1st Grade Science Activities
First grade is a year of firsts: your child's first full day of school, the first time she'll write a small story herself, and the first time she'll read a complete book cover to cover. We've got dozens of wacky reading and math activities, cool science experiments, and indoor and outdoor games to keep the learning fun.
Create a habitat for a butterfly right in your own home or yard. It just takes a little patience and some butterfly knowledge to make this science wonder a success.
Want to build the biggest, thickest bubbles around? This recipe makes bubbles that not only blow up nice and big, but do tricks and experiments! How do you do it? It's not a secret, it's science!
More science activities for first grade:
Make Your Own Ant Farm!
All you need is some simple, natural materials to create an amazing ant farm for your budding first grade scientist.
Chalk it Up! An Outdoor Classification Activity
Classifying and sorting into groups is also a large part of the first grade math curriculum. The outdoors offers an abundance of learning tools for children, and classifying in the natural world gives your child an added lesson in scientific observation and classification.
Get Your Head in the Clouds!
First graders are eager to learn about science - especially using large objects to observe like clouds. Let your child daydream a little and use those science and writing skills, too!
Make an ABC Nature Book
Take a nature walk in your backyard or local park to find one object for every letter of the alphabet. Your child will be loving the outdoors while practicing her science, reading, and writing skills.
Build a Better Sandcastle
If your child aspires to be the next Frank Lloyd Wright, we've got some tips on building a castle that lasts.
Build a Pop Rocket
What's cooler than an explosion? Not much! This simple science experiment lets kids build their own pop rocket, with help from a basic chemical reaction. So put on your safety goggles and let her rip!
Explore Bubble Science
Want to build the biggest, thickest bubbles around? This recipe makes bubbles that not only blow up nice and big, but do tricks and experiments! How do you do it? It's not a secret, it's science!
Create a Fish Art Print!
The fish most first grade kids see is usually filleted or canned, and it's hard to see how it came from a lake or sea. Here's a delightful way to bridge the gap, with an activity that blends art with life science discovery.
Weight Wonders: Big and Light...Heavy and Small?
First graders generally love to think concretely. So if it's a rock, it's heavy. If it's a little box of raisins, it's light. Right? Well, not always. Here's a fun activity to help build thinking skills in young scientists, and to encourage them to have a blast exploring the mass and volume. ...
Grow a Holiday Bouquet!
If you're like lots of us, you've secretly decided that your green thumb is actually brown. Parents, take heart! This winter garden project is just about bomb-proof, and believe it or not, it might even make a great gift.