If you are looking for a cool art idea, try this one! You can do this outside or in. This can also be used as an enrichment activity for a wind/weather lesson. However you do it, have fun with it!
Here is what you’ll need:
- several plastic water bottles – bigger bottles will create longer spirals!
- permanent markers of various colors
- scissors
- hairdryer (optional)
Instructions:
1. Remove the lids and labels from your bottles and wash them. Make sure bottles are thoroughly dry on the outside. Remove the moisture on the inside as well the best you can. Dry any remaining beads of water with a hairdryer. Be careful not to hold the hairdryer too close to the plastic, because the plastic may warp or melt.
2. Once the bottles are dry, color them with permanent marker. NOTE: Washable ink will not adhere to the plastic.
Use a variety of colors on each bottle. Encourage your children to be unique! Try a variety of shapes, vertical, horizontal, straight, and squiggly lines. Whatever the imagination with bring. The more color, the better.
3. Once your children are finished adding colors, it’s time to turn the bottles into spirals. A little safety NOTE: Plastic can be sharp! First, remove the flat bottom of the bottle and discard. Begin cutting the bottle right where the flat bottom was removed and cut around and around, from the bottom of the bottle to the top, to create the spiral. Stop cutting when you get to the smooth, rounded “shoulders” of the bottle. Be careful to leave the pouring hole of the bottle attached and intact; this will serve as the hanger.
4. When the spirals have all been cut, there are any number of ways to display them. A couple of ideas: Slide the neck of the bottles onto a small tree branch and nest the bottle tops together by tucking each one into the one before it. OR, use a hanger and some yarn or twine to create a simple mobile. Let your children think up ways to display these. They bounce and dance beautifully in the sun and breeze!
Enjoy!
