What your Preschooler will Learn from this Preschool Science Experiment

Different kinds of milk taste different

For older preschooler, it's the fat content of milk makes it taste different

That we can become so used to a specific kind of milk that other kinds taste bad

What you Need for this Preschool Science Experiment

A glass of whole milk

A glass of low fat milk (1% or 2%)

A glass of skim milk

A glass of soy milk

Labels

A pen

What To Do

Step one: Label each glass of milk with your label and pen.

Step two: Have your preschooler taste each glass and comment on the taste. They'll probably find that the milk they drink most regularly taste the best.

Step three: Note your preschooler's reactions in a scientific journal to make it more scientific.

Hi! I'm Theresa Halvorsen, the preschool science and nature writer for Preschoolrock.com. I have twin boys and am blown away by their fascination with preschool science and how the world works around them. I am always looking for fun and simple science activities so preschoolers can learn about science and the natural world. Please contact me with any suggestions, ideas or questions you have about this site.

Helpful Tips for Parents

• Use correct scientific vocabulary from the start: observe, predict, experiment, hypothesis, result, evidence. Children absorb vocabulary in context without explicit teaching.

• Visit science museums, planetariums, and nature centers regularly. Real encounters with scientific environments are more motivating than any experiment at home.

• Give children real tools: a real magnifying glass, real measuring cups, a real thermometer. Toy versions deliver less sensory and intellectual feedback than actual instruments.

• Integrate science into daily routines: cooking (chemistry), gardening (biology), building (physics), weather watching (meteorology). A science-rich home requires no special equipment.

• Document seasonal science observations over months and years. A child who tracks the same tree across four seasons has done longitudinal observational science — genuinely impressive.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I explain the science behind experiments, or let children discover it?

Sequence matters enormously: always let children observe and wonder before explaining. "What do you notice?" and "Why do you think that happened?" should precede any explanation. If children ask why, give a simple, accurate answer — never give incorrect explanations to protect the mystery. After the child has observed and hypothesized, confirming or expanding their theory with correct information is appropriate and satisfying. Explaining first removes the inquiry that makes science learning durable.

How do I keep science learning going between experiments?

Science is a mindset, not a schedule. Keep a magnifying glass accessible for impromptu investigation. Ask "why do you think...?" during daily life. Notice scientific phenomena out loud: "Look at how steam rises from the soup — where does it go?" Maintain a simple nature observation area (a window bird feeder, a terrarium, a weather chart). The child who develops the habit of curiosity about the physical world is doing science continuously, not just during scheduled experiments.

Related reading: See also our weather science and our bubble experiments for more ideas on this topic.

🎓 Skills Your Child Will Develop

• 🔬 Scientific Method — Even a simple experiment teaches the predict-test-observe cycle that is the foundation of scientific thinking — and preschoolers who internalize this process approach problems with genuine scientific confidence.
• 💬 Science Vocabulary — Science introduces children to precise vocabulary — observe, predict, hypothesis, dissolve, absorb, transparent — that dramatically expands language range and supports the academic vocabulary children need in school.
• 📝 Recording & Documentation — Drawing what they observe, recording measurements, and noting results gives children their first experience of scientific documentation — and connects science to literacy and numeracy in an authentic context.
• 🔍 Observation Skills — Paying close attention to what happens during an experiment — noting colors, textures, movements, and changes — builds the observational precision that all scientific and analytical work requires.

Ever order a glass of milk in a restaurant that your preschooler refuses to drink because it tastes 'funny'? Chances are, the fat content of the restaurant milk was different than they were used to. There's a big taste and even consistency difference between whole milk and skim milk. Teach your preschooler that different kinds of milk tastes different with this easy and fun preschool science experiment.

This science experiment ties in great with Week 6 of the Healthy Eating Challenge.

Questions to Ask Your Child

Use these open-ended prompts to extend the learning during or after the activity:

• "What do you think will happen before we try it?"
• "Was your prediction right, or did something surprise you?"
• "Why do you think that happened?"
• "What would change if we tried it with something different?"
• "Can you think of a place in real life where you've seen this before?"
• "What question does this make you want to answer next?"

There are no right or wrong answers to any of these questions. The goal is to keep the conversation going, model curious thinking, and give your child practice putting their experience into words.