Do your kids hate practicing their spelling words each week? Does homework time become a battle when it comes to having them write out their words once again? End the drama. Hands-on spelling practice is more fun, especially when kinetic sand is involved.
Materials Needed for Spelling Practice with Kinetic Sand Castles:
- Kinetic Sand
- Letter Tiles
- Sand Castle Mold
- List of Spelling Words
- Cookie Sheet or Tray
Before setting up your super fun spelling practice activity, you will need to gather the letter tiles needed to make each spelling word. (We love using our Bananagrams letter tiles.) Don’t panic if you don’t have enough letters to create each and every word all at one time. For instance, if your child has several words with “oo” in the middle you may not have enough “o’s.” You can have them create one word at a time and reuse those letters.
Once you have the letters needed, start by putting a small layer of kinetic sand into your mold. Then add a few letter tiles, followed by more sand. Continue layering your kinetic sand and letter tiles until the castle mold is filled. Be sure to press your sand in firmly!
Once you are finished, flip over the mold onto your cookie sheet. Then slip off the mold to reveal your sand castle. It’s time for some fun hands-on spelling practice! (This was perfect for our castle unit.)
I added a knight
Give your child their list of spelling words and have him/her go on a search for the letters and use them to create each word on the list.
Be ready for plenty of smiles and maybe a touch of silliness as they have fun practicing spelling. Once they have finished creating each of their words, don’t be surprised if they ask you to practice spelling this way again (and again, and again). This has been one of our favorite ways to practice spelling lately.
Spelling practice doesn’t have to be boring. It doesn’t have to inspire groans and tears and a battle each night. Using a variety of hands-on ways to practice spelling keeps it fun, and you will be surprised how fast they learn those words!
More Fun Ways to Practice Spelling and Sight Words at Home:
- Spelling in Water Beads
- 15 Fun Ways to Practice Sight Words at Home
- Dinosaur-Themed Spelling Practice
Catherine says
I LOVE this! I have my kiddos build their spelling words with tiles and I have had them write their words in sand, but have not combined them. I plan on going on a hunt for our sand toys this week and adding this into our school days soon. Thanks so much for the idea! 🙂
OneMommy says
I hope they love it as much as mine do! It really is their favorite school activity lately.
Renee (mendedandblended.com) says
I have seen spelling practice done with sand before but not like this! I really like this idea and will be trying it. Thank you for the idea!
OneMommy says
I have seen a few ideas using stamps on the sand or writing them with a a finger. This, by far, is my kids’ favorite! Not only do they ask to do it, but they ask me if they can do it again once they finish practicing the words once.
Moriah says
Fun idea! Thanks for sharing and linking up at Mama Shares Monday!
Keri says
This is a great idea! I will have to try it with my oldest. Thanks for sharing!
OneMommy says
I hope you have as much fun with it as we have!