The Chaos and the Clutter

Sharla Kostelyk

Halloween Sensory Bottle

close up of a sensory bottle with orange pumpkins and purple hues

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When we think of Halloween, we may think of dark, black, or scary, but the October holiday can also be celebrated with cheerful colours like purple and orange. That’s what I like about this Halloween sensory bottle. bottle filled with liquid and floating orange and purple items. Text reads "Easy Halloween Sensory Bottle"This is a simple activity to do in a preschool class or at home. Because the glitter and confetti travel slowly through the glue and water, it makes a great calm down bottle for kids to observe when their emotions get too big.

Halloween Sensory Bottle:

Supplies needed:

close up of a sensory bottle with orange pumpkins and purple huesDirections:

  1. Empty one bottle of clear glue into the plastic bottle. 
  2. Fill the empty glue bottle about half full with warm water and seal with the lid. Shake well to combine the remaining glue with the water. Pour into jar with glue and shake to combine.
  3. Add some of the glitter, sequins, and aquarium rocks.
  4. Seal the jar and shake well. If the glitter or confetti do not move easily, add more warm water. If the glitter or confetti move too quickly, add additional glue. Continuing adding in layers of water and glue with the glitter, sequins, and orange and purple rocks until you achieve the desired effect.
  5. When the contents of the bottle move the way you want them to, seal the bottle with the lid.
  6. You can use a hot glue gun to secure the lid in place to avoid spills.
  7. If you want to make the sensory bottle more festive, you can cover the lid with Halloween themed washi tape or  glow in the dark duct tape.

collage of supplies and finished project of a Halloween sensory bottleAre you looking for more easy sensory play ideas? Join us for a five day email series on Sensory Activities and Solutions and get a free sample of our Sensory Play Recipes eBook.

Check out these other Halloween sensory ideas:

Black Glitter Slime perfect for Halloweenhands holding dripping black slime

Hallowe’en Sensory GameSpider Emotions Matching Game

Spider Web Slime

Black Glitter Slime Easy Recipe

hands holding dripping black slime

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Use this easy recipe to make your own black glitter slime. It’s great for Hallowe’en or just for sensory play. The glitter gives it a unique look.

two hands holding black glitter slimeIf you’re looking for a fun Hallowe’en activity that uses slime, check out our Hallowe’en Sensory Game for kids. It’s easy to put together and great for the classroom or for parties.

Black Glitter Slime Recipe:

Supplies needed:

  • 1 (6 oz.) bottle black glitter glue 
  • ¼ cup warm water
  • ½ tsp. baking soda
  • 1½ Tbsp. contact lens solution that contains boric acid
  • 1 Tbsp glitter (if you want a more glittery slime)
  • optional: pumpkin confetti

thumb pulls pumpkin confetti out of black slime

Directions:

  1. Empty the black glitter glue into a medium sized bowl. 
  2. Add 1/4 cup warm water to the empty glue bottle and seal with the lid. Shake well to combine the remaining glue with the water.
  3. Pour into the bowl with the glue and stir to combine.
  4. Add the baking soda to the glue and stir to mix thoroughly. 
  5. If you are adding extra glitter or confetti, stir them into the glue mixture at this point.
  6. Add contact lens solution to the glue mixture and stir well. 
  7. Remove the slime from the bowl allowing any excess liquid to remain in the bowl.  The slime will be sticky. Begin to play with the slime, kneading it as if it were bread dough, to bring the slime together. The slime is ready when it is no longer sticky.

Note: Glitter glue requires more contact lens solution than making slime with regular clear or white glue. Add the contact lens solution slowly, mixing between additions, and add only enough to bring the glue together into a soft ball.

Slime should be stored in an airtight container or resealable bag when not being played with. hands holding dripping black slime

Possible Variations of Glitter Slime:

  • To make this black slime more appropriate for Hallowe’en, you can add different types of Hallowe’en confetti.
  • You can change the look of this slime by adding different colours of glitter.
  • Try adding tiny Hallowe’en themed erasers.

Are you looking for more easy sensory play recipes to try? Join us for a five day email series on Sensory Activities and Solutions and get a free sample of our Sensory Play Recipes eBook.
 

You might also be interested in checking out these other easy slime recipes:

Camo Fluffy SlimeGoogly Eyed Monster Slime

Stretchy Butterfly Slime

 

October Emotions Printables for Kids

collage of copywork with candy corn emotions

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Fall is in full swing where I live. In fact, there is a frost warning for tonight. No more denying that summer is over. But fall is full of great consolation prizes like colourful leaves, crisp fresh air, and candy corn! 

