DIY: Emotion Sensory Bottle | Tinkerer Box Blog

DIYs » Stem Activities » Chemistry » Age 3 - 5 » Emotion Sensory Bottle

Emotion Sensory Bottle

Stem Activities

Ages: 3-5

Less than 30 minutes

Grownup needed

Save PDF

Remember the emotion bottles from Inside Out? Create this calming bottle to help settle emotions. Watch as colourful balls float upwards in the water, like vibrant Turkish hot air balloons slowly rising into the sky. Experience the colours, relax your mind, and share this peaceful moment with your child!

Materials Needed

Cooking oil
Chalk
300ml rubbing alcohol
Four containers
Lolly stick
Water
Dropper
Glass jar
Knife

A collection of items arranged on a light woodgrain table suggests preparation for a science experiment or craft project. From left to right, there are: a stack of small clear glass bowls, a larger clear glass cylinder, a small glass bottle containing a yellow liquid (possibly oil), two clear drinking glasses containing water, a small group of colorful wax crayons, a clear plastic pipette or straw, a flat wooden craft stick, and a retractable utility knife with a red handle. The arrangement and variety of items imply a multi-step process.

Step-by-step tutorial

Step 1

Pour cooking oil into 4 separate bowls.

Pale yellow oil is being poured from a glass bottle into a clear glass bowl on a light woodgrain surface. A thin stream of oil flows from the bottle into the bowl. This close-up image suggests food preparation or a science experiment.

Step 2

Scrape different coloured chalk powder into the four bowls using the knife. Mix thoroughly with the lolly stick.

A small, clear glass bowl containing a vibrant pink liquid sits on a light-colored wooden table. A hand holds a small wooden stick, stirring the liquid. Some undissolved pink pigment is visible, suggesting the color is being mixed into the liquid. The scene implies an art project, a science experiment, or the preparation of a cosmetic product.

Step 3

Pour the rubbing alcohol into the glass jar.

Water is being poured from a clear glass cylinder into a smaller, clear glass beaker on a light woodgrain table. The water flows in a steady stream, creating small bubbles and ripples in the beaker. The image is set against a plain off-white background. This simple action suggests a basic science experiment or demonstration.

Step 4

Using the dropper, collect different coloured oil mixtures and drop them into the jar with alcohol.

A clear glass beaker, partially filled with water, sits on a light woodgrain surface. Droplets of pink and teal food coloring have been added and are slowly diffusing into the water. The majority of the color is concentrated near the bottom of the beaker, with some smaller droplets suspended higher in the water column and a thin stream of teal entering from the top. The image captures a moment of a simple science experiment or demonstration, illustrating the principles of liquid density and diffusion.

Step 5

Carefully pour water down the side of the glass jar containing the alcohol.

A clear glass sits on a light wooden surface. The glass is partially filled with water and numerous small, colorful orbs. The orbs vary in size and color, with shades of pink, green, blue, and purple visible. More water is poured into the glass from a pitcher, causing the colorful orbs to rise and disperse throughout the water. The video then zooms in for a closer look at the orbs suspended in the liquid, highlighting their vibrant colors and varied sizes. Small air bubbles cling to some of the orbs. The video showcases a visually appealing mixture of water and colorful, buoyant beads or gel balls.

Step 6

Are your hot air balloons floating yet?

Numerous small, translucent spheres in various colors, including pink, green, blue, and purple, drift and float within a light-colored liquid. The spheres vary in size and appear to be slightly blurred or out of focus, creating a dreamy or ethereal effect. The light background enhances the vibrancy of the colors. The video offers a close-up, abstract view of colorful beads or gel balls suspended in a liquid.

The Science Behind It:

The cooking oil containing chalk powder has a slightly higher density than alcohol, so when we drop it into the alcohol, the oil sinks to the bottom. Water has a higher density than both oil and alcohol, so it sinks to the very bottom. This causes the coloured oil drops to float between the water and alcohol layers, just like hot air balloons floating in the sky.

Who Are We?

We’re a passionate team of scientists, engineers, and educators dedicated to delivering hands-on fun. Our mission is to inspire creativity and confidence in the next generation of young innovators.