Sunday 5th February 2012

Childrens Rooms

Nursery Activity Ideas - Green Sand Play

This activity will need some preparation beforehand but it is simple and that children of all ages can enjoy. The green sand is fun alternative to the usual sand play.

You will need:

  • Green food colouring
  • Water
  • Sand
  • A range of plastic animals

Activity:

Mix some green food colouring with a jug of water and pour it over the sand. Use enough water to make all the sand wet then leave the sand to fully dry. Once the sand has dried the children can use it in imaginative play, pretending the sand is grass and using range of animals.

Older children can help prepare this activity by colouring the sand themselves and watching to see when it has dried.

Areas of learning covered:

  • Knowledge and Understanding of the World
  • Language, Literacy and Communication skills
  • Personal and Social development
  • Creative development

What do you think of this activity? Let us know by leaving a quick comment.

9 Comments to “Green Sand Play”

janine
Mon 10th May 10

a fab idea, have used green sand before but never made this way or used for other ideas!

kirsty
Sun 1st Aug 10

Thanks this idea sounds great for are colours of the month as now I can change both the water and sand though must ask if the sand has been coloured once would it work again keeping in mind that blue sand mixed red colouring may make a purple shade? Thanks

Nursery Activity Ideas
Sun 1st Aug 10

Kirsty – I have not tried colouring the sand twice so I don’t know what colour it will go. Perhaps try colouring a small amount first to see, this might be a fun experiment to involve the children in, see if they can guess what will happen.

Charlotte
Tue 3rd Aug 10

I tried colouring sand, but found that it didn’t not colour all the sand. What may I have done wrong? How long does it take to dry and do you not drain any excess water? Advice is much appreciated, thanks.

Nursery Activity Ideas
Tue 3rd Aug 10

Charlotte – If you are colouring a large quantity of sand you may find it easier colouring it in smaller batches. Stir the sand in with the water to mix the colour, if it has not coloured all the sand, add more coloured water or a darker colour.
Drain off the excess water before drying, as this will help it to dry quicker. The time it takes to dry really depends on how much sand you have got. If it is possible to spread the sand out thinly or even put it outside or on a windowsill in the sun, this will help speed up the process. It is probably best to prepare the sand a day or more in advance to allow plenty of time for it to dry.

Andrew
Sat 15th Jan 11

Hi, this activity is the inspiration for one of my play sessions as part of a therapeutic play course i’m doing. I’ll be colouring the sand with a group of four children 2 boys 2 girls, 4/5 years. I’ll let you know how it goes.

Thanks,
Andrew

Anonymous
Sun 15th May 11

great activity idea and knowledge i like it

Anonymous
Wed 22nd Jun 11

Sounds great will try this on friday

Martina
Wed 21st Sep 11

this is an amazing activity. i looked for ages on the internet to find an acitvity that i could do with animals apart from colouring it in. thank you soo much it has helped alot and it is visual for the children as well.
thank you very much.

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