Note! These bottles will also come in handy if you have a child that who stressed or anxious. Just hand them a bottle and they will become engaged looking at the bottle and moving it around.
What? plastic bottles, E6000 (or super glue), common materials below
Why? observing, experimenting, predicting, focusing
When? Independent exploration
How? Take a look at the ingredients in the bottles below. What have you got in your kitchen or around your house? Well, what are you waiting for? Get busy and make some of these or come up with your own creations.
Mindful Bottle
Materials: plastic bottle, old crayons, scissors
Directions: Take the paper off the old crayons. Make crayon shavings by scraping the side of the scissors. Put the crayon shavings in the bottle and then fill with water. Secure the top with glue. Turn the bottle upside down and then observe as the crayon shavings float around.
Party Bottle
Materials: clear corn syrup, food coloring, sequins or party confetti
Directions: Put about 1/2 cup of corn syrup in the bottle. Add a few drops of food coloring and a spoonful of confetti. Roll the bottle around to coat the sides and watch the confetti move around.
*Make seasonal bottles by adding plastic spiders at Halloween or small heart erasers for Valentine’s Day.
Muddy Water Bottle
Materials: plastic bottle, dirt, water
Directions: Put ½ cup of dirt in the bottom of the bottle. Fill 2/3 full with water.
Glue on the lid. Children can shake up the bottle and observe the dirt as it settles to the bottom.
Beach Bottle
Materials: plastic bottle, sand, blue food coloring, small shells, fun foam
Directions: Put ¾ cup of sand in the bottom of the bottle. (Rinse the sand out until the water is clear.) Fill the bottle almost to the top with water. Add a drop of blue food coloring and the shells. Cut fish or other small sea creatures out of fun foam.
Wave Bottle
Materials: plastic bottle, food coloring, baby oil or vegetable oil
Directions: Fill the bottle 2/3 full with water. Add several drops of food coloring. Fill the bottle to the top with the oil, and then glue on the lid. Slowly move the bottle on its side to create waves. Shake the bottle up and then observe as the oil and water separate.
Bubble Bottle
Materials: plastic bottle, dish detergent, food coloring
Directions: Put ½ cup of water in the bottle. Add a drop of detergent and a drop of food coloring. Glue on the lid. Shake up the bottle and observe.
What happens to the bubbles if the bottle sits for a while?
Variations: Use shampoo and different types of detergent to make bubble bottles. Which one makes the most bubbles?
I Spy Bottle
Materials: plastic bottle, sand, salt, or rice, 5-10 small toys or objects (crayon, eraser, hair bow, penny, counting bear, etc.)
Directions: Fill the bottle 2/3 full with sand or salt. Drop the toys and other items into the bottle and glue on the lid. Shake to hide the objects. How many things can the children “spy” in the bottle? Have them draw pictures or write down all the objects that they see.
More! Make holiday bottles with Halloween toys, conversation hearts, spring things, etc.
*Use a larger plastic bottle (such as cheese balls or pretzels come in) and fill it with confetti or Styrofoam packing. Insert magnetic letters. Children write the that they find in the bottle.