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Home / Early Learning / Sensory / Halloween Sensory Bottle with Floating Jack-O-Lanterns

Halloween Sensory Bottle with Floating Jack-O-Lanterns

Shared by Mary Catherine Leave a comment

Make a jack-o-lantern Halloween sensory bottle this October. What a calming addition to your Halloween activities for preschoolers!

Collage of images showing the steps to make a jack-o-lantern bottle, with text that reads Halloween sensory bottle.

Any time is a good time for a discovery bottle, right? Right!

Sensory bottles are great to keep in your classroom, or at home, throughout the year. They are so easy to swap out based on the changing seasons, holidays, or themes.

Discovery bottles can help children explore a variety of early learning concepts. They can also serve as effective tools to help children with self-regulation.

So this fall, swap out your everyday calm down bottles for these Halloween-themed jars.

Table of Contents

  • Halloween Sensory Bottle
    • Materials for a Jack-O-Lantern Discovery Jar
    • How to Make a Halloween Sensory Bottle
  • More Halloween Sensory Bottle Ideas
  • Done-For-You Preschool Resources
  • Halloween Books for Kids

Halloween Sensory Bottle

As I mentioned above, I like changing up the discovery bottles that are available throughout the year.

Sometimes they’re just generally fun sensory jars. But other times, it’s fun to relate them to preschool themes, holidays, seasons, or the kids’ specific interests.

Obviously, this one would be perfect around Halloween! But I know many children who would appreciate it year-round.

A clear bottle of orange and black sequins and jack-o-lanterns floating in a clear bubbly liquid.

Related: Sunken Treasure Pirate Sensory Bottle

Materials for a Jack-O-Lantern Discovery Jar

Before we jump into making the Halloween calm down bottle, let’s talk ingredients.

Here’s what we used (I may get commissions for purchases made through links in this post):

  • 32 ounce plastic jar
  • 10 ounces clear Elmer’s glue
  • Plastic jack-o-lanterns
  • Black sequins
  • Orange sequins
Materials to make a sensory bottle - empty jar, clear glue, water, black and orange sequins, and plastic jack-o-lanterns.

Related: Corn Sensory Bottle with Rainbow Popcorn Kernels

The plastic jack-o-lanterns were picked up at a local craft store. If you can’t find them, try adding some small plastic pumpkins. Even if you leave them out, the jars will be just as fun.

You can also switch things up a bit if you’d like. For example, add some purple sequins or some small plastic ghosts. Whatever sounds good to you!

How to Make a Halloween Sensory Bottle

The children can definitely help with every step of this process. Just make sure to keep an eye on them and assist as needed.

Start off with a clean and dry plastic sensory bottle or jar. Make sure that all of your materials can fit through the top of whatever bottle you choose.

Pour the glue into the bottle. If you’re using a smaller jar, you might want to use less glue.

Next, pour the sequins right on top of the glue.

View from above of a clear bottle with glue and orange and black sequins in it.

Then, place your mini jack-o-lanterns into the jar.

Clear plastic bottle with black and orange sequins and jack-o-lanterns sitting on top of clear glue.

Related: Pumpkin Geoboard STEM activity

Fill the rest of the bottle up with clean water.

Put the top on the jar. If you work with young children, I highly recommend gluing or taping the top shut (if only for your peace of mind)!

Then it’s time to shake up the Halloween sensory bottle! Let the children watch as the sequins and pumpkins settle.

Clear bottle with orange and black sequins and small plastic jack-o-lanterns floating in a clear liquid.

Related: Halloween Art Activities with Coffee Filters

I have found that the kids enjoy looking at these bottles in direct sunlight. They love the way the light reflects off the sequins. It makes such a fascinating effect, both within the bottle and on nearby surfaces.

Keep the jar in your sensory or calm down centers so the kids have access to it when needed.

More Halloween Sensory Bottle Ideas

Now that you’ve seen our jack-o-lantern sensory bottle, here are a few more Halloween-themed discovery jars for you.

It doesn’t hurt to have a few more choices, right?

Spider Glow in the Dark Sensory Bottle

Pumpkin Sensory Bottle

Spider Themed Sensory Bottle Ideas

Glow in the Dark Bottles

Candy Corn Discovery Bottle from Preschool Inspirations

Monster Eyes Sensory Bottle from The Soccer Mom Blog

Waterbeads Jack-O-Lantern Bottle from Teach Me Mommy

The only problem is trying to figure out which one to make first!

Done-For-You Preschool Resources

This Halloween sensory bottle is so much fun to put together with your students. But sometimes, the stress from all the planning can interfere with some of that fun.

Preschool Teacher 101 wants to help make time for you to enjoy those hands-on activities with your students . . . with amazing lesson plans that even include coordinating printables.

Click on the links below to learn more about each resource.

Collage of images which include candy corn experiment printable, halloween literacy printable, and text that reads
Halloween Lesson Plans
Images of pumpkin printable and pumpkins; reads
Pumpkin Lesson Plans
Image of pumpkin printable; children with pumpkin and wagon; reads
Pumpkin Dramatic Play

Be sure to check out all of the other amazing resources while you’re there! Preschool Teacher 101 has wonderful variety in topics and lesson ideas.

Halloween Books for Kids

I love reading books to kids, what about you?

So of course I had to pick out a few pumpkin and Halloween books for you. They’d be perfect to read to your preschoolers after making the Halloween sensory bottle.

Clear bottle with orange and black sequins and small plastic jack-o-lanterns floating in a clear liquid; text that reads

Filed Under: Sensory Tagged With: Fall, Halloween, Pumpkins, Sensory Bottles

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My name is Mary Catherine, and I love to share meaningful {and fun} learning activities for kiddos! Feel free to browse and stay awhile!

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