While in a craft store recently, I came across submersible lights. Immediately my wheels began to turn and I began to think of the possibilities. I bought a pack of submersible lights and some water beads, and made these illuminated discovery bottles for our science center.
The materials I used were submersible lights, water beads, and large plastic test tubes. My set of Jumbo Test Tubes are from Lakeshore, but you could also use plastic drink bottles that have a wide mouth.
Submersible lights (from a craft store):
Water beads (also from a craft store):
Lights & Glitter
This discovery bottle has water and red glitter with the submersible lights. The lights sink to the bottom, but when shaken, the lights move around in the water with the glitter. The light illuminates the water and reflects off the glitter, making it sparkle as it swirls around.
Disappearing Water Beads
In this discovery bottle, I put in some clear water beads. I first showed the children how small the beads are when they are dry. Then I placed them in a test tube with water, and left them alone to absorb the water and grow bigger.
After the beads were full size, I added some water to one of the tubes until the water covered the beads. This makes the beads seem to disappear!
The water beads can only be seen when you move the tube around or lay it on its side.
Lights & Water Beads
Then I placed the submersible lights in the two bottles. The water beads hold the lights in place, so this time they don’t sink to the bottom. Children can either observe the bottle when it is completely still or shake and move the bottle to watch the lights move around among the water beads. In the picture below, the blue test tube is the one that has only water beads with no extra water added. The yellow test tube is the one that had extra water added to it. This tube makes it appear that the lights are suspended in the water, when they are actually sitting on top of invisible water beads.
Here’s a challenge for you: In the comments below, tell your own ideas for making Illuminated Discovery Bottles. After you make them, come back and tell us how they turned out!
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I love this idea and I want make them now.Where did you get the tubes and base.
The tubes came from Lakeshore. They are called “Jumbo Test Tubes”, item #FS511.
Also, perhaps a dumb question.. but how long do the lights stay lit and you just leave them on?
I haven’t left mine on overnight, so I don’t know. I guess you could experiment and find out! 🙂
They also sell smaller tubes at Steve Spangler Science. They too are nice and come with a rack. They are called baby soda bottles
They also sell great bottles at Wegmans for $2.50 I have used to sensory bottles before. They are called VOSS water and come in different sizes (medium size are plastic!) and the mouths are nice and wide to fit most toys/manipulatives/crafts then hot glue them closed!!! You can easily peel off the labels too for a completely clear bottle!
Yes, the Voss bottles are very similar to these test tubes and will work well.
You can add small beads. Foil flakes, or color to the water for some interest. Awesome idea
Love this idea….
This is so neat Karen! Thanks for sharing!
I love this idea!!!
This looks so cool! Are the water beads from a craft store too? Michaels?
Yes, Michaels.
Thanks so much Karen, I’ll make them tomorrow!
Are the Lakeshore test tubes plastic I hope?
Yes, they are plastic.
Thanks for sharing is a perfect idea!!
These are really cool looking. I was just getting ready to make some sensory bottles for my 2 yr old great-nephew. We may have to try these.
How long do the lights last?
Not sure, I haven’t had them long enough for them to run out. I turn them off overnight, though.
How do turn the lights of,
The ones I bought turn on and off just by tightening and loosening the light where it screws together.
How awesome! I can’t wait to make these. Thank you Karen.
Karen, I absolutely love this! Where did you find the submersible lights? Thanks for sharing!
I bought mine at Michaels.
You could add food coloring or liquid water color to the water for different color effects, and/or liquids with a different density (glycerin or mineral oil).
Love this idea. I will definitely do it in my PreK class. Thanks for all the wonderful Math and Science ideas.
How long have you kept the water beads sealed in a container (test tube or otherwise)? I am wondering about mold. That being said, though, I can’t wait to try this! Thanks so much for sharing!!
Mold would depend on the amount of humidity in the room. Being almost winter now, it shouldn’t be a problem for a while. You probably wouldn’t leave them in there all year. If it did grow mold, you could just throw away the water beads and wash the tubes in bleach water. I haven’t had mine in the tube very long. Usually when I do an activity with my class, I post it while it’s “fresh”, lol.
WOW, these are all pretty cool. I’m sure my PreKinders & Kinders will enjoy this .
Thanks for sharing.
