We have done a lot of STEM activities for kids, but most of them have been aimed at elementary school and middle school. However, I also like creating STEM projects for toddlers and preschool STEM activities, as their bright curiosity for the world is infectious and the perfect time to help them learn more about the world. Toddlers and preschoolers are absolutely old enough to do some easy STEM activities for preschoolers. So today, I had my preschool students explore textures and different objects with a simple magnifying glass discovery tray using supplies that I already had around the classroom. The kids loved it, and I also use this type of simple science activity for my older students with special needs.
Follow along to learn how to make a magnifying glass discovery tray as STEM projects for toddlers and preschool science centers!
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How to Make a Magnifying Glass Discovery Tray for Science
It only takes a few household supplies to set up this preschool magnifying glass activity.
What is the magnifying glass activity for preschoolers?
This magnifying glass activity uses items from nature and the classroom arranged in a tray for preschoolers and toddlers to explore to see what the objects look like close up.
What is the science magnifying thing called?
While preschoolers often don’t have the eye coordination to close one eye and keep the other one open to use a microscope, they can explore magnification with traditional magnifying glasses. Handheld magnifying glasses are a fun way to show preschoolers how objects look in greater detail.
Here are some magnifying tools you can use in the preschool classroom:
- Specimen magnifying jars
- Magnifying half spheres
- Tabletop tripod magnifier
- Handheld magnifying discovery panels
- Toddler and preschool science viewers
- Preschool binoculars
What is the magnifying glass that scientists use?
Scientists use a lot of tools to magnifying objects. In a lab setting, scientists might use microscopes, pocket magnifiers, LCD microscopes, computer magnifiers, and camera microscopes to explore different items in greater detail.
STEM Classroom Decorations and Bulletin Boards
Here are some fun STEM themed classroom decorations and bulletin boards that will make any classroom more fun!
Science Has All the Solutions Decorating Kit
What is a Scientist Decorating Kit
Science is All Around Us Decorating Kit
Scientific Method Classroom Posters
Science sayings bulletin board decor
Forces of motion bulletin board set
Scientific thinking bulletin board set
Supplies for the preschool magnifying glass discovery tray:
- Magnifying glass (the higher the magnification the better. I like this one that has three levels of magnification)
- Household objects with different textures (we used beads, yarn, flowers, pinecones, rocks, sand, buttons, wood, and a feather)
- Tray (we used a wood tray)
My Favorite STEM Products for the Preschool Classroom
These STEM products are perfect for the preschool STEM classroom!
Homer Technology App for Kids 4-6
Mel Science Classroom STEM Kits
Primary Sorting Classroom Bundle
Specimen Viewers Classroom Set
More Discovery Activities for Preschoolers
- Creative and Educational Science Discovery Bottles
- Color-Mixing Fun: Unicorn Color Changing Discovery Bottle
- Sparkly and Colorful Patriotic Discovery Bottle for Kids
- Preschool Nature Table
Making the Magnifying Glass Discovery Tray
Setting up your own science discovery tray is the easiest thing in the world. You only need a few objects and a strong magnifying glass. Use a tray to keep things together.
Most of the objects in our tray were items the girls had collected at some point, which made the activity even more interesting for them.
You could also put together themed magnifying glass discovery trays to explore specific topics, like nature, water, plants, food, insects, toys, cloth, flowers, and hundreds more.
We will definitely be setting up more magnifying glass discovery trays for other types of items in the future.
STEM Teaching Resources
These teaching resources will make your STEM classroom more fun and rewarding for your students!
How to Teach Toddlers and Preschoolers to Use a Science Magnifying Glass Discovery Tray
I love that this magnifying glass activity for preschoolers requires almost no set-up. You can even use it as part of your classroom science center in your preschool center rotations.
I don’t know what magnification our magnifying glasses had, but it was strong enough to allow the preschoolers to discover all sorts of things about the objects in our discovery tray.
Since preschoolers and toddlers don’t usually doesn’t sit still for long, I was surprised at how long they were interested in the science discovery tray.
The preschool students picked the objects up carefully one by one and examined them with the magnifying glass.
Some of the preschoolers held the magnifying glass up extremely close to their faces, so I’m not sure how different the objects actually looked, but they still found it fascinating.
If your students have the same issue, show them how holding the magnifying glass farther from their face will make the objects appear bigger.
While the students explored their science discovery tray, my preschoolers were interested in how the sand and the rocks looked similar, which launched a discussion about how sand and glass are made.
My students had fun discovering small “rocks” in the sand pile we had. I don’t know if they had ever made the connection between rocks and sand before, so the class really enjoyed that lesson.
STEM Shirts for Teachers
These STEM shirts are adorable and super fun to wear while teaching STEM or science.
