Discovery Bottles

When children get to make their own discovery bottles they get to wonder and explore the physical properties of objects and materials that they place in them.

Environments which facilitate exploration, cultivate creativity, encourage wonder and problem solving, are environments that plant the seeds for a love of life long learning.

First let the children pick out a plastic bottle.

Next have them fill up their bottle at the bottle filling station.  Provide measuring cups, funnels and measuring spoons.  To add to the learning have them guess how many scoops it will take to fill their bottle. 

Once they have filled up their bottle with water have them move on to the color mixing station.  Provide the children with containers of water color and eye droppers so that they can add their own color to their bottle.

After they are done with the color mixing station have them move to the station where they can add different types of objects to their discovery bottle.  Make sure that you provide objects that can float and sink.  We used small pieces of straw, buttons, glitter, shimmer powder and sequences.

When the child is done with their bottle we applied a ring of hot glue around the edge of the bottle and twisted the lid on tight.

Discovery Bottles

Children will develop science skills about gravity in motion, liquid separation and buoyancy.

• Fill recycled water bottle with different liquids.
• Add colored water or colored distilled water.
• Add glitter, marbles foam pieces.
• Hot glue lid


Liquids
• Oil
• Mineral Oil
• Corn Syrup
• Maple Syrup
• Olive Oil
• Clear Hair Gel
• Clear Shampoo
• Water
• Isopropyl rubbing alcohol