Fall Discovery Bottle for Sensory Play

Make a beautiful fall discovery bottle with just a few ingredients!

Discovery bottles, also known as sensory bottles, are well-loved in my classroom and with my kids. We made one with the fall table scatter, and it is irresistible.

Preschoolers adore sensory bottles! Preschool teachers love them because they are simple to create and they offer a fun, hands-on way to engage children in learning and play. Children are naturally drawn to the vibrant colors and the calming and soothing effects. Plus, they are a great way to model emotional regulation and encourage language development.

Fall Discovery Bottle

This simple but oh so inviting sensory bottle is a big win in our preschool classroom!

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Ingredients:

• A clean, empty water bottle. I recommend one that is sturdy with a wide lid such as VOSS since this is extra heavy for a sensory bottle. However, any bottle would work.
• Clear(ish) colored corn syrup or clear Elmer’s glue.
• Table Scatter also known as acrylics or gems.
• Hot Water (optional, or just a teeny, tiny bit).
• Super glue or hot glue to secure the lid.

*You can read all about my tips for making a perfect sensory bottle if this is a new activity for you. There are lots of troubleshooting tips and suggestions for where to buy different bottles.

Instructions

1. Put the table scatter into the bottle.
2. Next, add the corn syrup or glycerine. I put in a slight amount of water, but I think the flow would have been slower if I had used only corn syrup. So that’s up to you whether or not you want to use water.
   • Keep in mind that you want some space at the top so the liquid can go up and down easily.
   • If you are using Elmer’s clear glue, start by putting it 1/3 full of glue and adding some water. Then keep adding more and more.
   • The ratio I used for my own fall discovery bottle was about 95% corn syrup and 5% water. It took about 5 seconds to go from one end to the other. Once your bottle is the way you like it, it’s time to glue the lid on.
3. Initially, your fall discovery bottle will look “streaky” as the corn syrup settles. It can take a few hours to fully blend. I personally like the streaky swirls in the meantime!

We also enjoyed using this with a mirror. It’s one of the ways that we reflect light through play. These would work great with a light table too, but mirrors are perfect if you don’t have one or if you already have a lot of natural light in the room like we do.

These are so fun to watch for kiddos and adults! They are perfect for any age group, from babies to adults! Just be sure to glue the lid on! You don’t want that sticky mess on the floor.

If you need ideas of what to do with the rest of your awesome table scatter, here is how we use them in math activities.

To see more great fall ideas, feel free to look through my fall pinterest board.

Discovery bottles are so engaging and many preschool teachers have joined me on the bandwagon of engaging children in various sensory experiences.

Check out our other sensory bottle ideas for even more sensory fun!

• How to Make a Perfect Sensory Bottle
• Rainbow Sensory Bottle
• Jingle Bells Sensory Bottle
• Name Sensory Bottle
• Glow in the Dark Sensory Bottle
• Color Mixing Sensory Bottle
• Musical Shaker Sensory Bottle

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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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