Sand in a Bottle

[20 Minutes]

At first glance, this homemade toy may look like nothing more than a bottle of sand, but roll it around and a host of hidden objects will appear!

You'll need:

• clear plastic soda or water bottle • sand • seashells, small stones, leaves, and other small nature finds • shiny new penny • tape or glue

What to do:

1. Remove the label from a clean bottle. Fill it three-quarters full of sand.
2. Invite your child to add nature finds that have been collected on a walk. Give her a shiny new penny to place inside the bottle. Glue or tape on the bottle cap securely.
3. Shake well to conceal the objects.
4. Challenge your child to twist and turn the bottle to see how many items she can spot inside. Did the shiny penny show through?
5. Does the sand make a noise as it moves around in the bottle?

Let's Talk: Ideas to Explore Together.

• How many objects did we put inside the sand bottle? Let's count them.
• Did you enjoy making and playing with this toy?
• Would you like to make another one and give it to a friend? Who?

Useful information:

While you are having fun together, this activity helps your child develop eye/hand coordination, small muscle skills, and observational skills.