How to Make a Glitter and Oil Sensory Bottle

Repurposing old plastic bottles into sensory bottles is a fun activity to do with a young child. In my house, my daughter has an ever-growing collection of sensory bottles that we have made together. Our most recent creation was a glitter and oil sensory bottle.

 

To make the glitter and oil sensory bottle, I first washed out an old plastic tea bottle from which I had removed the label. I then gathered my materials, which included vegetable oil, glitter, food coloring, water, and electrical tape. Using a makeshift funnel that I created out of an old piece of paper, I poured some glitter into the bottom of the bottle. To the glitter I added some vegetable oil and a few drops of food coloring. I finally filled the rest of the bottle up with water, screwed the cap on as tightly as possible, and wrapped some electrical tape around the cap. Voila! A glitter and oil sensory bottle.

Of all the sensory bottles that I have made with my daughter so far, the glitter and oil bottle is my new favorite. The food coloring mixes with the water but not the oil. The glitter gets caught in the oil. My daughter can shake up the  bottle to mix the contents, but the water and oil always separate again. Our glitter and oil sensory bottle has give my daughter, and me, hours of fun.

Have you ever created a sensory bottle? What materials did you use?

Image Credits

Empty Plastic Bottle © 2013 Heather Johnson
Plastic Bottle, Vegetable Oil, Glitter, and Food Coloring © 2013 Heather Johnson
Glitter, Oil, and Food Coloring in Plastic Bottle © 2013 Heather Johnson
Glitter and Oil Sensory Bottle © 2013 Heather Johnson
Poppy Playing with Her Glitter Bottle 1 © 2013 Heather Johnson
Poppy Playing with Her Glitter Bottle 2 © 2013 Heather Johnson