Click here to read “Save the Duck!” Water Displacement Experiment to Keep Kids Busy in the Backyard on Hands On As We Grow®
Let little ones be heroes in the backyard with this simple “save the duck” water displacement experiment! Check out this list for more water activities for kids!
Yard-work season is in full swing!
If you’ve ever tried to tend a garden or clean up the yard with a toddler under foot, you know it’s not always easy.
While gardening offers great opportunities for hands-on learning and fun, there are some days I could use a little less help in the backyard.
Two year-olds don’t always grasp the difference between a prized tomato plant and a weed that needs pulling.
That’s where this little water displacement experiment could come in handy!
Keeping Little Ones Busy in the Backyard
You could wait for naptime to get the work done, or you could set up an easy nature activity to keep your toddler busy and encourage learning at the same time!
This “Save the Duck” activity fits the bill!
It keeps my toddler, Clara, entertained and engaged in this experiment while learning about water displacement.
She also gets to be a hero and save a rubber ducky.
What two-year old doesn’t want to do that?
Preparing Your Save the Duck Water Displacement Experiment
This science activity uses objects you likely already have at home. The best part is that finding the materials is a part of the activity!
For this Save the Duck activity, you will need:
- A clear vase/jar/glass
- A small rubber duck or other floating toy (Make sure it’s small enough to fit in the mouth of the vase/jar/glass)
- Rocks
- A container to gather rocks in
- Water
To prep for this activity, I grabbed an old vase from the closet and found a small rubber duck in our bath toy stash.
I gave Clara a small container and set her loose in the yard to hunt for rocks to fill it with!
This may have been her favorite part and mine.
She loves collecting rocks, sticks, and pinecones. Any activity that builds up her nature collection is a good one.
While she hunted for rocks, I finished up some yard work!
After she had her container filled with rocks, I plopped the rubber duck in the vase and filled the vase about two thirds full with water.
Save the Duck! Water Displacement Experiment
“Oh no!” I exclaimed as I showed Clara the vase. “The duck is stuck! It can’t reach the top!”
I encouraged Clara to save the stuck duck by putting her rocks into the water.
I showed her that adding rocks caused the water level in the vase to rise.
You don’t need to explain water displacement specifically in this experiment.
The point is that even wee toddlers can begin to experience this science topic in action.
This made for some good, splashy, scientific fun.
She happily plunked her rocks into the vase by the handful. Her older sister, Lydia, joined in as well.
Little by little during this experiment, the rocks displaced the water, lifting the duck towards its sweet escape.
The girls added rocks until the water and the duck reached the very top of the vase.
The duck was free!
Clara scooped it up, dumped out the rocks and water, and got ready to start the activity all over again.
What is an outdoor activity your child likes to do when you’re busy in the yard?
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