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Magic Two Ingredient Sensory Bottle

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April 27, 2015 by Katie T. Christiansen 14 Comments

Do you need a great sensory bottle that is super affordable? I’m teaming up with five other bloggers to bring you some super fun and budget-friendly discovery bottles. Here’s the beauty I came up with, and it’s just made of two ingredients from the dollar store with a little pop of color.

Make a Two Ingredient Magic Discovery Bottle from Preschool Inspirations

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When our discovery bottle is vertical, it just looks like blue goo.

Two Ingredient Magic Discovery Bottle from Preschool Inspirations

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Then when we turn it over, it “magically” becomes bubbly and textured.

Make a Two Ingredient Magic Discovery Bottle from Preschool Inspirations

Make a Two Ingredient Magic Discovery Bottle from Preschool Inspirations

When I made this discovery bottle, I thought I ruined it at first! It appeared that one ingredient “ate” the other. Instead, I have learned that my two ingredients just blend together so well that it looks like there is only one when they are vertical. Then they separate when you turn the bottle.

Make a Two Ingredient Magic Discovery Bottle from Preschool Inspirations #preschool #prek #preschoolideas #sensorybottle #discoverybottle #sensory

Have you guessed the two ingredients?

They are hair gel and clear water beads for the price of $1 each from the Dollar Store. I found the water beads in the floral aisle, but I know that they sell out quickly at some stores, so feel free to make a call before driving to one. If you don’t have a dollar store nearby, or if yours does not carry clear water beads, you can find them on Amazon.

To turn the hair gel blue, I added some liquid watercolor (here’s how to DIY Liquid Watercolor), which I always have lying around. It’s a staple here! Just put a squirt of it into the hair gel and stir.

You can use any proportions for this discovery bottle! I used a small container of water beads from the dollar store, and then I added the gel. It was about 2 parts hair gel to 1 part water beads. Mine looks very “gooey,” but if you want it to look more “bubbly,” just increase the amount of water beads. Definitely leave space in the bottle for it to move around.

Play to Learn Preschool made these in rainbow colors, and they used more water beads than I did, and you can see how gorgeous that turned out here.

Make a Two Ingredient Magic Discovery Bottle from Preschool Inspirations

I absolutely love this sensory bottle, and I have a few more ideas I’m going to try with it too.

Now there are even more awesome and affordable discovery bottles you can make. Visit one of the fantastic kid bloggers below to find out how they made their discovery bottle on a budget!
Affordable and Amazing Discovery Bottles

Suspended Beads Dollar Tree Discovery Bottle | Fun at Home with Kids

Weighted Discovery Bottles | Play to Learn Preschool

Marble Color Mixing Discovery Bottle | Still Playing School

Put your favorite children’s book in a discovery bottle! | Teach Preschool

Beaded Names Discovery Bottle | Stay At Home Educator

Follow Katie | Preschool Inspiration’s Discovery Bottles board on Pinterest.

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Katie T. Christiansen
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.
Katie T. Christiansen
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Filed Under: Discovery Bottle, Science, Sensory

Comments

  1. Devany says

    April 27, 2015 at 12:39 pm

    What a brilliant idea! Trying this in LOTS of colors!

    Reply
    • Katie says

      May 2, 2015 at 1:28 pm

      Thanks, Devany! That sounds gorgeous!!

      Reply
  2. Jamie White says

    April 27, 2015 at 5:57 pm

    That is so cool! I’ve been hesitant to use water beads with my students for safety reasons, so putting them into a discovery bottle is the perfect solution. You’re a genius! 🙂

    Reply
    • Katie says

      May 2, 2015 at 1:28 pm

      I like genius ;). Yes, it is a perfect way to explore water beads without worrying about the safety aspect (as long as you glue the lid on)! I hope your class loves them!

      Reply
  3. Sue says

    May 2, 2015 at 11:54 am

    Are these the water beads that expand in water, and do you expand them before adding them to the gel?

    Reply
    • Katie says

      May 2, 2015 at 1:25 pm

      These ones were expanded before I put them in. When I bought them at the dollar store (in the floral section), they were already in water and ready to go. I hope you enjoy these!

      Reply
      • Sue says

        May 2, 2015 at 4:32 pm

        THANK YOU

        Reply
  4. MELANIe says

    May 4, 2015 at 10:45 pm

    How much of each did you use? Getting ready to make for my class. Thanks!

    Reply
    • Katie says

      May 6, 2015 at 4:55 am

      I would say that half of the bottle is hair gel, and then add enough water beads so that the entire bottle is 2/3 full. You want to make sure to leave some empty space. Enjoy!

      Reply
  5. Rena says

    August 28, 2016 at 8:33 pm

    What type of hair gel did you use? I tried this tonight but it does not look like yours. Nothing moves unless I forcefully shake it

    Reply
    • Katie says

      August 28, 2016 at 11:31 pm

      Rena, I used hair gel from the dollar store. I would try and add some water. Your hair gel sounds ultra strong, so you just need to weaken it a bit. Good luck!

      Reply
  6. Betsy says

    February 27, 2017 at 5:03 pm

    I bought some water beads for this project. However, I got the kind that is not already absorbed. Can I still use those? If so, do I need to let them absorb in water before I add them to the gel? Or let them absorb in the gel? Thanks!

    Reply
    • Katie says

      March 2, 2017 at 11:07 pm

      Hi Betsy! I would probably let them expand before putting them in, but I’ve not tried otherwise. Just put them in water for a few hours :). I hope this helps!

      Reply
  7. Karla says

    July 10, 2017 at 4:34 pm

    Hi, I’m in the UK. What bottles have you used please?

    Reply

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I'm Katie, and I'm a veteran preschool teacher, child development research junkie, and mom of three who lives on little sleep and turns my kitchen into an art and science laboratory.

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