Eyes on Early Years Volume 11 | Page 16

Pine needle discovery bottles Pine needles are very prevalent during the festive season and perhaps something that children, especially here in the U.A.E, don’t see at other times of the year. So why not use them to create an interesting seasonal discovery bottle. As the children look through the bottles, the pine needles are magnified by the curves of the bottles which really gives a fun perspective of the pine needles. You could also invite the children to make their own bottles, allowing them to touch and handle the pine needles as well as make their own decisions about the type of bottle, size of pine needles or if they will add any colouring or glitter to the water, etc. Candy Cane Sensory Tubes These candy cane shaped tubes can often be found during the festive season in shops and, when emptied, make a great themed tube. The tubes can be filled with a variety of materials to encourage children to explore their sense of sight and to inspire conversations. Here are just a few ideas for what to put inside: • Baby oil and a small amount of coloured water • Tiny, colourful holiday trinkets and beads • Water, glitter and a small amount of glycerine