19 Sensory bottle ideas
Sensory bottles are a fun way to explore light, colors, mixing, sounds, and even emotions. These can be used in several centers in a classroom (especially for our special needs friends) and even fun at home to explore. One of the common names for sensory bottles is, "Calm down bottles". The name speaks for itself. Often times children in crisis find the soothing.
The materials needed for these are minimal and cheap.
For all of these you will need clear bottles (voss is the most popular) and really strong glue. (you don't want anyone opening them up and spilling the contents)
Water Bead Sensory Bottle
Water beads
Water
Oil and water sensory bottle
Liquid watercolor
½ baby oil
½ water
“Silly Bands” calm down bottle
Water
“Silly bands” or “Loom Bands”
Pompom sensory bottle
Pompoms
Magnetic calm down bottle
Water
Paper clips (or other small metal objects)
Magnet wands
Tin foil sensory bottle
Torn up pieces of aluminum foil
Pony beads bottle
Water
Pony beads
Button sensory bottle
Different colored and sized buttons
Pipe cleaner sensory bottle
Cut up pipe cleaners
Magnetic wands
Colored glitter sensory bottle
Water
Glitter
Food coloring
Find it game sensory bottle
Sand/rice
Several small items
A sheet with pictures of those items (laminate so children can cross off what they have found)
Star wars sensory bottle
Water
Glitter
Glow sticks
Electrical tape
Reflective paper
*use the electrical tape and reflective paper to make a light saber handle on the bottom of the bottle
Star gazing sensory bottle
1 ½ cup warm water
8 oz. Black glitter glue
Star sequins
Gold glitter (fine, super fine)
Clear hand soap (optional)
Mini aquarium sensory bottle
White sand
Small ocean toys
Water
Small shells
Blue food coloring
Nebula sensory bottles
Cotton
Water
Glitter
Paint (2 colors)
Jelly fish sensory bottle
Clear plastic bag
Water
Blue food coloring
Thread/floss (to tie the top of the bag and make a jelly fish)
Butterfly sensory bottle
Water
Butterflies
Gold glitter
Clear liquid hand soap
Rainbow rainfall sensory bottle
Cut up colored straws
Small multicolored beads
Rain stick sensory bottle
Twigs the size of the bottle
rice