Sand Numbers | Early Childhood Education

Explore the wonder of writing

by creating numbers from sand

SAND NUMBERS

MATERIAL REQUIRED:

BLANK CARDS–10 cards for numbers 0-9

PENCIL AND GLUE

SAND OR SAND PAPER OR

EPSOM SALT OR EMERY BOARD NAIL FILER

TRACE THE NUMBER ON A BLANK PAPER

CUT THE EMERY BOARD NAIL FILER

IN SHAPE IN NUMBER AND GLUE

ON THE PAPER

PROCEDURE:

Choose a blank card or thick strong paper as a background. Keep in mind the colour of the material and pick the colour of the paper in contrast to the colour of the material so it stands out. I used brown coloured emery board nail filer for this activity.

HOW TO USE SAND PAPER NUMBERS:

children can trace the numbers with index finger and understand the movement to write a particular number. Toddlers can use their muscle memory to learn to write the number and use the skill in writing numbers. Sand paper numbers teaches to follow the shapes of the numbers correctly using tactile and visual memory. After they master the direction of the movement, they can be introduced to writing the numbers.

Authentic sand number is green in colour with the size of

6.25 / 4.75 inch.

SAND TRAY

MATERIAL REQUIRED -

A WOODEN BOX OR TRAY

AND SAND OR EPSOM SALT

PROCEDURE: The sand tray is used to trace letters, numbers and shapes. Take a wooden box with a coloured backing and cover with a layer of sand or salt. Let the child use the sandpaper letter or sand paper number as a reference and trace the letter into the sand using index finger. Impression of the letter made on the sand will reveal the coloured backing of the tray. Shake the tray and keep practicing the letters. This activity will help the children learn the shape of the letter and create a muscle memory. The children can practice writing the letter or numbers on the sand tray before using paper and pencil.

Introduce the child with lower case letters first, the vowels, the letters in their name and then consonants. children we face challenge with similar looking letters like b, d, p or curvy letter like s, or numbers like 8 may practice on sand tray.