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1 July 2012

Making a mini sandpit (excavating dinosaur bones, a beach scene, buried treasures and sand/beach links)



Recently we bought a tub of decorative sand from a car boot sale and decided to use it to make a mini sandpit in a washing up bowl.



First we buried some dinosaur bones (from some used Mini Dig-&-Discover Dinosaur Skeleton kits) in the sand and Sunnyboy used tweezers to excavate them.







Then we made a beach scene by adding some stones and shells, a wooden toy boat and a metal fish.







That night after Sunnyboy went to bed I added some more beach items and some buried treasures for him to find.

Buried Treasures
Coloured glass stones
Buttons
Sequins
Pendants
Clothes peg spring
Cluedo pieces (Candlestick, Dagger, Lead piping, Revolver, Rope, Spanner)
Monopoly pieces (Racecar, Old boot, Scottie dog, Iron)

I also added a bucket and spade,



and a tin to collect the treasures in.









This was the beach scene, with buried dinosaur bones and treasures, ready for Sunnyboy to play with in the morning.



As a finishing touch I added a tiny bottle with a tiny rolled up map inside.



10 sandpit and sand play links from the Summer Carnival:

DIY Sandbox at The NY Melrose Family
DIY Weekend Sandbox at Making Pinterest My Reality
DIY Portable Sandbox at Raise A Boy
Make your own Moon Sand at Smiling like Sunshine
Sand Play Dough ~ Impressions and Castles at famiglia&seoul
10 tips for taking toddlers to the beach at Rainy Day Mum
Letters at the Beach at LLM Calling
Montessori at the Beach: Numbers and Counters at Living Montessori Now
The Art and Industry of Sandcastles at All Things Beautiful
Permanent Sandcastles at All Things Beautiful



5 beach sensory tub links from the Summer Carnival:

Beach in a Box Sensory Tub at Mama Pea Pod
Ocean/Beach trays at Mama of Many Blessings
Ocean small world play at Rainy Day Mum
Out of the Ocean ~ Story and Small World at famiglia&seoul
Fun with Water Beads: Blue Ocean Sensory Bin at jabberwocky



If your post is featured today you're very welcome to get a "Featured On" button for your blog.

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If you have a post about a summer project or activity, or any post with a summer theme, we'd love you to link up at our All Year Round Blog Carnival: Summer, which is open for new links until 31st August.

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Click here to see the play, crafts and learning ideas blog link-ups we share at.

17 comments:

  1. I love the tiny dinosaur bones and the tweezers! Looks like a fun sandpit! I'll have to add a tin next time I try something like this. G would love to "collect" what he finds. :)

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  2. AnonymousJuly 02, 2012

    He looks really engrossed in his work. I love the letter in the bottle. This is all so full of food for the imagination, that decorative sand was such a good buy. Mum and Dad

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  3. This looks like fantastic fun - and well-enjoyed by your Sunnyboy!

    Thank you for linking up to Learning Laboratory =)

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  4. Just wanted to let you know that I linked up this activity to my last post. :)
    http://famigliaandseoul.blogspot.com/2012/07/bottle-array-practicing-fine-motor.html

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  5. Love the light house and love the digging for dinosaurs! Brilliant.

    Thanks for sharing on Science Sparks :)

    Kerry

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  6. What a wonderful sandpit. I love all the tiny detailed items you added to it.
    Blessings, Dawn

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  7. The detail is amazing, my little girl would enjoy this but I'm not sure the boys would have the patients. Mind you they did quite enjoy those excavation sets with the dinosaurs, looks like Sunny Boy really got into his digging and burying. Thank you for linking up, I have linked back to your Summer Carnival too :D

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  8. Looks like great fun! I featured your post on my Summer Links-- http://likemamalikedaughter.blogspot.com/2012/07/summer-links-week-eight.html

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  9. i love this mini sandpit. its so beautiful. When Goblin is a little older I will have to get him one of those excavation kits. Thanks so much for sharing on Kids Co-op
    (Love your new header too, Sunny Boy is so beautiful).

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  10. AnonymousJuly 08, 2012

    Am loving the dinosaur digging.

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  11. I just love this idea. I am going to have a go with my little ones who love sand!

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  12. Oh, how fun!! I love the ideas you came up with. Thank you for sharing at Sharing Saturday!!

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  13. This is a great way to work on fine motor skills and still let the kids have fun. Thank you for sharing at Saturday Show and Tell! I hope you'll be back this week.
    -Mackenzie
    http://www.cheeriosandlattes.com

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    Replies
    1. You've been featured on Saturday Show & Tell @ Cheerios and Lattes this week!
      Mackenzie :)

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  14. Lovely sand play ideas! Am pinning to my Small World Play board. Thanks for sharing at the Outdoor Play Party!

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  15. What a great idea! I love this and may have to give it a go. when the weather gets better. No way I'm having all that sand in the house ;)

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  16. Merci de partager cette information de mini excavation! Il m'aide beaucoup!

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