Great idea
Wow! Thanks for sharing this wonderfully original idea!
What a great idea! In the past I have added light corn syrup to the water. It slows down the movemnet and gives more of a lava lamp appearance.
A few ?’s..Are the H2O beads poisonous if swallowed? How do the lights on/off switch operate? Curious about fishing them from the tubes.
This is an awesome idea with lots of potential for discovery with children and adults sharing the experience. Lots of language going on, for sure. Many thanks!
Water beads are made of a superabsorbant polymer. Same thing that’s in diapers and instant snow. They’re supposed to be non-toxic. The kids are not playing with the beads themselves. The beads are inside a bottle, which you can seal with masking tape wrapped around the lid several times, or some duct tape.
I’ve let my preschool children play with the water beads. They feel really cool. We use the same rules as instant snow and water play…wash your hands first!
Careful teachers there is a ‘ choking potential’ of these beads-
I am going to use this idea on my light table! Thanks so much
The beads are sealed up inside the bottle, so they are not a choking hazard if children can’t get them out.
Wow! So cool! Can’t wait to visit Michaels to pick up the lights/beads. Thanks again, Karen!
Totally love this idea
love the idea karen
Are the lights able to fit in the regular size test tubes? I already have those…
Not sure about that, Emily. You could always use drink bottles if you don’t want to buy the large test tubes.
I love this idea.. my Special Need Preschool kids will love that! Thanks for the wonderful idea!
Oh my goodness. These are fantastic.
This is one of the top 3 ideas EVER!!!! I can’t wait to add this to my array of discovery bottles. Thank you for sharing this wonderful idea!
Hi. These are so great. I recently made some with letters and fuzzy pipe cleaners in. The children then had to manipulate the pipe cleaners around the bottle with magnets to see the letters. They loved it and it kept my investigation area full of children all week! 🙂
Can you post a picture of your idea? I am a visual learner so I need to see how you put the letters on the pipe cleaners. It sounds like another fantabulous way to introduce the alphabet and possibly numbers….Thanks!!
Could you tell me how much are the lights? This is a wonderful idea!
Where did you get the stands to hold the test tubes.
I bought the Jumbo Test Tubes from Lakeshore & the stands come with the set.
This is perfect for my unit on water! The kids will love this!
This is super cute! My pre-K class would love this!
Another awesome idea!!! Love your site…ty
thank you!!!!!!!
i was wondering where you bought the light and the beads becuase i cant seem to find them.
I bought them at Michaels — on the row where floral things are sold.
You can also purchase the water beads at the Dollar tree store.
Many thanks to Karen :
Thank you so much for providing such wonderful ideas about pre-kinder teaching,what a loving deed,Karen,I am a chinese christian , have been looking for christian teaching resources for my girl and other little kids from our church,then your website is here! thanks to almighty God
I just found a 2 pack of these submersible lights at Meijer on Clearance for $2.79 in the floral department. Water beads can be found sometimes at the Dollar tree, WalMart and in several teaching catalogs, I also think at Oriental Trading. I can not wait to try these. Thank you for the awesome ideas!!! Keep up the good work everyone.p
I love the lights idea. You just gave me some ideas for Valentine’s Day, I have some tiny plastic confetti hearts that never get used because of my little one. I think I will make a rainbow set with different items in them for St. Patrick’s Day. Last year I made a tube like you did with the clear beads and told them they were magic Leprechun eggs and that’s why we can’t see them because they were magic. You should have seen their faces it was priceless. I love my job. Thank you for sharing your amazing work with us. You amaze me.
Those ideas are very imaginative, Valerie! Thanks for sharing.
I really like this. My exceptional students will really like this! I cannot find the test tubes large enough, though or the holders for them.
Caren Stocks
This idea is absolutely brilliant. Can’t wait to do this with the children as part of our stem activities. I work with mixed school-age, and am always looking for new ideas for sensory bottles. I will be out looking for those lights this week.
Thanks for brightening my day!!
Where do you buy the bases from?
It was a set I got from Lakeshore. I can’t find it on their site right now, but this is similar: http://www.lakeshorelearning.com/product/productDet.jsp?productItemID=1%2C689%2C949%2C371%2C893%2C725&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=1408474395181113&bmUID=1502142731182