P is for Play and Popcorn and Pumpkins
Discovery bottles are intended to be used for play but as adults, we tend to be limited in our view of how a discovery bottle can be used. Â I have seen children wrap their bottles up in blankets and call them “babies,” roll them on the floor and use them for playing store and restaurant…
Although, we tend to think of discovery bottles just as something to look at, remember that for young children, a discovery bottle can be a tool for play.
P is for Popcorn and Pumpkins
Q is for Questions
Asking questions is always a great way to invite conversation and exploration of  a discovery bottle.  Consider making a set of questions for each type of discovery bottle you make.  You could print your question(s) on a small card to store with the discovery bottle or post questions on a wall near where you keep your discovery bottles.  Preparing a list of questions ahead of time will also get you thinking of how the discovery bottle can extend learning or be used throughout the classroom environment…
R is for Rainsticks and Rainbows and Ribbon
A very popular use for discovery bottles is to explore the colors of the rainbow…
S is for Science and Sensory and Seasons, Salt and Static and Straws
Discovery bottles can lead to an endless supply of scientific discoveries and explorations. Â The discovery bottle is a way of preserving the materials or extending the experience over time. Â Of course, just like anything you make for the classroom, there still is a need to make sure the lid continues to stay securely closed or that the bottle isn’t cracking open anywhere. In the photo below, my students are examining the stuffing found inside of a diaper. What do you think will happen if we add water to the diaper stuffing bottle?…
And in this photo, my students are examining the properties of pumpkin seeds. Â Do you think it is possible for the pumpkin seed to grow in the bottle?…
S is also for…
T is for Temperature and Time and Tape
Don’t forget to also change the temperature of the water you pour in a discovery bottle. Different temperatures are interesting to explore and can easily be held by small hands when placed in a water bottle. Of course, be careful not to get water too hot but do go from very warm to freezing. Â What about the affects different temperatures of water will have on other elements you place in a discovery bottle. Â What happens when you pour the warm water into salt, sugar, sand? Â Draw up your questions, grab a water bottle and a few other materials and you have yourself a wonderful opportunity to explore temperature.
Discovery bottles also provide a unique way to explore time. Have the child count out the number of seconds it takes for an object to fall from one end of a bottle to another. Â Change out the objects, add oil, add water, and with each change, see if their is a change in length of time.
Come back tomorrow for more tips and examples of discovery bottles or hop on over the the ABC’s of Discovery Bottles landing page!
More ABC’s…
Be sure to check out the ABC’s of Literacy by my fellow bloggers (shown below)…
Literacy:
- Books for Preschoolers from Mommy and Me Book Club
- Building a Home Library from Ready Set Read!
- Early Language Learning from Playting with Words 365
- Early Literacy from Playdough to Plato
- Exploring Books from JDaniel4′s Mom
- Graphic Novels from Pragmatic Mom
- Learning to Read Through Play from Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas
- Learning to Write from NurtureStore
- Reading Comprehension for Pre K-Grade 1Â from The Wise Owl Factory
- Storytelling from A Mom with a Lesson Plan