Inside: We had a blast with this super easy coffee filter science experiment – the perfect science experiment for toddlers, preschoolers or kindergartners! So many aspects can be taught through this very simple science experiment for kids.
Table of Contents
Science Experiment for Toddlers
Materials needed for STEAM Coffee Filter Science Experiment
- Non permanent markers aka Washable markers!
- White coffee filters
- Cups of water
- Paper plates or Paper Towels
- Straw
- Tape
Procedure for Chromatography Science Experiment for Preschoolers
1. Choose one marker per coffee filter. I encouraged them to create a circle around the edge where the creases meat the center…well preschoolers need to explore, right?! Part of our STEAM process is letting the young minds explore and adventure through the materials given to them at hand.
*remember* washable markers are your best friend and use something underneath the marker/filter to protect your table area. 
2. Fold the coffee filter in half, another fold making a 1/4 all the way to an 1/8 fold.
4. Get a short glass of water. Placing the cone tip into the water. Just the tip needs to be in water. 
5. Let it sit and watch what happens as the water begins to flow up the paper.
6. Repeat with different colored markers.
7. After the water has reached the outer edge of the coffee filter, place it on a paper towel to dry. 
8. Once the coffee filters are dry you can observe the results!
Directions for Using Coffee Filters to Make Flowers
- Take the middle of a coffee filter and scrunch it together.
- With tape the middle of the scrunch coffee filter to the straw.
- Make your bouquet with approximately 3 coffee filter flowers – that’s what I have found works best!
To learn how to make butterflies with your coffee filters head over to Buggy and Buddy.
To make Coffee filter snowflakes check out this post.
Don’t forget to spark your little preschoolers minds to think through what they are doing and making through this science experiment.
Ask them questions even if it’s simple as what materials you used, what colors, what shapes and then talk to them how the water is agent in which to travel through the coffee filter.
Moms or Teachers – this activity is a quick happening science experiment. So be ready to have all hands on deck! It’s so fun and really the 4 and 5 year olds/ Kindergarteners could pretty much do this on their own.
If you want to follow more about why I love the idea of following the pattern of STEAM learning through our activities you can read all about it – Everything You Need to Know about STEAM.
To see more activities go to –> this post.
50+ Math Activities for Preschoolers 
Coding Activities for Preschoolers
We are a husband and wife team, pairing our strengths together to teach our preschooler in the most fun and engaging way we possibly can. The mister is a high school educator at Northlake Christian school in Covington Louisiana and over the Innovation Center, which is all things STEAM. I am a SAHM that blogs pretty much everything we do in our little paradise, from what we eat, to where we travel to how we teach our little one. We hope you are inspired to incorporate STEAM into learning with your children.
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