DIY Sound Bottles (Photo from A Bohemian Education)
If you want to prepare some Montessori materials for a homeschool or preschool, a sensorial material that can be created easily and inexpensively is a set of sound cylinders. Last week, I wrote about another great DIY project: DIY Montessori smelling bottles.
I had a DIY sound activity as the activity of the week in April with a cute Montessori-inspired Easter egg sound set from Elle Belle’s Bows. You can create a different sound set for year-round use for preschoolers in any environment.
A Bohemian Education used jars with lids and wrapped the jars in red and blue fabric to create sound bottles. (See photo at the top of the post.)
Sound Boxes (Photo from Counting Coconuts)
Counting Coconuts purchased sound boxes. (The photo shows what the purchased materials would look like.) When writing about Montessori materials recently, Mari-Ann said she wishes she would have created her own.
There are a number of other items you can use to create your own sound boxes (or basket):
Maybe Montessori and Create both used a papier mache box set from Joann’s to create sound cylinders.
Sound Cylinders Using Containers from Cookie Decorating Sprinkles (Photo from Explore and Express)
Explore and Express used containers from cookie decorating sprinkles.
A Handmade Childhood used black film canisters to make sound cylinders.
DIY Sound Cylinders Made from Chocolate Pudding Containers (Photo from Kingdom of the Pink Princesses)
Kingdom of the Pink Princesses used chocolate pudding containers.
DIY Sound Bottles (Photo from Montessori MOMents)
Montessori MOMents used drinkable yogurt bottles.
Shannon’s Sharings used two different brands of drinkable yogurt bottles, which were the same except for different color lids.
Montessori Primary Guide has directions for presenting sound boxes.
Introductory Sound Activity
Simple Sound Lesson (Photo from To the Lesson!)
To the Lesson! has an introductory sound activity that’s wonderful as an activity before the sound cylinders to help with listening skills and to prepare children for other work with sensorial and science activities.
Check out my post on “How to Make Your Own Montessori Materials” with resources for making lots of other Montessori materials.
I’d love to hear about your DIY sound activities! 
Related posts:
- Activity of the Week – DIY Montessori Smelling Bottles
- Activity of the Week – Montessori-Inspired Decorating the Christmas Tree Activity
- Activity of the Week – Montessori-Inspired Astronomy Activities
- Activity of the Week – Montessori-Inspired Valentine’s Day Activities
- Activity of the Week – Montessori-Inspired Spring Activities
I'm Deb Chitwood. My header photo models are my children, Christina, at 1 1/2, my son, Will, at 3, and Christina again at 16. Christina is now 20, and Will is 25. Please see the 
Twitter: wordplayhouse
I just found your website chalk-full of your wonderful Montessori inspired ideas shared here. So glad to have found you!
wordplayhouse™ recently posted..popsicles: a full of fruit recipe
Twitter: DebChitwood
Thanks so much for your kind comment! I’ll look forward to getting to know you!
Deb recently posted..Activity of the Week – DIY Montessori Sound Cylinders
Sound cylinders are one of the best materials to make. They are so easy and it saves a lot of money. We love our handmade sound cylinders from upcycled yogurt containers. Thanks for the wonderful post.
Lori recently posted..Montessori Madness! Giveaway
Twitter: DebChitwood
Thanks, Lori! I think it’s wonderful that sound cylinders can be made in so many different ways. I found and added your link and photo (love the concentration!). It’s great to be able to show so many different options for easily creating a Montessori material!
Deb recently posted..Activity of the Week – DIY Montessori Smelling Bottles
Thanks for sharing. I always look forward to your creative ideas and links.
missmoe recently posted..Airport Poetry and Prose
Twitter: DebChitwood
Thanks so much! I love finding these great ideas online!
Deb recently posted..Activity of the Week – DIY Montessori Smelling Bottles
Now….to go get my supplies (around the house) and make these…they would make great gifts!
Twitter: DebChitwood
Thanks for your comment, Rebecca! That’s a wonderful idea … they would make great gifts!
Deb recently posted..Fitting Montessori-Based Religious Education into Your Home
I made ours out of baby food jars because, at the time, I had oodles of them and no idea what to do with them. I dont recommend the jars. One of ours broke a few weeks ago. Yes, it did last well over a year, but I still plan to replace them with a plastic medium!
Our Country Road recently posted..Our Pink Tower!
Twitter: DebChitwood
Thanks for your comment! That’s a good point – especially with younger preschoolers. It sounds like the bottles A Bohemian Education found at IKEA were a heavier glass, which would work well. Plastic bottles or cylinders would definitely work even for very young preschoolers.
Deb recently posted..Fitting Montessori-Based Religious Education into Your Home
I love all of the creative ways to make sound games. We use plastic eggs in the spring, but I think I’ll work on putting together a year round set.
Twitter: DebChitwood
Thanks for your comment, Jill! I really love having sound eggs in the spring and a year-round version – adds to the interest!
Deb recently posted..Montessori-Inspired Cloud Unit
We use plastic eggs here! They are cheap and can be easily switched out for different sounds.
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Twitter: DebChitwood
Plastic eggs are great for that, aren’t they?! … easy, inexpensive, and especially fun in the spring!
Deb recently posted..Montessori Monday – DIY Color Tablets
[...] so the child can check that the cylinders are matched correctly. (Note: Here are more examples of DIY Montessori sound cylinders.) DIY Smelling Bottles (Photo from Counting [...]