Learn how to make a windy fall leaves sensory bottle for your children to enjoy. Tipping this fall calm down bottle from top to bottom produces the wind that blows each fall leaf and keeps the autumn leaves in constant motion. This autumn discovery bottle can also be used to help teach children about the wind and the changing seasons.
Make a windy day sensory bottle with fall leaves for your children to enjoy this autumn.
Calm down sensory bottles can be used in many ways. They can be used for no mess safe sensory play, a timeout tool, a science teaching aid, and to help children (and adults) calm down and unwind.
For more information about sensory bottles and their uses check out Calm Down Sensory Bottles 101.
Related: Fall Leaves Watercolor Art
How to Make a Sensory Bottle with Fall Leaves
Gather supplies and follow the easy step by step directions below to make your own windy fall leaves calm down jar.
Related: Fun Autumn Activities for Kids
DIY Windy Fall Leaves Sensory Bottle Materials
- Quart mason jar
or recycled water bottle from the recycle bin - Goo Gone
- Fall leaves
- Gold glitter (optional)
- Corn syrup
- Superglue
- Duct tape
or recycled 
(optional)
Related: Fall Leaf Art
How to Make a Fall Leaf Discovery Bottle: Step by Step Directions
Step 1 – Find a bottle to use
Grab a quart mason jar
, or, a bottle out of the recycle bin and peel the sticker off. (If needed, use Goo Gone
to remove sticky residue from the recycled bottle.)
Step 2 – Add Fall Leaves
Add 10-20 acrylic fall leaves
. We used mostly red and yellow autumn leaves with a few green leaves thrown in for good measure.
Foil leaves
are not recommended because the paint on them can chip off, and end up floating around the inside of the sensory bottle.
Step 3 – Fill bottle 2/3 with corn syrup
Fill the Voss bottle with 75% corn syrup
.
Step 4 – Add gold glitter (optional)
Sprinkle in a few shakes of gold glitter
. Start with a small amount, you can always add a bit more.
Step 5 – Fill the Remainder of the Sensory bottle with water
Fill the discover bottle up the rest of the way with water. You want to fill it all the way to the top of the calm down jar so there is no air in it.
Step 6 – Put the lid on your fall-themed sensory bottle
Place the lid on the DIY sensory bottle and shake it up, but don’t glue it yet. Have a look at the sensory bottle troubleshooting tips below before you glue it shut.
It may be a bit clumpy and murky for a few hours until the contents of your fall sensory bottle mix and settle.
Related: Rainstick Musical Sensory Bottle
Fall Leaves Calm Down Jar Trouble Shooting Tips
Play with your fall leaves DIY sensory bottle for a day or two to make sure you like the way the autumn leaves move.
If you want the fall leaves to move faster pour some of the liquid out and add more water.
Want the leaves to move slower? Pour some of the liquid out and add more corn syrup.
Want more glitter? Add some more!
When you are happy with it, put some superglue around the inside rim of the lid and then glue it shut.
Wrap duct tape
around the lid and bottle for a little extra security. Sensory bottle lids have been known to break when little ones try to open them when they are glued shut.
Related: The Best Fall Art Project Ideas for Kids
Windy Fall Leaves Discovery Bottle Science Lesson
To add in a science lesson, explain how the wind moves from an area of low pressure to high pressure. Use this autumn sensory bottle to help teach children about fall leaves and wind as they play!
When the bottle is tipped from top to bottom the fall leaves move from top to bottom to produce the appearance of wind blowing from high to low. Learning is fun!
Related: Human Sundial Shadow Science Experiment
Related: Fall Leaf Lacing Beginning Sewing Project for Kids
Windy Fall Leaf Calm Down Sensory Bottle
Calm down sensory bottles, like this windy fall leaf sensory bottle, are great for safe no mess sensory play, a science teaching aid, and to help children (and adults) calm down and unwind.
Discovery bottles are also the perfect way for babies and toddlers to safely investigate small items like these beautiful autumn leaves without the risk of choking on them. You can even use this fall sensory bottle to help teach about the wind and changing seasons.
Learn more about DIY sensory bottles, their uses, how to make them, and more troubleshooting tips in Calm Down Sensory Bottles 101.
Don’t forget to check out our Fall Bucket List for the Best Autumn EVER!
More DIY Fall Sensory Bottles
- Football | Sunny Day Family
- Learn to Spell Your Name | Preschool Inspirations
- Glow in the Dark Jack o’ Lantern
- Glowing Ghost Sensory Bottle
If you Liked These Fall Sensory Bottles You may also like:
- Marbled Clay Autumn Leaves Craft
- Sunburst DIY Sensory Bottle
- Glow in the Dark Ringer Game Sensory Bottle
- Rainbow Galaxy Sensory Bottle
- Nature-Inpired Sensory Bottles
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Do you have an alternative for corn syrup that I could use?
Yes Sarah. You can use clear liquid dish soap or clear liquid hand soap. If you use dish soap you will probably not need any water. Use all dish soap. If you use hand soap you will probably only need 1/4 to 1/2 hand soap, and 1/2 to 3/4 water. I hope that makes sense!
Hi, this is Veronika of Toddleratplay.com. Could I use this post in my roundup? I love it.
Hi Veronika! I would love for you to feature this post in your round-up, thank you for asking!