Brenda,
Here’s one recipe you may like http://lemonlimeadventures.com/lego-calm-down-jar/

Thank you for your feedback Sean. Sounds like you are having fun with science in your home! My goal with preschoolers is for them to have fun first and to encourage them to be curious. I think we have the same goal but different approaches.

We should demonstrate to the preschoolers what a science experiment is about, which is we take our understanding a form a hypothesis then we test it and make observations, and finally we draw conclusions based on those observations. That’s science.

The last two science experiments that I did with my 5 year old were :

Carbon Dioxide and flame.

We established the fundamental principles of chemical and physical reactions, then we discussed what we knew of the properties of combustion and we hypothesized what would happen if we replaced the oxygen in a container with CO2.

The key here is to get the child to think and follow their own reasoning to come up with an understanding of why the outcome is what it is, and ways to test (not prove, but test) these hypothesis.

First we tested it with baking soda and vinegar, and then we tested it with dry ice. For fun, we threw the rest of the dry ice into water with soap making crazy foam.

Today, we took tarnished pennies and put them in a solution of acetic acid, hydrogen peroxide and sodium cloride. Once we observed and discussed the changes we then extended the experiment by using a car battery charger to electrolytically remove oxidization from the penny and also at the same time, plate the cathode in copper.

All the while we discussed the various states of matter, what a molecule is, what an electron is and the basics of how those things interact.

I gently disagree that a preschooler’s observations explain the science. Science is practice testing theory. Without theory, it’s not science.

Any vinegar should work but I recommend white because it is inexpensive and you can buy it in large quantities 🙂

I LOVE Usborne!

Thank you Carrie!