# Fall Sensory Jars
> Fill clean glass jars with water, a layer of vegetable oil and yellow food color, then add twigs, real and silk fall leaves, pods and seeds for a fall 'tree in a jar'. Kids get an easy oil-and-water and sink-or-float science chat along the way.
- URL: https://www.funlittles.com/fall-activities-fall-sensory-jars/
- Ages: 2–6 yrs · Difficulty: easy · Mess: medium
- Time: prep 30 min, activity 20 min
- Works for: one-on-one, small group, whole class · one batch serves about 1 kids
- Skills: science, oil-and-water, sink-or-float, observation, sensory-exploration, nature, fine-motor
- Cautions: food-dye, ingestion-risk

## Materials (one batch)
- 1 piece Empty, clean glass jars with lids (household)
- Water (household)
- 0.33 cup Vegetable oil (household)
- Yellow food color
- Apple pie spice (optional) (household)
- Fall nature finds: real leaves, small twigs, pods and seeds
- Fall silk leaves (optional)
- 1 piece Table cover or tray (household)

## Substitutions
- Instead of food color: Liquid watercolors (The author suggests it as an alternative ('we love Sax brand'). It is not taste-safe.)
- Instead of glass jars: Clear plastic jars or bottles (A safer choice for toddlers and classrooms. This is not from the post.)

## Safety
- Glass jars can break. An adult should supervise closely, and you can use sturdy plastic jars or bottles for toddlers and large groups.
- Close lids tightly so kids can't open the jars. Consider gluing or taping the lids. The jars hold oil, colored water and small natural bits that are not for mouthing.
- Food color and oil can stain clothes and surfaces. Cover the table and wipe spills right away.
- Check collected leaves, pods and twigs for bugs, sharp ends and dirt before kids handle them. Wash hands after the nature walk and after the activity.
- Keep spices away from eyes. Let kids smell the water gently rather than sniffing the spice powder.

## Before you start
- Go on a fall walk to collect red, spotty leaves, pods, seeds and small twigs.
- Wash and dry the empty glass jars, and check that the lids close tightly.

## Steps
1. Set out the clean jars, water, oil, food color and your nature collection on a covered tray.
2. Pour water into a jar, leaving room at the top.
3. Optional: sprinkle a little apple pie spice into the water and smell it.
4. Add about 1/3 cup of vegetable oil.
5. Add a few drops of yellow food color and watch it swirl into the water.
6. Watch the oil settle on top of the water and talk about why.
7. Add the small twigs first to make a fall tree in a jar.
8. Add the real leaves, pods and seeds, then finish with silk leaves.
9. Try to push a silk leaf under. Does it sink or float?
10. Adult: close the lid tightly and line the jars up to enjoy.

## Tips
- Add the small twigs first. Doesn't it look like a fall tree in a jar?
- We were mesmerized watching the color mix with the water.
- Watch the oil settle on top of the water and have a quick chat about it. You've got to love on-the-go, learn-while-you-play science!
- Silk leaves float. Our 4-year-old tested whether she could make them sink, another hands-on science moment.
- My toddler LOVED these too and made the small jar, plus one with small pumpkins.

## The original post by TurkeyMom (2013)

More fall activities underway when we wrap up our wonderful Fall Play Ideas series. Today is the last day and our theme is nature. If you are just joining us, you can catch up on our earlier posts here. **Apple playdough** recipe with real apples, **edible, scented apple paint**, **glow in the dark window clings** and **homemade fall spices crayon candles.** We can't wait for full on autumn season! But last week we were pleasantly surprised to find actual fall leaves on the streets Well, they are nothing compared to the rest of the states, but my 4 year old was excited to find red, spotty leaves on the ground. We stopped and collected a bunch of time along with the pods,seeds and small twigs. We are making fall sensory jars. Supplies 



Our wonderful collection. My daughter wanted to add a few fall silk leaves we had.



To make these fall sensory jars first up, she added water to a few empty, clean glass jars. Upon her request I even added apple pie spice to the water. She enjoyed smelling the water.



She added about 1/3 cup of vegetable oil and then added yellow food color. We were mesmerized watching the color mix with the water. Alternatively you can also try adding liquid watercolors **{ we love Sax brand}**



We observed the oil settle on top of the water and had a quick discussion about that * Got to love on the go, learn while you play thing, right? Science while makinfgfall jars* Making these sensory jars is proving to be fun and educational.



Then it was time to add the nature bits. She chose to add the small twigs first to the sensory jars.



Doesn't this look like a fall tree in a jar?



Later we added many leaves we found and ended with adding the silk leaves to the sensory jars.



Here she is testing " silk leaves are lighter than water? I'm going to make then sink. Watch!" * Again, another hands on science learning moment*



Just so you know, my toddler LOVED these fall sensory jars as well and made the small one and a sensory jar with small pumpkins.

Here are all our fall sensory jars.



We even made a green sensory jar.



Thanks for reading.

Check out our Fall Sensory Bin.

[](https://www.funlittles.com/fall-sensory-bin/)

Don't forget to see what the other participating blogs have for day 5.

**Sparkly Clean Mud Recipe** from Learn Play Imagine

**[Fall Centerpiece Craft](http://www.housingaforest.com/fall-centerpiece-craft-for-kids)** from Housing A Forest

**[Kid- made fall nature wreath](http://www.funathomewithkids.com/2013/09/kid-made-fall-nature-wreath.html)** from Fun at home with kids