Quick Answer

Kitchen Investigation is a 30-page printable science center resource for preschool. Eight hands-on investigations invite children to scoop, pour, weigh, stir, whisk, and squeeze while exploring familiar kitchen tools and everyday materials.

What’s Included

• Eight investigation signs in full-page and half-page sizes

• Four complete sheets of paired half-page investigation signs

• Fourteen picture word cards in two sizes, featuring twelve kitchen tools plus full and empty

• Two My Kitchen Tools displays with six labeled pictures on each

• My Kitchen Discovery half-page drawing sheets

• Kitchen Investigation science center display sign

• Teacher guidance with setup ideas, questions, and extensions

Eight Kitchen Investigations

• Scoop and Fill: Explore scoops and containers while comparing how much they hold.

• Pour and Compare: Pour between containers and investigate which holds more.

• Balance the Scale: Compare objects and notice which are heavier or lighter.

• Fill to the Line: Practice pouring with control to reach a marked line.

• Pack and Compare: Explore what happens when materials are packed into a measuring cup.

• Stir and Discover: Stir salt, sugar, and rice into separate cups of water and compare what happens.

• Whisk Up Bubbles: Try different tools in soapy water and investigate which makes more bubbles.

• Squeeze and Transfer: Use sponges to move water from one bowl to another.

How to Use

Choose one or two investigations to set out at a time. Gather the everyday materials, place them on a tray, and add the matching investigation sign. Children can explore, repeat their actions, compare results, and try new ideas.

Display the kitchen tools pages and picture word cards nearby to support vocabulary. Offer the My Kitchen Discovery sheets for children who want to draw what they noticed. Pack and Compare can be offered separately with damp play sand.

Why It Works

Familiar tools give children an accessible starting point for hands-on science. Pouring, stirring, filling, and squeezing encourage repeated exploration while building fine motor control. Children practice making predictions, testing ideas, and using words such as more, less, full, empty, heavier, and lighter.

Preschool Vibes Standards

• 5H. We can compare quantities (more, less, same).

• 5L. We can compare and measure using everyday language (longer/shorter, heavier/lighter, full/empty, holds more/less).

• 6A. We can observe using our senses and describe what we notice.

• 6C. We can make predictions about what might happen.

• 6D. We can test ideas and notice what happened.

• 6E. We can use simple tools and materials to explore (magnifiers, droppers, ramps, magnets, balance, light).

• 6F. We can compare and describe materials and their properties (hard/soft, heavy/light, float/sink, transparent/opaque).

• 8D. We can use tools with increasing control (tweezers, scissors, markers, droppers, etc.).

Digital Download

Includes one 30-page PDF. Print the pages and sizes that work for your classroom. Physical tools and investigation materials are not included.