Cool Down Bottle

This bottle works miracles.  I have 3 students I can use this for, but have only had to use it with one of them.  This student was upset about something, my aid just handed it to him and it was like someone switched a flip.  The student was so calm they were able to join the group within 5 minutes.  The only problem is this child became obsessed with it.  So we turned it from being a "Cool Down Bottle" to a "Reward Bottle" for this child.  This student knows that they have to be a big kindergartner and if so when we come back from breakfast the student gets 2 shakes.  If the student completes all their work and walks in line and eats like a big kindergartner with no meltdowns.  The student gets it after eating lunch.  The same applies for going home.  We also use it during assemblies to keep this student still and quiet.  This works for us because the student needs to be doing something in order to be paying attention.  This bottle has worked so well we have one in almost all the rooms of the school and the Emergency Backpack.  In the classroom we have a big one, everywhere else is a mini version.  The point of this bottle is it is very calming (for adults to) the glitter takes about 2-5 min to drop from the top to the bottom; it clears your mind.  I keep one on my desk for "those kinda days."

What you need:

~A bottle

~Glitter Glue

~Water

~Food coloring

~Craft Glitter

~Elmer's Glue Gel

I didn't use the mixture I found because....it didn't work.  It is a trial and error thing.  First fill the bottle with water, not to the top you need room to shake.  Next squeeze in the glitter glue, you want enough to make the water "thicker" so the glitter drops slowly.  I closed it and would shake it to see what happened.  Also, when you put the glitter glue in the bottle it will clump together, after a lot of shakes it will break apart.  Next, put in a little food coloring, you still want to be able to see in it!  Last put in the craft glitter, this just depends on how glittery you want it.  Once you do this put the top on and see how slowly it drops, if it is fast add some Elmer's Glue Gel (the blue stuff) if you use the white glue it will get cloudy.  Most people used peanut butter jars, I decided to use a Pepsi bottle.  Not the 2 litter but not the small ones, I am not sure the size because I don't drink it....it's Jordan.  The Pepsi bottle is water tight nothing will leak out.  I have also hot glued the tops on the little ones, but was able to get the big bottle tops on so tight I can't get them off.  The student that uses it has never tried to remove the top either.

Our school is on a 4 day work week, so we are off Fri, Sat, and Sun.  When the glitter and glitter glue sits for a while it sticks to the bottom.  I would suggest giving it a shake at the beginning and/or end of the day if it wasn't used.  Obviously over weekends and breaks you can't, I am hoping that after some time the glue won't make the glitter stick to the bottom!