5 easy Easter science experiments you need to try! It’s Easter time, and it may also be test prep season at your school. The best way to incorporate the two, and have good substantial science activities is by infusing some good content into the mix.
One of my least favorite things is wasting time with useless science experiments, stem challenges, and lessons that are seemingly fun but don’t address any of the learning goals or standards my students need. In this list of science experiments, you will see that each of the Easter science experiments is aligned to the 4th Grade NGSS science standards.
It’s the perfect list if you will be teaching energy, weathering, erosions, rock formations, properties of matter, or plant structure and function.
Documenting the Learning
Students will need to document their learning and the steps of the scientific inquiry process, and they can do that as they go through the process in their science learning journals, or you can use this science experiment writing template for any of the experiments below.
You can save that writing template science lab report and use it for any science experiment you want with upper elementary students. It includes 3 versions of ways you would like your students to describe their learning experience as they go through the scientific inquiry process.
There is a mini-book version. This is perfect for students to share their mini-books with family members, big/ little sibling classroom collaborations, or to save in the classroom library.
Students will also have the option to do their writing in a flipbook. These are great for displaying on bulletin boards and sharing during an open house or parent conferences. It’s the perfect way to display student learning in the classroom.
The third option is simple and easy print-and-go worksheets. First, staple the worksheets together, or paste them into science journals. Regardless, they are very easy to use with any of the Easter science experiments below for 4th grade!
Rock Layers – Easter Egg Hunt Science Experiment
First, in a sheet pan purchased from the Dollar Tree, bury a couple of small Easter eggs under large rocks, sand, and different-sized pebbles. They should be completely covered. Then, present the sheet pan with all of the rocks and sand on top to your students. After, have them go through the scientific inquiry process of how they could uncover the Easter eggs without digging them out.
Also, students should remember that land is weathered by rainwater, wind, gravity, etc. Thus, they know that rocks form in layers. You can present a few examples of this to the students and ask them what they think will happen if you sprayed water on the sheet pan. What about if there was a flood and you dropped water from the top to the bottom? What if there was wind and you had a hairdryer blowing on it?
Properties of Matter Science Experiment with Easter Eggs
This is such a simple experiment using materials you probably already have! Baking soda, vinegar, droplets, and Easter eggs. Before completing this assignment, students have learned about states of matter, and in this experiment, students are wondering what will happen to the Easter eggs if baking soda and water are combined. You can have a few other controlled substances such as baking soda and water, or water and oil. It’s a great way for the students to see if the properties create new substances such as the ones with the vinegar and baking soda do or do they create a mixture of two different substances such as water and oil.
Weathering Science Experiment Dissolving Peeps
Can you have an Easter science experiment without a Peeps experiment? As mentioned above, students should know that land can get weathered by different elements. In this experiment, students will have to think about what will happen to the different Peeps that are in soda, water, vinegar, and oil. For example, you can use any liquids you wish, as long as the students are thoughtful in their responses to what they think will happen.
Plant Structure and Function – Carrot Top Garden Science Experiment
This is such a fun way to teach your students how to grow plants and plant properties. If you have windows in your classroom and some time, you can have your students complete this science experiment. Students will need to first ask how they would grow a carrot garden using carrot tops. After you set the bulbs in water, it will take only a few days for growth. So, it’s the perfect activity for April because of Earth Day as well. All you need to do is cut off the top inch of your carrot. Place the carrot face down in a little bowl or dish water-filled just to til the carrots are half covered.
Energy – Easter Egg Speed Science Experiment
Here is another fun science experiment where students will have to review Kinetic and Potential Energy. Have different items with varying weights in different Easter eggs. You will also need a ramp because the eggs will be dropped on the ramp. Students will have to think about which eggs will travel the furthest and why. It’s a great way for students to see the relationship between speed and weight. The more weight something has, the more energy it has. This also lends itself to having the most speed.
Also, you can use any science writing template to have the students document their learning. Write in a science journal or use this one.
This FREEBIE is on me!
If you are teaching 4th grade NGSS or upper elementary science, you will need these 30+ writing prompts! They are the perfect way to incorporate science into ELA or writing into science!