How to Make Magnetic Discovery Bottles

tiffanytallent1981
Bronze Post Medal for All Time! 131 Posts

March 13, 2017

Magnetic Discovery Bottles - magnet against a bottle of paper clips Magnets are very popular in a pre-k classroom. They can be incorporated into many areas, especially the discovery center. I've found that kids really enjoy trying to move anything and everything with magnetic wands. A fun and simple way to explore moving different objects with magnets is to make discovery bottles. Kids can help choose items to put in the bottles and play with them for hours after they're complete.

Total Time: 10 minutes

Yield: 3 bottles

Supplies:

3 clear water bottles (12oz-20oz)
pipe cleaners
small jingle bells
paper clips
1-2 magnetic wands
hot glue gun (optional)
other types of magnets
water (optional)
plastic shoe box container (optional)

Steps:

Cut up the pipe cleaners into smaller pieces and put them into one bottle. Add the jingle bells and paper clips to the other two bottles. Hot glue the lids onto each bottle, if you have younger kids. This way the smaller items won't end up in their mouths!

Magnetic Discovery Bottles - add cut up pipe cleaners, bells, and paper clips to each of three bottles, one type of inclusion per bottle

Take the magnetic wand and slide it up, down, and around the bottles. It will attract the items inside and pull them against the inside of the bottle. Two wands or a horseshoe shaped magnet can be used for even more fun!