Now Hear This!

Materials

plastic film canisters

objects that make different sounds (see activity)

duct tape

hot glue gun (adult only)

two or three shoeboxes

4" x 6" index cards

Instructions

1. Make an assortment of exploration bottles for children to explore.
2. Fill a bottle with clear, thick shampoo and add a few marbles. Seal the lid.
Encourage children to turn the bottles over and watch the marbles slowly
move through the shampoo. Ask why the marbles are moving so slowly.
3. Make an "ocean" bottle. Put glitter (or sand),
water, and blue food coloring in a
bottle. Add small plastic fish and
small seashells. Children
love to explore what's
in the ocean.
4. Make a "wave" bottle.
Fill a bottle halfway
with baby oil, and add
water to fill the bottle.
Add blue food coloring.
Ask children why they
think the water and oil
don't mix.
Other ideas
include color
bottles (water
with food coloring
and objects that
match the color, for
example, green food
coloring, a plastic green
frog and turtle, tree, plastic
grapes, and a plastic string
bean) and letter bottles (fill a
bottle with water and plastic letters).