Whenever I need to whip up a quick activity, color mixing is one of my top picks! Color mixing activities are always exciting and a perfect learning opportunity. Today I have a color mixing sensory bottle with three easy ingredients! This color mixing sensory bottle is part of my Discovery Bottles Blog Hop, and this month the theme is Valentine’s Day. And while this is perfect for Valentine’s Day, you can use it any time of the year too!

Be sure to check out the other fabulous discovery and sensory bottles at the end of this post after this one.

Making a new color is a magical experience for a young child, and this color mixing sensory bottle also has tons of bubbles. After we made this discovery bottle, we all stared at it for a long time. I’ll be sure to post a video of it on my Instagram account this week so you can see how fun it is.

The bottle has red water on the bottom and clear oil on the top half. When you shake it, then our new color shows itself!
I love making pink! And the bubbles are absolutely amazing to watch as they pop! This could definitely be used as a calm down jar too.

Here is how you can make your own.

Materials:

• Water
• Red liquid watercolor or food coloring
• Mineral Oil
• Water bottle (mine is a plastic VOSS)

I found all of the materials at my local grocery store except for the liquid watercolor. The mineral oil is about $2, and some dollar stores carry it too. I have never seen liquid watercolor in stores, so that’s something that you would have to get online.

As for the water bottle, VOSS water is at my local grocery store, but it’s not everywhere. You can easily substitute any type of bottle. My favorite bottles have sleek sides.

Directions:

This sensory bottle is half colored water and half mineral oil. The mineral oil is what keeps it clear but other oils could be substituted. They will just change the coloring.

First, make sure to leave some room at the top for shaking.

Then pour in the water with red food coloring or red liquid watercolor. Since every bottle is a different size, you just have to eyeball it to make sure you put approximately half in (after you consider room at the top for shaking).

Next, add the mineral oil.

Then shake and watch the beauty!

After I made our color mixing discovery bottle, I asked my kids if they could make it change color. I told them that they couldn’t open it or add anything to it. They had to make it change color just the way it was. It only took them a few seconds before they realized that shaking it would turn it pink. And what a perfect experience to always help them remember that red and white become pink when mixed.

Now for some more amazing sensory and discovery bottles:

“Full of Love” Calm Down Jar with Printable Calming Affirmations | Lemon Lime Adventures

I Spy Love Sensory Bottle | Modern Preschool

Alphabet Discovery Bottle: Valentine’s Day Activity for Kids | Sunny Day Family

Floating Hearts Sensory Bottle |  Teaching Mama

Water bead Hearts Discovery Bottle | Sugar Aunts

Slow Falling Hearts Sensory Bottle | Rhythms of Play

Heart Glitter Jar | Fun-A-Day

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Katie T. Christiansen

Creator at Preschool Inspirations

Katie has spent 17 combined years in the Early Childhood field as a teacher, preschool owner, and educational writer. She has worked in profit and non-profit programs, high-risk schools, and started an in-home preschool and outdoor collaborative preschool program. She adores being a mom to three children, and her youngest is currently in preschool.

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