Water Displacement Science Experiment for Kids

We love a good science experiment for kids around here, and we love water. Today, we’re sharing some fun involving both! This super simple experiment focuses on teaching the concept of water displacement.

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easy and fun science experiment for kids

Materials
Small jars or cups
Water
Glass jewels (or any other item that’s already on-hand)

Directions
Pour different amounts of water into each jar or cup. Ask the kiddos to generate ideas about what they think will happen during this experiment. Some possible questions to ask:

What do you think will happen when we add the jewels to the water? What makes you think so?
How many jewels do you think we’ll need to add to each jar to make the water overflow?
Do you think we’ll need more jewels for the jar with the most water or the least water? Why do you think so?

Have the children record their thoughts on a piece of paper. They can draw a picture of what they think will happen, as well as write about it.

Next, it’s time to move onto the experiment. Have the children add glass jewels to each jar one at a time. Help count each jewel as it’s added to the water. Encourage the kids to make observations as they’re adding the jewels. What’s happening to the water? What do you think will happen next?

Keep adding jewels one at a time until the water finally overflows from the first jar. Then move onto the next jar. Be sure to keep track of how many jewels it took for each jar to overflow!

Our findings
As predicted, it took more glass jewels to make the least amount of water overflow. We weren’t surprised by that outcome, but we WERE surprised by the number of jewels we had to add to each jar! We added over 30 to the jar with the most water, and we added over 80 to the jar with the least amount of water. Watching as the water created a “bubble” along the top of the jar before finally overflowing was really cool! Even though this was a super simple science experiment for kids, it still led to a ton of learning and discussion! There are already plans in the making for different variations of this experiment later on in the week!

Check out more #PLAYfulpreschool water fun:

Alphabet Activities: Washing the Letter Dishes by Growing Book by Book

Alphabet Hunt in a Water Sprinkler by Mom Inspired Life

Turn Your Water Bottles into Musical Instruments by Life Over C’s

Pie Tin Boats – an engineering challenge for the whole family by Rainy Day Mum

Making a Solar Still-a Water Desalination Experiment by Capri + 3

Gross Motor Water Play and Learning by Tiny Tots Adventures

Drip, Drip, Drop | Ourdoor Water Game for Kids by The Educators’ Spin On It