Preschool Science Experiment - Air and Water

With this fun and easy preschool science experiment, your preschooler will learn that air and water can’t occupy the same space as they have fun playing with water on hot summer afternoons. 

A large bowl, bucket or small plastic pool
Water, enough to fill your bowl, bucket or pool
a small, clear cup

Fill up your bowl or bucket with water.

Ask your preschooler what is in the cup. (Air)

Have your preschooler slowly lower the cup into the water, keeping it even with the water. Notice bubbles come out and the water occupies the same space. 

Continue to lower the cup until it’s completely submerged within the water, keeping a hand on the cup so it doesn’t float away. Ask your preschooler if there is still air in the cup. 

Have your preschooler tilt the cup a little bit. Does the air come out? What about if you tilt it in another direction? Does air come out?

Take the cup out of the water and drain any water of out of it. Ask your preschooler what it’s full of?

Now have your preschooler quickly put the cup into the water, again keeping it even with the water. What happens? Does more air come out or less? What happens when you tilt the cup to the side? Does a big or a little bubble come out?

Now try tilting the cup and lowering it into the water. Does an air bubble get caught again, or does the cup completely fill with water?

Continue to let your preschooler play wit the cup and water to see what happens.