The
sand table, also called the water table or sand and water table, is a staple in
preschool learning centers, early
childhood special education and kindergarten classrooms. The sand table is a
hollowed out table that can be filled with sand and/ or water for interactive
play. Here are diy water table ideas for preschool, day care, homeschool,
Montessori, kindergarten and any exploratory classroom environment. The water
table is an important part learning centers based classrooms. The sand table
provides tactile stimulation, interactive hands-on exploration and play therapy
for special education and early childhood development. It fosters perceptual
and cognitive development in special education students. It helps with special
education occupational therapy.
You
can purchase a sand table or make homemade one using one of these alternatives:
dish pan, recycled plastic laundry soap bucket, shallow plastic covered storage
bin, inflatable child's swimming pool, small hard plastic swimming pool or
covered Little Tikes Turtle sandbox. I have used all of these as a DIY water
table in my teaching career. The nice thing about using a smaller water table
is that it's portable. If you choose a covered container for a sand table you
can store in when not in use. The Little Tikes Turtle sandbox makes a
particularly nice sand table as you can use it indoors and outdoors, as a pool
or sandbox.
In
the summer weather, take the Turtle sandbox outside for outdoor learning
centers. In the cold, wet winter months, bring the sandbox inside and set up in
your special education and preschool classroom learning centers. Cover the
floor with an old recycled plastic shower curtain or tablecloth for easy clean
up. Set a little broom and dust pan nearby so that children can sweep up sand
and replace in sand table. This is good housekeeping practice for the house or
practical life learning centers. For more special education lesson plans visit
these blogs The Special Needs
Child andPreschool Child Activities and Free Lesson Plans 4u and DIY Homeschool
