Sand Storytelling

Let children be creative with kinetic sand as they explore textures, create shapes and bring their own imaginative stories to life with sand and cardboard characters in this interactive storytelling activity.

Time

20-30 min

Age

2-6 years old

Group size

1-10 ppl

Learn & Gain

Children can develop fine motor skills, sensory awareness, and language abilities as they explore the sand’s texture. They can make their own stories and share them with others. They can also learn new words and ideas about nature.

Materials

Kinetic sand, a “magic”  bag with cardboard characters (3 characters per child).

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Languages Available

(UA) Українська
(EN) English
(DE) Deutsch
Step-by-step Guide
  1. Introduction to the activity:
  • Gather the children around a large table or on the floor, where they can all reach the kinetic sand.
  • Explain that today, they will use sand to create magical stories together.
  1. Exploring the sand:
  • Give each child some kinetic sand. Encourage them to touch, squeeze, and shape the sand, explaining how it can become anything they imagine.
    • Begin a guided play session where the facilitator describes different natural elements. For example:
  • “Can you make it rain with the sand?” (Let the sand fall between their fingers like raindrops.)
    •“Let’s create a waterfall.” (Move the sand as if it’s flowing water.
    •“Can you imagine the ocean?” (Flatten the sand to resemble the sea.)
  • As you go through each of these, have the children repeat key words aloud (e.g., “rain,” “waterfall,” “ocean”) to reinforce the storytelling atmosphere.
  1. Building with sand:
  • After playing with the sand, encourage the children to create small shapes or structures. Ask them to describe what they’ve built. For example, “What is that you made from sand? Is it a mountain or maybe a castle?”
  1. Magic Bag – Choosing Characters:
  • Introduce the “Magic Bag” filled with cardboard characters.
    • Let each child take turns pulling out three characters from the bag.
  • Encourage them to describe who their characters are (e.g., “I have a dragon, a princess, and a wizard.”).
  1. Creating a story:
  • Now that they have their sand structures and characters, guide the children to create their own short story. Encourage them to think about how their characters interact with what they’ve built from sand.
  • Give examples to help spark ideas, such as: “Maybe your dragon is guarding the sandcastle? Or perhaps the princess is sailing across the sand sea?”
  1. Storytelling Time:
  • Once the children have finished creating their sand scenes, go around the group and let each child briefly share their story.
  • Encourage them to use the key words they learned earlier (rain, waterfall, ocean) and point to their sand creations while telling their tale.
  1. Closing the activity:
  • Thank the children for their creativity and remind them how they used both sand and imagination to create their stories.
  • Collect the characters and begin the transition to the next activity.
Visuals
For Educators & Teachers
In the following section you’ll find additional information to help you adapt this activity for different audiences, language abilities and group sizes. This information should help educators and teachers to adapt the activity to meet the specific needs of different learners and to ensure accessibility, engagement and effectiveness in different learning environments.
Preparation

Make sure there is enough kinetic sand and cardboard pictures for all the children in the group. Cardboard pictures can be replaced with plastic/wooden figures of an age-appropriate size and shape (e.g. not too small for small children to swallow, no sharp edges, etc.). Can be made with the children before the activity if their skills allow. 

Expected output

An expected outcome of the activity is for each child to create a small sand structure or scene, along with a short, imaginative story that includes the characters they have chosen and the elements they have created in the sand. These stories, shared with the group, may include descriptive language using the nature-based vocabulary introduced (e.g. rain, ocean, waterfall). In addition, the children may become more comfortable with storytelling and demonstrate engagement in cooperative play as they interact with each other’s stories and creations.

Adaptation/Application of the method

 

1. Different language levels: Participants may have different levels of language skills, which can make it difficult to engage everyone equally. Facilitators should be prepared to modify activities on the fly to accommodate different language skills and ensure inclusivity.

2. Group dynamics: Managing group dynamics can be difficult, especially if participants are shy or reluctant to participate. Facilitators should be prepared to encourage engagement and create a supportive atmosphere that encourages interaction.

3. Limited resources or materials: Some workshops may require specific materials or tools that may not be available locally. Facilitators should prepare backup activities or alternative resources in case of shortages.

4. Time management: Workshops may take longer than planned if participants need extra time to complete activities or discussions. Facilitators should be flexible and willing to adjust the schedule as needed, prioritising key content.

5. Cultural sensitivity: Participants may come from different cultural backgrounds, which may lead to different interpretations of activities or topics. Facilitators should be aware of these differences and be prepared to deal with any misunderstandings or discomfort that may arise.

6. Physical space limitations: The layout of the workshop room may not be conducive to the planned activities, affecting movement or interaction. Facilitators should assess the space in advance and be prepared to adapt activities to the environment.

7. Participant fatigue: Long sessions can lead to participant fatigue, which reduces engagement and concentration. Facilitators should plan breaks and include varied activities to maintain energy levels.

8. Feedback and evaluation: Gathering feedback in a live setting can be challenging, especially with a large group. Facilitators should consider using quick, anonymous feedback methods such as sticky notes or simple scoring systems to assess participants’ responses.

Developed by / Origin / Original language

Marinessa Radchenko, Koopkultur e.V. / Ukraine, Germany / Ukrainian, Russian

References, and Resources

Kinetic Sand DIY: https://eatingrichly.com/kinetic-sand-recipe/ 

Find free/Paid characters to download: https://www.freepik.com/

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