I have put together my favorite science tools and toys for preschool, pre-k, and kindergarten to help you find only the best manipulatives for your classroom and students.
I love science because it covers such a variety of topics. Animals, colors, nature, and space are all included! We can also throw in a little chemistry and try some experiments. Let’s dive right in, and I’ll show you some science things I LOVE and have in the science center in my classroom.
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Favorite Science Tools and Toys for Preschool, Pre-K, and Kindergarten
Favorite Science Tools
Use this microscope to let students get a close-up view of anything from rocks, seashells, and other items. This one is easy to use thanks to the double eyepiece. It’s just right for your little scientists!
These magnifying glasses are perfect for little learners to explore and learn about science topics. They are sturdy and child-safe for preschool, pre-k, or kindergarten students.
Teach safety during science time with these fun safety goggles. They have elastic straps to fit varying sizes and are flexible to fit growing kids.
Develop fine motor strength with these tweezers for little learners. They are also great tools for scientists that don’t want to touch what is being explored.
Teach students how to compare weight and objects. They will learn that not all items are created equal. You will hear lots of math vocabulary as they weigh and compare items using this scale.
This set of 120 plastic pipettes is great for having students develop fine motor strength and moving liquids from one area to another. I love these pipettes for color-mixing experiments!
Grab this set of colorful linking cubes to use for students to develop measurement skills. Stack and count them next to different objects to develop counting skills, one-to-one correspondence, and nonstandard measurement skills.
Items for Science Investigations
Playing… I mean, learning with magnets is so much fun. This kit has everything students need to learn about magnetism. Magnets are a MUST in preschool and kinder classrooms!
Real seashells for students to explore with their hands, under the magnifying glasses or microscope, and sort into categories. Students can measure and manipulate them with their little hands.
I love this nature mix that includes pinecones, acorns, and other things found in nature. Students can touch them and explore all the cool things.
Give students the chance to explore many different kinds of rocks and minerals that they may never see in nature. Their little hands can touch and explore all the different kinds of rocks and learn about their features.
I love this kit of gears that encourages students to construct and design all kinds of neat structures. They are designed for little learners and are the perfect tool for STEM learning.
Help students learn about the solar system with these planets that are stress balls. Students can squeeze and manipulate them while learning about what they look like and their names.
Want another option? Check out these inflatable planets!
Learn about mixing colors with these color paddles. Students can move the colors around and see what new colors they can make.
Plant seeds and observe them grow in this root viewer! Students will be able to observe what happens above and below the ground!
Favorite Science Puzzles
Explore the human body with this magnetic puzzle. Learn about the muscles, blood system, skeleton, and organs for males and females.
You can’t go to the rainforest but you can learn about it with this large floor puzzle. It is 2×3 feet when completed and shows children a lot of rainforest animals.
Put together this solar system puzzle to see how the planets line up from the moon. The images are really neat and give students a great learning opportunity.
Explore the ocean and see what lives under the water. Students can see lots of ocean animals and the plant life that lives in the ocean. 
My students love learning about animal families. They squeal in delight when they find the little babies and enjoy making the matching puzzle with the mother animal.
Practice opposites with these fun puzzles for preschool, pre-k, or kindergarten students.
Favorite Science Hands-On Figures
Give students the opportunity to learn about the life cycle of the butterfly, ladybug, chicken, honeybee, and frog with these figurines. Students can see each stage and get a better idea of what is happening than from a picture.
Grab the figurines for the ant life cycle here.
Check out this set of life cycle figurines if you don’t love the one above.
I LOVE these tubes of animals for science exploration and to add to my sensory bins! They are the perfect size for little hands and explorers!
Need other animals? Click the word to see the ones I use in my classroom. Yard birds, wild birds, insects, sea animals, jungle animals, and polar animals.
Do a transportation unit to learn about the many different kinds of vehicles. I like this wooden set of vehicles because they are sturdy and small for little hands.
Favorite Science Set-Up Supplies
I like these sturdy, colorful trays to have things for each student ready to go beforehand. I also like to use them to make clean-up a little easier. Students can explore and manipulate things and then dump the tray when they are done.
Another colorful tray option!
You will need some great markers to create all the posters and learning materials for your science center. I like these fun-scented ones because they are bright and bold!
I use these clear bottles to create all my sensory bottles but they are also great for the science center.
Create activities for students with these velcro dots. I use them to make matching activities and also make changing the science center easier.
This tablet has lined pages and is 24×16 inches. It is great for whole group or circle time activities.
Need a vertical option? I like this large tablet that is 24×32 inches.
Protect your print-outs from messy learning hands with plastic sheet protectors. They help keep papers more durable and give them a fighting chance if they get wet.
I use these clear plastic storage containers to store my units and my scrapbook paper. They are the perfect size and stack well together.
Grab these metal book rings to make learning opportunities easier for students. You can connect papers together and make little books for your students to explore at the science center.
I like to laminate my printouts to help them last longer and this is the laminator I use.
Grab this set of 200 laminating pouches while you’re at it to complete your shopping cart!
Cool Colors Astrobrights Paper
I like to print some materials in black and white to save on ink but I still want them to be colorful, so I print them on beautiful paper!
Another option of Astrobrights Paper
Favorite Science Books
Read this book to introduce the science center and give students an idea of what they are supposed to do there. Being a scientist may be a new idea to students and they will need guidance the develop these exploration skills.
Another great book to read to little learners that are beginning their science journey. Real-life images and lots of information in a simple format for young students.
Check out my Science Amazon List to see over 75 other fabulous science books for preschool, pre-k, and kindergarten classrooms! Grab some new science tools and get those little learners exploring, learning, and growing their knowledge! 
Don’t forget to add STEM to your science center! Visit my favorite STEM tools and toys list HERE.
Grab the STEM I Can Build BUNDLE to give your students tons of opportunities to build and develop new skills!
Check out how to implement the Little Learners Science Curriculum in your classroom!
Read tips and tricks to set up your science center here.
Love these science tools? Pin this image!
Want to check out more of my favorite things for little learners? Check out my Favorite Things Blog Series with over 15 different favorite things lists (and growing)! If there are any favorite things for a theme you need, just let us know so we can create it for you.
