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Fun and easy kids activities

Fall Sensory Jars

Sep 5, 201360,835 views
Nature crafts
Fall Activities: Fall Sensory Jars Save
6 Save
fall sensory Save
adding leaves to fall jars Save
water and colors in jars Save
add twigs Save

by TurkeyMom in Nature crafts

Ages2–6 yrs
Prep30 min
Activity20 min
Leveleasy
MessMedium
Works for1:1 · Small group · Class

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.

⚠️ Safety first

  • 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 the kids arrive

  • 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?from the author
  • We were mesmerized watching the color mix with the water.from the author
  • 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!from the author
  • Silk leaves float. Our 4-year-old tested whether she could make them sink, another hands-on science moment.from the author
  • My toddler LOVED these too and made the small jar, plus one with small pumpkins.from the author

Make it your own

  • Make a jar with small pumpkins.
  • Make a green sensory jar, or use orange and red for different fall colors.
  • Use liquid watercolors instead of food color.
  • Use only silk leaves for a jar that stays fresh.

The story behind it

By TurkeyMom · September 2013
sticks and twigs to make sensory jars
Last week my 4 year old was excited to find red, spotty leaves on the ground. We stopped and collected a bunch along with the pods, seeds and small twigs.
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Fall Sensory Jars: the original post

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 amazon store

sticks and twigs to make sensory jars

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

materials for fall discovery bottles

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.

smelling the jars

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}

water and colors in jars

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.

oil and water

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

add twigs

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

fall sensory

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

adding leaves to fall 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*

adding fake leaves to fall discovery bottles

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.

fall snsory jars

We even made a green sensory jar.

6

Thanks for reading.

Check out our Fall Sensory Bin.

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 from Housing A Forest

Kid- made fall nature wreath from Fun at home with kids

What readers say

💬 5 comments ✍️ 1 answered by the author

🛠️ Troubleshooting

Do real leaves break down?

A reader asked whether the real leaves break up after sitting in the jar for a while. The post doesn't say, so expect possible changes over time.

“Did the real leaves break up aster being in there a while?”
emily, Sep 2014

🎉 Worked for us

Featured by another reader

A reader liked the jars enough to feature them.

“These look lovely too. I've featured them as well.”
Rebecca, Sep 2013

Tried it?

Reviewed before it appears. No links, and please no children's names.

Read all 5 comments

  1. TurkeyMomAuthor · Sep 2014 · replying to Jeanine

    Thanks for noticing Jeanine. Next up categorizing all those posts. Phew!

  2. Jeanine · Sep 2014

    I really love these jars and the new look of your blog :D

  3. emily · Sep 2014

    Did the real leaves break up aster being in there a while?

  4. Rebecca · Sep 2013

    These look lovely too. I've featured them as well.

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