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Color Bottle Blend from First Art

Watch colors blend through a variety of liquids in clear plastic bottles. Toddlers and twos enjoy playing with bottles of color afterwards - like a child's version of lava lamps!

Materials: 3 clear plastic bottles with caps water 1 teaspoon (5ml) glitter, optional vegetable oil white glue, large bottle food coloring (red, blue, and yellow) tape

Prepare (Adult)

• Fill each of three empty bottles with different liquids, leaving a little airspace at the top. Fill one with water (and glitter if desired), one with half oil and half water, and one bottle with 1 to 2 cups (240 to 480ml) of white glue watered down a little. Put three drops of one color of food coloring in each bottle.
• Twist caps on securely. Wrap tape around the caps so children won't open the bottles (though they will try).

Process (Child) - Basic Explore:

• Explore how the color blends in the liquids at different speeds and in different ways.
• Shake, swirl, roll, and explore the bottles in many ways.
• Keep bottles on hand for child's play. Children's interest in these bottles will likely last for days and days.

More Explore:

• Uncap the bottles and add three drops of another color in each bottle (adult only). Make one red and blue, one flue and yellow, and one yellow and red to create three new colors in the bottles. Recap and tape the bottles.
• Roll, shake, and turn the bottles to see the colors blend together as before. NOTE: Watch how slowly the colors mix in the glue. (It takes several hours but is interesting to observe!)
• When finished exploring, place bottles in the window and enjoy the light shining through. Glitter will sparkle more, too.

Variations:

• Put confetti, grated crayon shavings, marbles, or any other objects in the liquid-filled bottles. Small (but heavy) or shiny items are best. Seal securely.
• Experiment with other liquids in the bottles such as half water and half cornstarch. Add color too. Fill a bottle halfway only, with equal parts clear shampoo and opaque conditioner to see layering. Seal securely.

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