIY clay that’s made from coffee grounds, flour, salt, and cold coffee.
Learn More: Education.com
29. Blood Molecules
Edible experiments are a 1st grade fan favorite! Help your littles replicate the 4 blood components with candy equivalents in this creative science project.
Learn More: Quirkles
30. Whirligig Spinner
Watch your first graders become mini Einsteins! Transform your classroom into a physics playground by having them craft paper whirligigs. Before dropping them from a height and experimenting with gravity and air resistance.
Learn More: The Craft Train
31. Toothpick Star
Ready for a magic show? With just toothpicks and water, your students can reveal the mystery of surface tension. As the toothpick stars magically form, they’ll learn the secret spells of science. Prepare for a gasp and a round of applause when your students see this show-stopping science experiment!
Learn More: The Stem Laboratory
32. Dinosaur Shadow Puppets
Have a roaring good time learning about light and darkness with an exciting dinosaur-themed puppet project. With these DIY dinosaur shadow puppets, your students will craft a prehistoric world out of paper cutouts, craft sticks, and rays of light. The classroom wall will quickly become their stage!
Learn More: Twinkl
33. Magnetic Fishing Game
Get ready to hook your students’ attention with a fishing game of magnetic proportions. Using a few simple materials, your students will be able to craft their own magnetic fishing poles, “hook” paper fish, and learn all about the power of magnetic fields. They’ll definitely be easy to reel in for more learning when you kick off your science unit with this exciting science activity.
Learn More: Super Simple
34. DIY Periscope
There’s no sub-stitute for an exciting spy-themed science project. Send your students on a covert mission to master the science of light by having them create their own periscopes. Using cereal boxes, tape, and mirrors, your kiddos will be able to engineer periscopes and investigate how reflections work. Congratulations- You’ve just turned your science class into a James Bond adventure!
Learn More: YouTube
35. Rainbow Jar
Art and science combine to make a colorful masterpiece with this highly engaging (and potentially messy) science project! By layering liquids with different densities, your students will create a colorful masterpiece in a jar. This project isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s an exploration of density and chemistry.
Learn More: Playdough to Plato
36. Edible Igneous Rock
Who said you can’t eat your science experiments? This exciting science project will have your students whipping up delectable igneous rocks using marshmallows, honeycomb, and chocolate chips. The rock cycle has never been this sweet!
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37. Spinning Color Wheel
Dance through the color wheel with this simple, yet effective science project! Send your students down the rainbow road as they build a spinning contraption that magically reveals the color spectrum as it turns. As these colorful spinning tops revolve, your students will watch the primary colors blend.
Learn More: YouTube
38. Seed Jar Experiment
When nature calls, let your students answer! Have them watch the miracle of seed germination by making their own seed jars. Place a variety of seeds in jars with damp paper towels and watch the life cycle of a plant unfurl.
Learn More: Little Bins for Little Hands
39. Jellyfish in a Bottle
Take your little learners under the sea with this exciting science experiment! Use recyclable materials such as plastic bottles and bags to have your students create mesmerizing floating jellyfish, complete with their own marine habitats.
Learn More: YouTube
40. Edible Rock Cycle
Learning rocks when it’s this tasty! This delicious science project is another great way for your students to learn about the formation of the different types of rock. Have them use chocolates, rice krispie treats, and sweets of all kinds to model the rock cycle. Talk about science that you can really sink your teeth into.
Learn More: Little Bins for Little Hands
41. Candy DNA Model
This tasty science experiment is sure to unlock the building blocks of life for your students.! After discussing how everyone’s DNA makes them different, have your learners assemble a DNA model using gumdrops, toothpicks, and licorice strings. What a sweet way to learn about human biology!
Learn More: Science Sparks
42. Lego Balloon Car
Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines! With Legos and balloons, you can send your students off to the races with their air-propelled race cars. This crafty STEM project is perfect for learning about propulsion and friction; putting your kiddos on the fast track to acquiring physics knowledge.
Learn More: Frugal Fun 4 Boys
43. Bird Feeder Project
Tweet tweet! Encourage your young ornithologists to craft their very own bird feeders! Using simple materials, recyclables, and even some tasty treats, your students will quickly be able to whip up the perfect feeding stations for their feathery friends.
Learn More: The Homeschool Scientist
44. Homemade Compass
With needles, magnets, and water bowls, your students can create their own compasses. In the end, they won’t just be finding north- they’ll be navigating the fields of magnetism.
Learn More: YouTube
45. Homemade Rain Gauge
Grab that recycling bin and get to work turning your students into junior meteorologists. Simple materials will aid them in constructing rain gauges to measure and track precipitation in the environment. Whether it’s a drizzle or a downpour, each drop counts in understanding more about our climate.
Learn More: STEAM Powered Family
46. Pinhole Viewer
The sun takes center stage in this exciting STEM activity. With a few easy-to-find materials, have your students craft a homemade pinhole viewer to safely observe solar happenings. This crafty science lesson is a fantastic way to help them explore the science of light travel.
Learn More: YouTube
47. Volcano Model
Your class will erupt with excitement when you break out the materials to build a DIY volcano Mix baking soda, vinegar, and a few drops of food coloring to have your students simulate volcanic eruptions. This science project will certainly transform your classroom into a geological hot spot.
Learn More: Red Ted Art
48. Cabbage pH Indicator
Science gets a colorful twist with this next idea! Your students will turn red cabbage into a vibrant pH indicator. As the liquids change colors, so will their perspectives on the concept of acidity and alkalinity.
Learn More: Discovery Express Kids
49. Sun Prints
Help your kiddos capture the sun, one print at a time! Here, your students can use natural objects and construction paper to create sun prints. Each silhouette will tell a story about the power of solar energy.
Learn More: Run Wild My Child
50. DIY Kaleidoscope
Invite your littles to take a peek into the wondrous world of color and light!! Provide your students with basic materials (including recyclables) to craft kaleidoscopes that allow them to explore the phenomena of light and reflection.
Learn More: Buggy and Buddy
51. Pasta Rocket
This science experiment is sure to be a blast! Using film canisters and effervescent (antacid) tablets, your students will be able to create their own self-propelled rockets. Up, up, and away to understanding more about propulsion!
Learn More: YouTube
52. Leaf Tracing and Identification
Leaf prints aren’t just for Arbor Day! Inspire your students to study the wondrous world of trees by having them create their own leaf prints! Encourage them to collect, trace, and identify a whole assortment of leaves. Each rubbing will reveal a tale of biodiversity and the mechanics of how trees survive in their environment.
Learn More: First Palette
53. Glow Stick Science
Light up your classroom with chemical reactions! Have your students explore why glow sticks glow, and then keep the learning going by experimenting with different temperature effects on this phenomenon.
Learn More: Science Notes
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