What Preschoolers will Learn from this Preschool Weather Experiment:

All about the rain cycle

About evaporation

About condensation

What you Need for this Preschool Weather Experiment:

An clear, enclosed jar or Tupperware container or a plastic bag

A paper towel

Water

A sunny, warm spot

What To Do:

Step one: Dampen the paper towel with your water

Step two: Place the paper towel inside your jar, Tupperware container or plastic bag

Step three: Place the jar in a sunny, warm spot

Step four: Wait. Have your preschooler keep on your container.

What will Happen?

Over time the water in the paper towel will evaporate. But the water will reform on the inside of the jar or plastic bag. This is called condensation. If shaken, the droplets of water will run back down to the paper towel where again the will dampen the paper towel. If left in the sun, the water in the paper towel will evaporate again and reform on the jar or plastic bag.

How does this Relate to the Rain Cycle?

The ocean water evaporates, and forms clouds. When these clouds cool, the clouds release the moisture in rain. The rain falls to the earth and eventually makes its way (through rivers and streams) back to the ocean. Once again it evaporates, forms clouds and falls back to earth in rain.

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.

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

• Record results with drawings or photographs. Scientists document — preschooler scientists should too. A simple science journal develops both literacy and scientific habit.

• Science is everywhere: the kitchen, the garden, the bathroom, the driveway. Narrating daily life as science keeps curiosity active between formal experiments.

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

• 🌍 Nature Literacy — Learning the names, habits, and relationships of plants, animals, and natural phenomena builds the nature literacy that connects children to the living world and lays the groundwork for environmental stewardship.
• 💬 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.

Looking for an easy preschool weather experiment that has to do with rain? Rain is one weather phenomenon your preschooler is very familiar with. Rain keeps preschoolers inside, and might cancel fun weekend plans. But rain is vital for life on earth. Explain to your preschooler all about the rain cycle with this easy preschool weather experiment.

This experiment ties in great with the Evaporation Preschool Science Experiment.

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.