Moon Sand Castles {12 Months of Sensory Dough}


This was my very first time making Moon Sand! In fact, my goal in participating in 12 Months of Sensory Dough is to give my little ones more sensory dough experiences and it's working! :D

When I did a quick google search, I found that "moon sand" was a moldable mixture of play sand, cornstarch and water - not to be confused with Magic Sand, which is also called Moon Sand! Which by the way, is hydrophobic sand, which means that water does not cling to it! Neat! {One of my co-hosts made hydrophobic sand, so be sure to check out what others did with Moon Sand in the linky below!}

Moon Sand Recipe:

  • 6 cups play sand

  • 3 cups corn starch

  • 1 - 1 1/2 cups water


I used play sand right out of the sandbox. (We recently replaced the sand, so it was still fairly clean.) I was waiting for a nice, sunny day to do this outside, but it has been rainy and cold. It even snowed a little yesterday. So today, it was Moon Sand indoors or bust! And it turned out to be an okay inside activity. Our sand was a little wet from all the rain, so I started out with 1 cup water. I used an extra large tub for lots of room to play, and Elli and/or Bo played for a good 2 hours.

What's cool about this recipe is that it makes a nice moldable sand for BUILDING SANDCASTLES!! We are deep in the throws of the Middle Ages and learning about. . . castles! So, I set on a quest to make a sand "castle" with our moon sand.

The sand molds nicely - it holds its shape and you can even carve in it using a few digging and carving tools. We used a metal cake spatula, round scoop (melon baller), measuring cups, and round measuring spoons. Then we filled, pounded, molded, carved and scooped.



This post is a part of the Best of the Best Sensory Doughs: 12 Months of Sensory Dough!  On the 12th of each month, we will share a different sensory dough.

My co-hosts:

Lemon Lime AdventuresWildflower RamblingsGlittering MuffinsI Heart Crafty ThingsLittle Bins for Little HandsLook! We’re Learning!Natural Beach LivingPowerful MotheringStill Playing SchoolThe Eyes of a Boy, & The Life of Jennifer Dawn


Do you have a post on Moon Sand that you’d like to share? Please read the guidelines @ Lemon Lime Adventures and link up below!

I'll see you next month for Ice Cream Dough! {Doesn't that sound like fun?! You should join us!}


10 comments

  1. What a fun and unique idea! My son adores playing in the sand (natural sand that we have out here in Texas...not to be confused with play or beach sand) around our Live Oak Tree. He would have a blast making and using this!!! Thank you for sharing!

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  2. I love your castles!! And good for you for doing it inside -- a bit nervous if it rains tomorrow... :)

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  3. We ended up doing our Moon Sand inside because of the rain too. :) I'm definitely going to try the water version next time (instead of oil) because I think it looks so much more smooth. I love how your kids played for 2 hours with the Moon Sand! What fun!

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  4. It was wonderful {because I was able to upload photos and write my post and more while they played!} :) Thanks for stopping by, Rachel!

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  5. Hoping it is sunny tomorrow so I can take it OUT! haha! Wondering if I can throw it in the sandbox, too? Can't wait to see what you do!

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  6. Thank you, Shannon. :) How wonderful to have natural sand! Is it finer? If you do try it, I hope he has fun!

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  7. This looks like fun! I love that they made sand castles with it!

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  8. Thank you, Jennifer! I just popped over to see your post!(I left you a comment, but didn't see it go through). Love that you used white sand! And the cute captures!

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  9. Our moon sand has always turned into quite a mess and I'm not sure I'm brave enough to try it again, but you have inspired me with the ice cream dough. I'm going to give it a try next month.

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  10. Those castles tie right in with The Duchess Bakes a Cake! I haven't made dough stuff in a while. Thanks for the fun reminder.

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