Today we are making aqua sand. Kids of all ages will love making this super cool and colorful aqua sand. Aqua sand is not only fun to make, play with, but it’s educational! It is a craft and a science experiment. Toddlers, preschoolers, kindergarteners, and even elementary aged children will love playing and learning about this magic sand. You can make this aqua sand at home or in the classroom.
Aqua Sand
Aqua sand, also known as magic sand and hydrophobic sand) is special. It is a type of sand that doesn’t get wet when put in water! You can pour your magic sand in water and it will keep it’s shape. Like magic! The cool thing is, when you scoop out your sand, it is dry. It is fun to play with, looks like magic, but is steeped in science!
Kids can explore colors and science with this super awesome aqua sand craft. It’s both fun and educational which makes it a win-win. So, without further ado, let’s make aqua sand.
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Related: Make some easy DIY moon sand!
Supplies Needed To Make This Aqua Sand
How To Make Fun Aqua Sand
Step 1
Cut your table cloth into sections. Lay out your table cloth out in a well ventilated area. It will make clean up so much easier.
Step 2
Pour out your sand, one color on each section, so the sand doesn’t get mixed. Spray your Scotch Guard on the sand.
Step 3
Mix the fabric protector into the sand until your sand is saturated. Use the fork for this.
Step 4
Let your sand dry for about an hour.
Step 5
Once dry, carefully pick up your cloth and pour the sand into a bowl. Do this for all the different colors of sand.
Step 6
Fill your fish bowl full of water.
Step 7
Pour some sand into your bowl and watch as it keeps shape. If you take some out, it will still be dry. How cool!
How To Make This Aqua Sand Craft More Fun
This craft/science experiment is a lot of fun as is. But you can make it even cooler by filling out your fish tank. You can add things like:
The Science Behind Aqua Sand
Now you’ve seen how aqua sand works, but what is the science behind it?
Regular sand gets wet because water sticks to the sand. But aqua sand is special. The fabric protector (Scotch Guard) coats it and makes it hydrophobic. That means the sand hates water. Instead of mixing with the water and the water sticking to the sand, it pushes the water away and stays dry.
Picture yourself wearing a raincoat. While wearing the rain coat, if you go into the rain, the water slides off. Aqua sand essentially has “invisible raincoats” on each grain. Neat, huh?
Our Experience With This Aqua Sand Craft
We had so much fun making magic sand. My kids picked out their favorite colors and we made a bunch of hydrophobic sand and filled our fish bowls. It was really cool watching it go in and retaining it’s shape. And even cooler that it was dry when we pulled it out.
My kids had so much fun exploring the aqua sand in water. It was definitely a little messy, water was everywhere, but it was totally worth it.
I hope your kids have as much fun as mine did with this aqua sand craft/science experiment.
Materials
- Colorful Sand: Red, Blue, Green, Yellow
- Plastic Table Cloth
- Scotch Guard
- Plastic Fork
- Fish Bowl
Instructions
- Cut your table cloth into sections. Lay out your table cloth out in a well ventilated area. It will make clean up so much easier.
- Pour out your sand, one color on each section, so the sand doesn’t get mixed.
- Mix the fabric protector into the sand until your sand is saturated. Use the fork for this.
- Let your sand dry for about an hour.
- Once dry, carefully pick up your cloth and pour the sand into a bowl. Do this for all the different colors of sand.
- Fill your fish bowl full of water.
- Pour some sand into your bowl and watch as it keeps shape. If you take some out, it will still be dry. How cool!
More Sand Crafts From Kids Activities Blog
How did your aqua sand turn out? What colors did you make?
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