4Real Forums: Sandpaper Letters and Sand Trays

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Nurturing the Years of Wonder ( Forum Locked)
4Real Forums : Nurturing the Years of Wonder

Topic: Sandpaper Letters and Sand Trays

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MarilynW
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Posted: Feb 06 2007 at 3:24pm \| IP Logged

I am trying to either make or buy at a reasonable price some sandpaper letters, and a sand tray for practicing letters. I have been using a regular tray and pouring sand in - but it is so messy - I would prefer to get a box that closes. Any ideas?

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Marilyn
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Meredith
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Posted: Feb 06 2007 at 3:46pm \| IP Logged

Hey Marilyn, we've been using cornmeal on either a cookie sheet with pretty high sides or a smaller tray set into the cookie sheet. Kind of a double bonus for spills, as they do happen here daily

The only tables I've seen are SOOO expensive, have you check out Montessori Services for the tray with lid, or here's one at Montessori-n-Such that's lower priced.

Thanks for the reminder by the way, we need to pull our stuff out again.

There's alwys outside too, where the mess doesn't matter as much

HTH, blessings!

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Meredith
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SeaStar
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Posted: Feb 06 2007 at 4:39pm \| IP Logged

We also use corn meal in trays. The added bonus is that after we write letters the kids like to get out their little cars and drive them along the "beach" while I make lunch or dinner.

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Melinda, mom to ds ('02) and dd ('04)

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Erin
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Posted: Feb 06 2007 at 6:00pm \| IP Logged

Hi Marilyn

I made my sandpaper letters, lets see;

I played in word with sizes and fonts, printed out and then cut out the letters. I then traced arouhnd the letters onto sandpaper and cut them out. I had light plywood that I cut with the jigsaw into uniform sizes and then glued my letters onto the board. If you don't have a jigsaw I can't see why you can't use heavy cardboard.

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vmalott
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Posted: Feb 09 2007 at 7:28am \| IP Logged

I started out making sandpaper letters, but they do tend to peel off fairly easily if you use rubber cement to glue them down (which was the suggestion *somewhere*). I then got the brilliant idea of using those sticky back felt letters. Similar texture, and they definitely do not peel off easily like the ones glued on with rubber cement!

I cut down mat boards with a cutter and stuck the letters on. I store them in clear plastic brochure holders.

For a sand tray, I just use a plastic container with a lid. The container is a food container, about 6x12 inches, and about 1-2" sides. I bought the sand at the craft store, though I imagine cornmeal would be a decent inexpensive alternative. It has been a while since I presented the work to anyone, but I have all items on a wooden tray, along with a mat to place underneath. This helps with the sand.

Valerie

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SeaStar
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Posted: Feb 09 2007 at 1:22pm \| IP Logged

The felt backed letters are a great idea! My ds does not like the rough feel of the sandpaper.

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CatholicMommy
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Posted: Feb 10 2007 at 6:14pm \| IP Logged

I just used an old posterboard and covered it in pink and blue construction paper (which is starting to fade in color of course!), before adding letters I'd cut from sandpaper. I glued mine on with slightly watered down Elmer's glue and they hold great.

I'd like to try the felt idea for some of the little ones who don't like the sandpaper feel.

I wonder if this would work: instead of sandpaper, use just new play-sand on a thin layer of elmer's glue spread flat? I just thought of it last week and haven't had a chance to try it out with a couple of letters to see how it works.

Donna Marie
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Posted: Feb 10 2007 at 9:22pm \| IP Logged

To make our sandpaper letters, I cut mat board ( I got it from Dick Blick...the kind you frame pics with) and cut it into 3 x 5 size (they fit in a tacklebox) and used the font from jmj publishing and traced the letters (and numbers) out on stiffened felt (from Bolek's Crafts) and used spray adhesive to attach them to the cards. I did them the way Suzanne mentioned at her site. (JMJ Publishing) (if you need the # for the tackle box they fit in let me know and I'll look it up!)

These cards still look great and the worst I had to do was to reglue a few...the cards still look great.

I also make a glittery set for my dd(...LOL) using index cards and glitter glue...red for the consonants and blue for the vowels as well as a cursive set. They were just for fun, but they liked to use this set because they were "pretty" but of course, don't hold up as well...

HTH!

God love you!
Donna Marie from NJ
hs momma to 7dc

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MerchantShips
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Posted: Feb 10 2007 at 10:01pm \| IP Logged

Corn meal--what a nice alternative to gritty sand!
Thanks for the suggestion.

onemoretracy
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Posted: Feb 14 2007 at 8:40pm \| IP Logged

I just bought some wonderful and reasonable sandpaper letters from ebay.

I got them today (very fast service!) and they are sturdy and well made. I think they will hold up nicely!

I ordered capital, lowercase and number 1-10. She takes special orders too.

stinkydiggy

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JennGM
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Posted: Feb 19 2007 at 2:15pm \| IP Logged

Tracy, those letters look so great. I am finishing my sandpaper letters and am really disappointed in their look. I want them to be more professional looking! Ds will like them anyway, he can't wait to touch them, so I'll just fight my perfectionist tendencies.

I'm doing pink background for the vowels, and wondering if you include the "Y" for vowels or not.

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