Most state regulatory agencies require that sand & water play be provided for children 12 months of age and up.
Sand and water play allows exploration of different elements, encourages social-emotional developments,
cognitive development and motor skills development.
The following ideas go beyond shoveling sand and pouring water:
|
Activity
|
Suggested
Ages Groups
|
Materials
Needed
|
How To Execute
|
How Does
it Teach?
|
Creating
Bubbles
|
•Young preschoolers
•Older preschoolers
and kindergarten
|
•Sand & water table
•Water
•Dishwashing
detergent
•Plastic rings
•Coat hangers
•Plastic lids
cut into shapes
•Plastic berry
boxes
|
•Mix water and
detergent to
make soapy water
•Allow the children to use
different materials
to create different
shaped bubbles
•Discuss what is
happening and
what the children
are observing.
|
•Reasoning skills to
determine which
frames made the
different shapes
•Discover that dry
surfaces cause the
bubbles to burst
|
"Human
Bubble"
|
•Older preschooler
and kindergarten
(with close
supervision)
|
•Hula Hoop
•Wadding pool
•Water
|
•Combine water
and detergent
in the pool
•Put a towel
in the pool
to prevent slipping
•Have the child stand
on the towel in the
middle of the
Hula Hoop
in a bathing suit
•Have the child
stoop to
pick up the
Hula Hoop
over their head
|
•Child understands
self-awareness
•The child sees
how their actions
contribute to
the situation
•Gross motor
development
|
Sand
Combs
|
•Preschoolers with
guidance when using
Plaster of Paris
|
•Sand & Water Table
•Poster board
or construction paper
•Plaster of Paris
|
•Cut out various
shaped sand combs
•Make designs in the
sand using the combs
•Pour Plaster of
Paris over their
favorite designs
•After drying,
the designs can be
painted and displayed
|
•A positive
activity for
Autistic or
ADHD children
•Calming effect
on children
•Cutting the
paper builds
fine motor skills
•Encourages
a child's
creative side
•Shows how
art comes in
different forms
|
Creating
a Timepiece
|
•Preschoolers
with close
guidance
|
•Sand & Water
Table or bowl
•Can or a
round oatmeal
container
•String
•Watch
|
•Punch (3) holes in the
top of the container
making sure that
the metal cans
do not have
any jagged edges
•Thread string through
holes to suspend
the container
•Time how long it takes for
the sand to go though the
container into the bowl
•Use the new timepiece
in the classroom
to time other
classroom activities
|
|
Bath
time
|
•Toddler to
Kindergarten,
depending on
level of
supervision
|
•Sand & Water
table or small tub
•Soap
•Washcloths
•Towels
•Plastic dolls,
dishes or other
washable items
|
•Mix water and detergent
in the sand & water tub
•Have children wash
the items in
the tub provided.
•Dry the items
and dress the dolls
|
•Builds social
abilities and
relationships with others
•Fine motor skills
developement
•Introduces sequence
(i.e. 1st, 2nd, etc.)
•Encourages sense
of responsibility
|
|
Mud pies
|
•Older Infants
to Kindergarten
with supervision
to Kindergarten
|
•Sand & Water Table
•Sand
•Water
•Pitcher
•Shovel
|
•Allow 2 - 3 children
to experience
the sand & water
•Pour water
into the tub
with the sand
•Have children
feel the change
in consistency
•Explain what
they are seeing
and feeling
|
•Aawareness of
different textures.
•Understanding of
cause and effect
•Developing
language skills.
|
