A River Through the Sandpit
Dig a channel in wet sand, pour water in at the top and watch where it escapes. Every leak has to be dammed, and by the end there is a whole delta with islands.
What you need
- Damp sand
- A bucket of water
- A spoon, a stick or a plastic lid for digging
- Small stones and twigs
- Hats, and a shady spot to retreat to — this one runs long
How to play
- Choose a slope in the sand and dig a channel from top to bottom with a stick.
- Pat the walls of the channel firm with wet hands.
- Pour a cupful of water in at the top and watch where it soaks away and where it escapes.
- Dam the leaks with wet sand and small stones, then try again.
- Dig a side branch and decide together where most of the water will go.
- Make a lake at the bottom and lay a twig across the channel as a bridge.
