SPARK July 2015 | Page 9

Sand Bites Science Art At the beach or a sand table, ask someone to dig in some mystery metal objects and provide magnets to seek the treasure! Use some play sand to create a beach world! Pour sand into the bottom of a sand play table and place seashells on it. To create ‘water’, use clear gems in the divided section of the table. Add model sea creatures to the gems. Maths Be a sand shopkeeper! Discuss weights and amounts using greater/less, many/few/empty/full. Weigh using measuring spoons, cups, or recycled plastic pots. Technology Use ropes and pulleys to move buckets of sand. Punch holes in a plastic bottle, fill it with sand, and watch it run down like an egg timer. What effects happen if you add water through a water wheel, ramps, sieves, or rolling pins? Does the texture change? Geography Dig holes and pretend you’ve made tunnels to different countries, deciding how to get there. If the sides collapse, add water or go nearer the sea to make it more solid. But if you add too much, you’ll get a well! Language Write a few words in the sand and turn them into a story. Or add Playmobil and Lego figures to make up a fantasy country. SPARK 9