Making Sand from Different Beaches
You may need the help of an adult for some of the steps, but studying and making sand is one of those fun science ideas that you'll want to do again and again.
You will need the following materials:
18 cups of play sand
3 colors of food coloring (but choose your colors after step 1)
3 large mixing bowls
1 potato sack
9 cups of cornstarch
water
Instructions:
Do some research on the different kinds of colored beaches in the world. Choose your three favorite ones. Depending on the colors of the beaches you chose, choose those three colors of food coloring.
Print out pictures of the beaches so you can remember what color the sand is supposed to be.
Put six cups of sand in each of the three mixing bowls.
Put enough water into the bowl so that the water is just below the surface of the sand. If you want a darker color of sand, put less water.
Put about half a cup of food coloring into the bowls. A different color for each container, and mix it in. Leave it alone for about two hours so that the color sticks. If it isn't dark enough, you can add more food coloring, mix, and leave it again.
When you achieve the desired colors (you can use your printed pictures for reference) lay out the potato sack in the sun and scoop the different colored sand onto the sack, making sure you have clear divisions for the colors. Leave it out to dry.
Once it is dry, you have different colored sand!
To make dough-like sand or sand you can mold into different shapes, continue on with the instructions.
Put three cups of cornstarch into each of the mixing bowls.
Pour about a cup and a half of water into each of the bowls, more if necessary. You need to dissolve the cornstarch into a nice and smooth consistency.
Pour your colored sand slowly back into the bowls, mixing as you pour. One color of sand per bowl.
As it gets thicker, you may need to use your hands to mix the sand and make sure the sand and cornstarch blend well together. There is a possibility that your colored sand will lighten in color.
Once all the water has been absorbed, you can now make molds of any shape you like! You can even make figurines with different colors by using all the colors of sand to make the shape!
Concept Explanation:
The best fun science ideas are the ones that teach us along the way. Being able to work with sand and being able to make shapes can help children understand how sedimentary rocks form. Choosing different colored sand from different beaches teaches children about sand varieties, as well as a bit of geography!
