Snakes must rely on their keen sense of smell and touch since they have very limited eye movement. Although they have a nasal cavity and nostrils, they use their forked tongue as a smelling device. Encourage preschoolers to experiment with their reptilian sense of smell at snack time. Blindfold her and place chunks of orange, lemon and grapefruit on separate plates in front of her. Ask her to "smell" the fruits with her tongue and then to guess which is which.
Fill a small bowl with water and sprinkle some pepper onto it. Have your child poke his finger into the solution to confirm that nothing happens when he does so. Ask him next to coat his finger in household liquid soap and dip it into the peppered water. He will notice how the pepper moves quickly toward the sides of the bowl and away from his soapy finger. Ask him why he thinks this happens before explaining to him that some properties attract while others repel.
Observation is a necessary scientific activity. Use the outdoor space around you to allow preschoolers to practice their observational skills. Provide a magnifying glass and head outside. Go to a local park, walking trail or simply your own back garden and bring a notepad for the kids to record what they see. Encourage them to look around and explore the environment -- stopping to observe bugs, dirt, leaves or flowers with a magnifying glass. Ask questions and get them to provide pictures. Jot down notes for them, if need be.
Use Irish soda bread as a lesson in every day chemical reactions. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees, then talk about the ingredients in front of you. Mix 1 cup of milk with 1 teaspoon of vinegar and leave it to curdle. Help the child combine 2 cups of flour with 1/2 teaspoon each of baking soda and salt in a bowl. Stir in the milk mixture into a dough and place it into a greased pan. Bake for 15 minutes. Once it has cooled, allow the child to break open the bread and look at the air pockets inside. Explain how the mixed solution created air bubbles, which became trapped inside the dough. She will enjoy eating this science activity afterward.