Waves in a sand tray

Children draw waves, shells and patterns with a finger in a tray of sand or salt – pre-writing practice.

Steps

1. Spread a thin layer of kinetic sand, salt or semolina on trays.
2. The teacher shows a pattern card: waves, zigzags, a shell spiral. Children draw them with their index finger.
3. Movements go from left to right, and circles anticlockwise, as when writing letters.
4. After each pattern children 'make the tide come in' – they shake the tray and start again.
5. Finally they draw the same pattern with a crayon on paper.

Tip: Sand gives the hand a clear feel of the movement, so it is a good warm-up before writing on lines. Put a towel under the tray for less tidying up.

Materials needed

• Kinetic sand (1 kg per 4 trays)
• Plastic trays (1 per child or pair)