Materials
Pipe cleaners
Wax paper
Roll of masking tape
Pencil
Scissors
Glue
Instructions
1. Pour a couple of cups of sand into each tray, enough to cover the tray's
surface to about a 1/2 " depth.
2. Put the trays on a low table within the children's reach.
3. Demonstrate how to use a finger, Popsicle stick, or dull pencil to print and
draw in the sand on the tray.
4. To erase the design, simply smooth the sand with your hand.
5. Encourage the children to practice their fine motor skills by using the
sand trays.
Make colored sand. Put a couple of cups of sand in a zipper closure plastic bag
and add food coloring and a drop or two of alcohol. Close the bag and shake it
vigorously. Spread the colored sand on newspaper to dry.
Art: Create plaster cast impressions of interesting sand drawings by filling the
depression on the sand with plaster of Paris. After the plaster has cured, lift it
from the sand. Brush the sand off to reveal the plaster impression. Paint, if
desired.
Sand and Water Table: If the trays are impractical or impossible for your group,
then put a shallow amount of sand into the sensory table and let the children
experiment there.