I like candy corn so I thought they would be the perfect visual to help kids talk about their emotions this October. This month’s free emotions printables include copywork pages, sheets to consider thoughts on trick or treating, and a feelings log. collage of printed pages with candy corn theme. Text reads "October Emotions printables"

Now I know that trick or treating is something that may be up in the air this year, so if it’s not happening in your area or your household, you can slip the word “not” in there and allow kids to express how they feel about not trick or treating this year. 

October Printables for Kids about Emotions:

October Copywork Emotions Sentences:

Supplies needed:

If you want sheets to be reusable, laminate the pages or simply slip them into a plastic page protector. Students can then use a dry erase marker to do the tracing and writing themselves. Or they can write directly on the pages with a pen, pencil, marker, or coloured pencils.collage of copywork with candy corn emotions

Copywork Sentences Instructions for the child:

  1. Read the sentence.
  2. Fill in the outline.
  3. Trace the dotted words.
  4. Write the sentence on the lines provided.
  5. Discuss the various emotions.

Copying sentences may not seem like it would be impactful, but these sentences do more than simply give a child practise for their penmanship! Copying out sentences about feelings can be a good launching off place for discussions. They help create a culture in your home or classroom where it’s normal to hear about and talk about feelings.a printed page in a plastic sleeve with four pieces of candy corn on top

You can also expand this activity by having your child talk about a particular time or situation in their life where they felt that particular emotion and how that was for them.

October My Feelings Log:

Supplies needed:

My Feelings Log Instructions for the child:

  1. Choose one apple icon each day to colour, cut, and paste into your log to represent how you are feeling at that time.
  2. At the end of the month, you’ll be able to look back and see all the different emotions you felt.
  3. Discuss your feelings with a parent or trusted adult.

Use the Feelings Log as a jumping off point for discussions about the different feelings your child is experiencing and what is underneath those emotions. This is also a good way to help them manage their emotions in healthy ways.

Enter your email in the box below to download your free October Emotions Printable Worksheets. You can then easily print them off to use at home with your child or with your students.

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Pumpkin Emotions Game

paper with pumpkin pictures and orange buttons set on top

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This bingo style five in a row pumpkin emotions game provides a fun way for kids to learn about emotions. Because of the pumpkin theme, it is good for using in the Fall, around Hallowe’en, or even Thanksgiving. 

printed page with pumpkin faces and orange buttons. Text reads "Pumpkin Emotions Five in a Row Game"

As kids roll the different emotions, they can name what they are. They can then think of a time when they may have felt that emotion themselves. This will help children be able to better identify their feelings.

Pumpkin Emotions Game:

Two to four people can play this game at one time.

Supplies needed:

Directions:

  1. Print the pages. Print as many game sheets as needed for the number of people playing.
  2. Colour the game die (optional).
  3. Assemble the game die with instructions (provided on the die page). 

paper with pumpkin pictures and orange buttons set on topGame Play:

  1. Colour in the “Free Space.”
  2. Roll the die.
  3. Look at the emotion the die landed on. Give an example of when you feel that emotion. For example, if you roll “excited,” you can say, “I feel excited when I am going to go swimming!”
  4. After you call out your example, colour in or cover the corresponding spot on your board. The first person to cover or colour five pictures in a row, wins.

collage of printed pumpkin game for kidsSome children may find it more challenging than others to think of scenarios when they have felt a particular emotion. It’s okay for you to step in and give them verbal prompts to help them or to share one of your own examples.

To get a free printable copy of this game to use with your child or students, enter your email in the box below. 

You may also be interested in reading:

Thankfulness Game for Kids

Spider Emotions Matching Game

Activities to Teach Kids About Emotions

Apple Tree Colour and Counting Playdough Game

apple tree made out of playdough on a blue background

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Playdough is one of my favourite sensory materials. It lends itself well to all kinds of fine motor practise and leaning opportunities. As you may know by now, learning through sensory play is something I am a big advocate for. This apple tree colour and counting playdough game is a great example of that.tree made out of playdough with coloured balls of playdough. Text reads "Apple Tree Playdough Game"This easy activity is suitable for preschoolers who are just learning these concepts or even for children in Kindergarten or early elementary to help reenforce colour and counting concepts.

