Discovery bottles.

[starschildmind]

Messy but happy...

I have been shopping on eBay this morning for little odds and sods may I add water beads were on this list. Ordered primary colours to start with - this is something I'm excited about as I'd never heard of them lol

Anyway - while I was having a look round... Noticed that on eBay they are selling some great vibrant all different coloured bells (pack of 200 for about £2) I think it was including postage.

Just thought I would let you know xx

Silly question.. do you just put the water beads in or do you add water for them to float around in?

[amylouise867]

- Different coloured water (few drops of food colouring)
- Sand
- Stones
- Leaves (just a few plus it gives them the sense of weight with it being very light)
- Beads
- Lego
- Shells
- Feathers
- Water beads

Anything that fits inside is great.

Hey Nicola any chance you could answer starchildmindings question about the water beads as I've never used them as of yet.

Do you just put them in a bottle once expanded of do you add water to the bottles too?

I was planning on just putting them in as they are once they are expanded??

Thanks in advance x

[amylouise867]

Silly question.. do you just put the water beads in or do you add water for them to float around in?

Hey Hun

I have asked nicola for advice as I've not used them before

Mine are currently on order x

[Nicola Carlyle]

You can do it either way once they are hydrated. If you put them in without water they will make a kind of bouncy noise if you shake the bottle but if you put them in with water they will sink to the bottom but if you shake the bottle they will obviously move around then finally settle at the bottom. It's entirely up to you. Experiment!!!! X

[starschildmind]

Hey Hun

I have asked nicola for advice as I've not used them before

Mine are currently on order x

Thanks my lovely.. im quite excited about them lol x

[amylouise867]

You can do it either way once they are hydrated. If you put them in without water they will make a kind of bouncy noise if you shake the bottle but if you put them in with water they will sink to the bottom but if you shake the bottle they will obviously move around then finally settle at the bottom. It's entirely up to you. Experiment!!!! X

And experiment I shall too can't wait till they arrive x

[starschildmind]

I have just jad my oh drill the bottles for the smelly bottles

Excited lol xx

[Amandak28]

These sound great! Ive got loads of bottles in my recycling! Will have to dig them out and give this a try! Thanks for sharing :-) xx

[amylouise867]

Yes when we are happy with our results we will have to share our outcomes

Will be great to see what you've all been up to

Amy x

[caz3007]

My 10 year old has just made a load. He did another with uncooked rice and hid 8 objects in it. Most of the others he did have already been mentioned

[amylouise867]

My 10 year old has just made a load. He did another with uncooked rice and hid 8 objects in it. Most of the others he did have already been mentioned

That's a lovely idea hiding objects!!

Thanks for the idea!!

I have added the 6 I have made so far to a basket - I was going to attach a poster I have just quickly made. I have just made up a poem to go along with them and added some questions with picture/symbol support which I will focus on when doing the activity. Older children can read them themselves. I have tried to make this interesting and interactive for older children too and have made picture cards for a matching activity.

Can you give me your advice?
Will attach a photo
I've had to take it on my laptop screen - that's why it's not as clear as it would normally be.
Thanks guys x

[amylouise867]

I was thinking of attaching a plastic CD wallet with Velcro to the basket with all the cards in ready to match.

This activity can be enjoyed further then I think and it gives it an additional focus for older children.

Honest feedback anyway please

Thanks in advance x

[amylouise867]

In addition also to the matching the correct bottles to the cards I was going to make some A4 mats that say things like-

Heavy
Light

And make it another activity using mathematical language in a sorting activity.

Maybe then go on to use the scales with EYFS+ children. Look at learning how to read measures and so on.


Mats also Reading -

Discovery bottles I like
Discovery bottles I don't like

And get them to express why they are or are not in favour of certain ones?

PSED - expressing their likes and dislikes

I plan to make a mat linking to the questions I have asked also to help extend language - using pictorial cues that I have been using over the weeks prior to the activity.

Just an idea

Aswel as exploring your bottles what other activities do you do?

I am trying to create activities that can be used, adapted and accessed by all ages and abilities. To help me in the long run really, as you're never 100% on the ages and abilities you are going to get over the years.

May be useful to summarise the activity up by drawing/painting (with adding labels for older children) any ideas for discovery bottles they would like to create and then look at getting resources together to make them, use them in the setting for a while so peers can explore them too before taking them home?

Encourage parents to have a look at them too - possibly displaying them somewhere? Maybe ask parents to contribute to the collection? I'm sure if the children are engaged enough and you have willing/co-operative parents they will

Look forward to hearing/ seeing what you all think

Amy x

[Bumble Beez]

Amy...you are full of such fabulous ideas hun!
Love the poster and I think the cards to match will be a hit too...
We've got a pirate discovery bottle...full of sand and bits and pieces to find when the Lo's move it. Its very popular...but need to make more xx

Sarah x

[Bumble Beez]

Hey Amy...look what I've just stumbled across...little bit excited?!

Baby Play Ideas: Sea in a Bottle for Crawling and Sitting Bubs

And this one looks AWESOME!! I really want to make one of these...plus there is a how to video lol!

Make your own jellyfish in a bottle. | BhoomPlay

[Mrsh3103]

Amy, that sounds fantastic

I love the sea discovery bottle, I might have to make one of these

[tashaleee]

That's a lovely idea hiding objects!!

Thanks for the idea!!

I have added the 6 I have made so far to a basket - I was going to attach a poster I have just quickly made. I have just made up a poem to go along with them and added some questions with picture/symbol support which I will focus on when doing the activity. Older children can read them themselves. I have tried to make this interesting and interactive for older children too and have made picture cards for a matching activity.

Can you give me your advice?
Will attach a photo
I've had to take it on my laptop screen - that's why it's not as clear as it would normally be.
Thanks guys x

Love the pic from what I can see.... think it would work great ..... is it something you are able to upload at all as I would love a copy of it if possible?

[amylouise867]

Hey Amy...look what I've just stumbled across...little bit excited?!

Baby Play Ideas: Sea in a Bottle for Crawling and Sitting Bubs

And this one looks AWESOME!! I really want to make one of these...plus there is a how to video lol!

Make your own jellyfish in a bottle. | BhoomPlay

Wow thank you!!!

Both of these are great ideas!!!

They will look great in the bigger bottles I think too
Defo going to give both a try!!!

Once I'm finished I will upload the results!! x

[loocyloo]

these are some great new ideas, thank you.

x

[Little miss]

I've done bells - children love it .... Drives me mad!