Young children are curious about everything around them. A characteristic of preschoolers is to ask "why?" or "how?" repeatedly. Science for preschoolers includes the 'hows" and "whys" as well as uses the five senses, allowing kids to learn about seasons and living things and a myriad of learning experiences. The Christmas season provides opportunities for preschoolers to learn many science lessons.

Christmas Colorful Icicles

Preschoolers will discover many science facts when making their own icicles.
Show the preschoolers some Christmas icicle decorations. Then, show a frozen icicle or a picture of one. Have preschoolers make their own icicles from water. The kids can make their own icicle molds from aluminum foil. Place all the molds onto a cookie sheet. Pour a shallow layer of water into each mold. Let the children place a few drops of food coloring into their icicle molds.

Place the tray of icicles into a freezer overnight. During the next class session, let the children see and touch their icicles. Allow for discovery of touching to melt the icicle, tasting and holding the frozen science projects up to the light to see them sparkle.

Frosting Science

Milk turns dry powdered sugar into Christmas cookie frosting.
Let the children see some frosted Christmas cookies. Then, have the preschoolers discover the changes made in familiar materials while they make their own frosting. Give each child 1/2 cup of powdered sugar in a large paper cup. Encourage touching and tasting. Then, have the kids spoon a few drops of milk over the powdered sugar and stir. Add more milk if needed to make a smooth consistency. Discuss with the children how the milk changed the powdered sugar. Then, let children add a drop of food coloring, and stir into the frosting. Add more food coloring, a drop or two at a time. Ask preschoolers if the frosting is getting darker or lighter in color. Let them mix colors if they prefer. Provide graham crackers for the kids to spread their frosting on, or place the cups of frosting in plastic bags to send home.

Vanishing Christmas Art

Children can draw Christmas pictures in the frost on a window.
Show the preschoolers one or more frosted windows from the inside of the building. Let the kids scratch a Christmas design into the frost with their fingernails. Christmas-shaped sponges dipped in warm water will also make interesting designs in the frost.

Be sure to have the kids look at the window later to see if their art is still visible.
If the sun is not shining in a window, use a hair dryer to warm up the frost and make the art vanish. You can use this seasonal science project every day throughout the Christmas season if desired.

Evergreen Science

Evergreens smell, feel, and look different than other trees.
Provide real evergreen branches for preschool science. Let the kids look, touch, smell and bend the branch and tickle their arms with the greens. Discuss how different evergreens are from other trees.

Seasonal Scents

Preschoolers can learn about seasonal scents.
Have preschoolers smell seasonal spices and items. Provide gingerbread cookies and ginger spice, candy canes and peppermint flavoring, cinnamon powder and cinnamon sticks and real evergreen pieces. Let the kids experience the smells, and then hang some of the items on the class Christmas tree.