Jellyfish in a Bottle Sea

🎂 6 + years ⏱️ 30 min 📍 Anywhere ⭐ medium

Imagine walking barefoot along the beach. Your feet sink slightly into the sand. Waves roll in and rush back out. And there, right in the shallow water, something swims that looks like a small transparent umbrella with long threads. A jellyfish! Maybe you've wondered: How can such a soft creature float in the water? And why does it sometimes glow almost mysteriously when light hits it? Jellyfish move by opening and closing their bodies like an umbrella. Then they push themselves forward a bit. But mostly, they just drift with the ocean currents. Here you can create your own jellyfish. You can watch it float in the blue bottle sea, almost like the real thing.

What you'll need

1 disposable glove
1 empty plastic bottle with a cap
Water
Rubber bands
Scissors
Blue food coloring
Flashlight (optional)

How it works

Cut off a 'finger' from the glove. The top part remains closed, forming the head of your jellyfish.
Carefully fill a bit of water into the glove finger. Tie the head tightly with a rubber band, creating a small ball. Cut the bottom part of the glove finger into thin strips. These will be the tentacles that float in the water later.
Fill the plastic bottle almost full with water. Add a few drops of blue food coloring and shake gently until it looks like a sea.
Carefully place the jellyfish or several jellyfish into the bottle and screw the cap on tightly.
Hold it up to the light or use a flashlight. Your jellyfish dance in the blue sea.
Slowly move the bottle back and forth. Your jellyfish will dance in the water, floating almost as mysteriously as real ones in the ocean.