Onepū Sand Play

Sand | Onepū

Sand is a popular method of play amongst children. Children enjoy exploring sand in many ways – from patting, moulding and mixing to sprinkling and digging, the possibilities are endless.

Learning and Development

Sand play sparks creativity: children can make cakes, build castles, dig rivers or create excavation sites. Sand is easily manipulated, which makes it a popular play option for children.
Through purposeful setups and observations about how children respond to and play with sand, adults can provide many learning opportunities.
Muscle development occurs as children dig, shovel and move sand, while fine motor skills improve when they sprinkle and shape sand.
Imaginary play such as cooking or earthworks help children process and reflect on experiences from their community.
Early algebra skills are nurtured through creating and recognising patterns in the sand.
Science exploration happens when children mix sand and water to discover different textures and consistencies.
Building landscapes such as volcanoes, rivers or tunnels introduces geology and environmental science concepts. Teachers can expand on this by discussing topics like pollution and climate change.
Collaborative sand play helps children develop social and communication skills as they work together to create.

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How sand play relates to the primary school curriculum

Continuing Learning at Home

Provide a variety of tools and equipment for children to explore with:
- Digging equipment like spades, scoops and sticks.
- Containers of different shapes and sizes.
- Natural resources such as shells, stones and woods of different sizes.
- Sieves and tubing are fun ways to move sand around.
- A range of cars and trucks help construction scenes come to life.
- A water source and sheets of plastic is an exciting way to build rivers, dams and lakes.
- Introduce a large set of scales to help children learn about weight.