Do you like to collect treasures on the beach? How about making a beach in a bottle? We head to the beach every year, so last year, we took some home to play with all year round! We gathered all sorts of shells, sea glass, seaweed, and beach sand! This year, awaiting our annual beach trip, we made a simple beach discovery bottle for easy ocean theme sensory play.
Ocean Sensory Play
Start with a beach sand sensory bin before making your beach discovery bottle. We enjoyed great sensory play with this easy sand sensory bin. We collected beautiful shells along the beach, including dried seaweed and glass. I love the feel of beach sand.
This is a great time to talk about the ocean, what animals live inside the shells, and how beaches are made!
Make An Ocean Sensory Bin
Use your beach finds or pick up ocean sensory bin materials at the craft store!
Check out all the fun you can have with beach finds!
Have more seashells to use? We love finding multiple uses for our materials! Use beach sand to make this sand slime, or grow crystals with seashells.
How To Make A Beach In A Bottle
The supplies needed for this beach in a bottle are shells, sand, water, and other beach treasures you might come across.
I added a little sparkle to our water with glitter and a drop of blue food coloring. I also added a pair of tweezers for fine motor practice. Pouring, filling, tweezing, and twisting make great practical life activities!
Supplies:
- Beach Sand
- Sea Shells
- Beach Treasures
- Water
- Food Coloring
- Glitter (optional)
Instructions:
STEP 1. Grab your supplies and filling the bottle a third of the way with sand.
STEP 2. Add in your beach theme accessories, and fill the bottle with water.
TIP: Add a drop of blue or green food coloring, and some glitter to the water for that ocean sparkle!
STEP 3. Attach the lid firmly to the bottle.
See our list of sensory bottles for tips and tricks!
STEP 4. Time to play!
Mix it, shake it, and watch your beach in a bottle separate back into ocean and beach! What sinks and floats in this beach discovery bottle? It makes a great mini sink or float science lesson too!
Make sure to get your kids involved in the process with filling the bottle!
Shake it, tip it, lay it on its side! Whatever you do with this science bottle, you can make many observations!
More Ocean Sensory Bottle or Jar Ideas
Try a variety of fillers to create various ocean sensory jars! It makes a nice activity for an ocean theme party that guests can take home! Use acrylic or glass marbles, aquarium gravel, craft sand, or glitter glue!
Note: We DO NOT recommend using water beads due to safety concerns. Replace with glass marbles, small rocks, or acrylic vase filler!
More Fun Ocean Activities To Enjoy
Printable Ocean Animals Color By Number
Make An Ocean Waves Bottle
Explore the ocean waves with a simple science bottle!
Printable Ocean STEM Project Pack
This Ocean printable project pack is perfect for kindergarten through upper elementary school. Read the reviews! Find the Preschool Ocean Pach [here].
- 10+ Ocean theme science activities with journal pages, supply lists, set up and process, and science information. Easy to set up, fun, and fit into your available time, even if it’s limited!
- 10+ Printable Ocean STEM challenges that are simple but engaging for home or classroom.
- Engaging Ocean theme activities include a tide pool pack, oil spill pack, marine food chain pack, and more!
- Ocean Theme STEM Story and challenges perfect for going on a STEM adventure in the classroom!
- Learn about Jacques Cousteau with a workbook activity
- Explore the ocean layers and create an ocean layer jar!
- Ocean Extras include I-Spy pages, bingo games, coloring sheets, and more for early finishers!
- BONUS: Ocean Science Camp Week Pullout (note some duplicate activities but organized for convenience)
- BONUS: Ocean STEM Challenge Calendar Pullout (note some duplicate activities but organized for convenience)
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