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    Home » Early Years Science » Fairy Tale Science Experiments

    Fairy Tale Science Experiments

    May 9, 2019 By Emma Vanstone 6 Comments

    My 6 year old has been learning about Traditional Tales recently, so I’ve put together a collection of fairy tale science experiments that would sit brilliantly alongside this topic. The activities include Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk, Billy Goats Gruff and more.

    I’ve also got 4 easy FREE Fairy Tale STEM Challenge printable instruction sheets available.

    Fairy Tale Science Experiments

    Three Billy Goats Gruff Activities

    Make a raft for the Billy Goats  Gruff so they don’t need to cross the bridge. We used lolly sticks to make a basic raft shape and added corks to the bottom of one, then tested to see if the rafts could support the weight of PlayMobil goats without sinking.

    goat on a raft - Billy Goats Gruff science and sTEM challenge
    Raft for the Billy Goats

    Can you build bridges using different materials and see which is the strongest too?

    Jack and the Beanstalk Science Experiments

    Build a zip wire to help Jack down the beanstalk, what happens if you change the gradient?

    After investigating how changing the gradient of the zip wire changes the speed Jack travels down it, experiment with different types of harness and different types of string for the zip wire.

    A thicker, rougher string should mean Jack travels more slowly down the wire as there’s more friction than when using a smooth wire.

    Jack and beanstalk science experiments - science for kids - make a zip wire for Jack.
    Zip Wire for Jack and the Beanstalk

    Can you grow a bean in a jar? How tall will it grow without needing some kind of support?

    How about planting a bean and growing a beanstalk for Jack?

    jack and the beanstalk bean - grow a bean
    Grow a Beanstalk for Jack

    What happens if you grow a bean in the dark? This is a great plant science investigation to run over a period of days or weeks.

    bean in a jar science challenge
    Bean grown in the dark

    Make your own recycled beanstalk

    Can you make a beanstalk with cardboard tubes or other recycled materials? Measure how tall it is once you’re finished!

    Goldilocks and the Three Bears Activities

    For little ones ask children to order bowls, beds and chairs in order of size, one for each bear.

    For older children you could monitor the rate heat is lost from three different sized bowls of porridge using a food thermometer, Inspiration Laboratories has a great post on this.

    We love this wooden spoon craft from Red Ted Art as well.

    The Princess and the Pea

    Make a mattress with different materials so the Princess can’t feel the pea.

    Princess and the pea STEM Challenge

    Cinderella Activities

    Try some weighing and measuring with pumpkins.

    Play an ordering game with shoes. Order by size of shoe, then size of heel. You could even sort by the type of material the shoes are made from.

    Hansel and Gretel Activities

    Can you build a house made from sweets? Which type of sweet gives the most stable shape?

    Or, how about making a gingerbread house? You could test different types of icing to see which sticks the best.

    Gingerbread house STEM Challenge
    Gingerbread house – Gingerbread Man or Hansel and Gretel Science

    Peter Pan Activities

    Can you fly tinkerbell down a zip wire?

    Learn about changes of state with these lovely melted bead fairy wands from The Artful Parent.

    The Little Mermaid Activities

    Do you remember Ariel’s treasure cave? Can you practice sorting toys depending on the material they’re made from?

    Make some fun under the sea play dough like The imagination Tree.

    ocean-play-dough
    Ocean Play dough from The Imagination Tree

    The Princess and the Frog

    Learn about frog spawn and tadpoles with Rainy Day Mum.

    The Three Little Pigs Experiments

    Test a stick, straw and brick roof to see which is the most windproof, we used the squeezy bottle to act like wind and placed tissue paper inside the house so we could see if the ‘wind’ reached it.

    Three Little Pigs Activity
    Build a Three Little Pig House

    Red Ted Art has this brilliant three little pigs craft activity. Can you try to make the house from different materials to see which is the most stable?

    Build house for the three little pigs using sweets and straws, which sweets work the best?

    DSC_0001

    How about a version of this waterproof experiment where you blow with a straw instead of spraying with water?

    DSC_0032

    Snow White and the Seven Dwarves

    Explore symmetry with mirrors in this fun activity. Can you draw a symmetrical dwarf?

    Little Red Riding Hood

    Inspire some imaginative play with this gorgeous story box from The Imagination Tree.

    The Gingerbread Man

    Build a bridge to help The Gingerbread Man across the river. Or if you’d rather build him a raft we’ve got a free Gingerbread Man activity download from Science Sparks the book with lots of fun extension ideas too!

    This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Gimgerbreadmanraft-1024x684.jpg

    More Fairy Tale Science Experiment Ideas

    A pulley for Rapunzel

    Leaving messages like Hansel and Gretel

    Melting Gingerbread men

    How strong is a gingerbread man

    Princess potions

    Witchy potions

    Jack’s Parachute

    How to build a strong bean stalk

    Icy castles

    Do you have any more ideas for fairy tale activities or science experiments for us??

    Huge collection of fun fairy tale science experiments for kids and fairy tale activities for kids. Make a zip wire for Jack, a raft for the Billy Goats and a new house for the Three Little Pigs #scienceforkids #fairytales #traditionaltales #fairytaleactivities

    If you didn’t find quite what you were looking for, try one of our many other science experiments for kids, we have 100s!

    Last Updated on February 26, 2021 by Emma Vanstone

    « Jumping Frogs – a static electricity experiment
    10 Fun Preschool Science Experiments and Activities »

    Safety Notice

    Science Sparks ( Wild Sparks Enterprises Ltd ) are not liable for the actions of activity of any person who uses the information in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources. Science Sparks assume no liability with regard to injuries or damage to property that may occur as a result of using the information and carrying out the practical activities contained in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources.

    These activities are designed to be carried out by children working with a parent, guardian or other appropriate adult. The adult involved is fully responsible for ensuring that the activities are carried out safely.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. maggy, red ted art

      April 30, 2015 at 12:31 pm

      What a fabulous topic for some Science fun!! Thanks so much for including some of our ideas 😉

      Reply
    2. Trisha

      April 30, 2015 at 2:40 pm

      I love this collection, Emma! Combining science and literacy is one of my favorite things.

      Reply
      • Emma Vanstone

        May 12, 2015 at 10:34 am

        Thanks Trisha 🙂

        Reply
    3. jeannine @ waddleeahchaa

      May 07, 2015 at 6:43 pm

      What a great list of hands-on activities! I like how you’ve integrated science into fairy tales. Recently, the kiddos designed and built and planted a fairy garden. That would fit in nicely with a fairy tale unit 🙂

      Reply
    4. Erin - The Usual Mayhem

      December 29, 2015 at 3:31 pm

      Emma, this may just be my favourite round-up science post of the year! I’m bookmarking this page so we can spend a week trying these experiments out. Thanks!

      Reply
      • Emma Vanstone

        January 21, 2016 at 1:03 pm

        Thanks so much Erin!

        Reply

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