Tuesday, October 8, 2013

BOO BOTTLES AND STICKY SPIDERS!


Several years ago we were eating in a Mexican restaurant in October and there were little Halloween toys in the spice bottles.  It was interesting to watch e adults, children, and families at every table trying to identify the objects.  If you make this project for your classroom, I guarantee you that your children will be engaged as well.

What?            clear plastic bottle or jar, salt or sand, small seasonal toys
                        Fill the container 2/3 full with salt or sand.  Insert the toys and then  
                        screw on the top.
Why?              visual closure –Can they recognize the whole from the part?
                        visual discrimination
                        oral language
                        writing
How?             Put the bottle in the middle of the classroom before the children    
                        arrive and observe their reaction.
                        Pass the bottle around at circle time and encourage each child to   
                        start a sentence with “I see a …”
                        Have each child repeat what the previous child says and then add   
                        something they see. 
                        First child:  I see a spider.
                        Second child:  I see a spider and a bat.
                        Third child:  I see a spider and a bat and a cat.
                        Place the bottle in the writing center.  Children can draw pictures of   
                        what they see, make a list of what’s in the bottle, or write
                        sentences or stories incorporating the objects.
                        Use the bottle to reward children who are working quietly or      
                        children who are resting quietly.

*Make bottles for different skills or themes.  You might fill a bottle with geometric
shapes, magnetic letters, different colors of crayons, sight words written on cardboard, etc.


Sticky Drippy Spiders - Your students will also be delighted with this bottle.  Pour about 1 cup of clear corn syrup in a plastic bottle.  (The amount you need will depend on the size of the bottle.  I really like to use larger round containers, but this was the only one I had on hand.)  Add a few drops of red and yellow food coloring and swirl around to make orange.  Add a few plastic spiders and watch them do their thing.  (I used spider rings and cut the ring part off.  I also put in a few bats.)