Apple Tree Colour and Counting Playdough Game:

Supplies needed:

playdough is shaped to make a tree and balls of applesDirections:

  1. Form the trunk of the tree using brown playdough by rolling it into a long rope. If you don’t have brown playdough, you can mix equal parts orange and blue playdough to create kind of a grey-brown. 
  2. Tear off sections of the green playdough and flatten them out. These will form the leaves of the tree.
  3. Invite your child to place the leaves on the tree trunk.
  4. Have your child roll small balls of yellow, red, and green playdough. These will be the apples.
  5. Set out one colour dot dice and one standard number dice.
  6. Have the child roll both dice.
  7. Encourage them to count the number on the dice and name the colour shown on the other dice.
  8. The child can then add that number of “apples” to the tree in the colour that was rolled.

playdough is shaped into a tree and then small playdough balls for apples are placed on the tree

Sensory and Learning Opportunities:

Through the tearing, shaping, rolling, and squeezing of the playdough, the visual, tactile, and proprioceptive sensory systems are engaged.

Kids get fine motor practise by shaping the small “apples” and carefully placing them on the tree.apple tree made out of playdough on a blue background

This playdough game is a great way to learn or reenforce colours as the child matches what is rolled on the colour block dice to the coloured balls. 

Early math skills are worked on both by counting up the numbers on the dice and by counting out the corresponding amount of balls to place on the apple tree.

If more than one child plays this game at a time, it can also work on social skills such as turn taking and encouragement. 

Vocabulary and communication are also improved in children by playing games such as these.

Colour Dot DiceColour Dot DiceColour Dot DiceRegular DiceRegular DiceRegular DicePlay-Doh Modelling CompoundPlay-Doh Modelling CompoundPlay-Doh Modelling Compound

 

Get a set of free printable alphabet playdough mats by entering your email address below. You’ll also be signed up to receive our email series Sensory Activities and Solutions.
You may also be interested in these playdough activities:

Rainbow Colour and Counting Playdough Game

Rainbow Playdough Fine Motor Activity

Transportation Alphabet Playdough Mats (free)

September Emotions Printables for Kids

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Back to school is a time full of emotions. Even for kids who love school, there is a lot of nervous anticipation in light of all the upcoming changes. Will they like their new teacher? Will their best friend be in their homeroom? What is this year going to be like?

And of course for some kids, school or change can cause anxiety. With this year in particular and all the changes, they may be feeling particularly concerned.a collage of printed apple themed emotion pages for kids to fill in. The text reads "September Emotions printables"Whether your child is going to school, homeschooling, or learning online, a new school year can bring with it a flood of emotions. Help your child sort through their feelings and be better able to express them with these helpful free printable packs.

September Printables for Kids about Emotions:

September Copywork Emotions Sentences:

Supplies needed:

If you want sheets to be reusable, laminate the pages or simply slip them into a plastic page protector. Students can then use a dry erase marker to do the tracing and writing themselves. Or they can write directly on the pages with a pen, pencil, marker, or coloured pencils.

a paper with a sentence to copy "This red apple is worried." and a picture of a red apple.

Copywork Sentences Instructions for the child:

  1. Read the sentence.
  2. Fill in the outline.
  3. Trace the dotted words.
  4. Write the sentence on the lines provided.
  5. Discuss the various emotions.

Copying sentences may not seem like it would be impactful, but these sentences do more than simply give a child practise for their penmanship! Copying out sentences about feelings can be a good launching off place for discussions. They help create a culture in your home or classroom where it’s normal to hear about and talk about feelings.

You can also expand this activity by having your child talk about a particular time or situation in their life where they felt that particular emotion and how that was for them.a collage of copywork pages of emotion sentences for kids

September My Feelings Log:

Supplies needed:

My Feelings Log Instructions for the child:

  1. Choose one apple icon each day to colour, cut, and paste into your log to represent how you are feeling at that time.
  2. At the end of the month, you’ll be able to look back and see all the different emotions you felt.
  3. Discuss your feelings with a parent or trusted adult.

printed page on table with glue stick, scissors, and coloured apple pictures on topThe September Feelings Log explores emotions associated with going back to school. Once your child is better able to identify what their feelings are, you can then work with them on strategies for managing their emotions. 

Plus, the apples are darn cute!
September My Feelings Log collage of printed pagesEnter your email in the box below to download your free September Emotions Printable Worksheets. You can then easily print them off to use at home with your child or with your students. 

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