Sensory bottles can be used for multiple reasons within a classroom, some a which can be educational or simply mesmerizing to hold the attention of a student and calm them down. They can be used for scientific discovery, language development, fine motor, and proprioceptive input. LemonLimeAdventures has OVER 30 ideas of different sensory bottles that can be a versatile tool within any classroom. Sensory bottles can be used for a variety of reasons, some can serve to be learning activities and encourage students to explore and create open-ended questions. Other sensory bottles can help students with sensory input as well as provide heavy lifting opportunities, while others, invite investigation and provide safe ways for children to observe object both in the classroom, and out. They invite you to touch them, roll them and explore them.
There are over 30 ideas of different sensory bottles you can create on Lemon Lime Adventures website, including...
- Calm Down Jars
- Themed Discovery Bottles
- Put your Favourite Children's Book in a Bottle
- Galaxy in a Jar
- Rainbow Scavenger Hunt
& SOOOO much more.
Here are a few of my favourites...
LEGO CALM DOWN JAR
This sensory bottle works great for a child who can get rather upset, needs their quiet time or enjoys being alone! This simple mixture of glue, glitter and warm water can be an awesome aid for whenever your child may need a break. Add one of your favourite toys and you're all set. Anytime your child may need a break tell them to give this bottle a GREAT BIG SHAKE, then watch and wait until the glitter begins to settle (approx. 2-5 min) and try and find your lego characters.
SUSPENDED BEADS DISCOVERY BOTTLE
This sensory bottle can work to mesmerize the children and often calm them down or redirect them back on track. All you need is a plastic bottle, soap and pony beads. Fill the bottle with thick SoftSoap, this will slow down the rate in which it takes the pony beads to reach the bottom. If you wish for them to fall more rapidly, you can mix SoftSoap with some dish soap. Any object that the children may be into at the time, or objects that may be relevant to a lesson can be used in lieu of the pony beads.
This sensory bottle can work to mesmerize the children and often calm them down or redirect them back on track. All you need is a plastic bottle, soap and pony beads. Fill the bottle with thick SoftSoap, this will slow down the rate in which it takes the pony beads to reach the bottom. If you wish for them to fall more rapidly, you can mix SoftSoap with some dish soap. Any object that the children may be into at the time, or objects that may be relevant to a lesson can be used in lieu of the pony beads.
MORE SENSORY FUN
Coloured beans are an awesome tool to calm kids down. Many of them will enjoy running their fingers and toes through the beans, using "sand toys" to play with the beans, or simply sort them into colours, pictures and patterns. How do you get them so vibrant in colour you ask? SIMPLE!
Any lightly coloured beans will work, lima beans or white navy beans are what Fun at Home With Kids used. Measure a cup of beans into a container and add 15 drops of the food colouring of your choosing, shake until the beans are completely coated (10-20 seconds). Right after, dump your beans onto a paper towel and spread them out so they are even and not in a clump, this will allow them to dry efficiently. Let your awesomely coloured beans dry for a couple hours....and ENJOY. These beans will last months until they begin to look dull in colour. (Citro, How to Colour Beans for Play and Art, 2014) |
(Lemon Lime Adventures, 2015)