We are finishing our JM this Sunday and we are getting ready to decorate for children's church. We have decided to do a beach theme for this quarter.  I am going to make a hut with a grass roof for our puppet stage.  I am going to let the kids sit on beach towels instead of putting out chairs.  Of coarse I will use my palm trees from JM to help set the theme.  My problem is this.  I really would like to have sand for the kids to sit in (I know, Im crazy).  We do children's church in the gym and our pastor is okay with it (we have a great pastor!) as long as we can come up with a way to move it for the guys who come on Tuesday night for basketball.  I thought about building 2 large sandboxes each4x8 and filling them with sand.  If I put casters on the bottom of the box does anyone know if that would be too much weight on the casters?   If anyone has anyother ideas for my sand idea or any thing else to help with this theme it would be greatly appreciated!

If I were you.. I would look into borrowing the big things they use on piano's and get some of the smaller plastic pools and do it that way.. it would be cheaper and easier and less mess.

Best of luck

Katie

Come Egore, to the Power Lab! We have crafts to make!

I am personally terrified of sand anywhere in the church! Tried using it for VBS 9 years ago in my old church.  I was extremely careful, but we just couldn't prevent kids from playing with it and getting it stuck to their bodies. I think thery are still cleaning up the sand left behind!

But if you MUST have sand, remember the box does not have to be too deep and you don't need to put that much sand. This will help keep it light. Also, if you just want the sand look and effect and not necessarily the feel (sand mounds) then how about using large pieces of cardboard, brushing glue all over it and covering it with sand to create a (weightless) sand board. Kinda like what we do with glitter art. Then they just lay their towels on top of that. Less sand, less mess!

Science and the Bible - The Bible is not a Science Text yet it is consistent with scientific facts 
        Science - Precision of movement in the universe                                                                
        Bible - Jeremiah 31:35,36                                                                                                     

pastorjoe777 (3/18/2008)

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I am personally terrified of sand anywhere in the church! Tried using it for VBS 9 years ago in my old church.  I was extremely careful, but we just couldn't prevent kids from playing with it and getting it stuck to their bodies. I think there are still cleaning up the sand left behind!

But if you MUST have sand, remember the box does not have to be too deep and you don't need to put that much sand. This will help keep it light. Also, if you just want the sand look and effect and not necessarily the feel (sand mounds) then how about using large pieces of cardboard, brushing glue all over it and covering it with sand to create a (weightless) sand board. Kinda like what we do with glitter art. Then they just lay their towels on top of that. Less sand, less mess!

PJ you rock!!

I would have never thought of the cardboard with sand glued to it!! Less mess but the same effect!  We could glue sea shells to the cardboard as well.  Any ideas on sand dunes?  Any other ideas on this theme?  My husband said to ask you if you lie awake at night thinking of this stuff!! I knew you would be able to help with this delima.  Keep the creative juices flowing this dirrection PLEASE!!

P.S.

PJ,

 My pastor was very excited that we came up with a less mess way to have the sand effect I was really wanting.  I think you have made a new best friend!!

Puppetlady (3/18/2008)

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...PJ, My pastor was very excited that we came up with a less mess way to have the sand effect I was really wanting.  I think you have made a new best friend!!

Well, I think your pastor is pretty cool since he was willing to let you do the sandbox thing in the first place. He reminds me of my last pastor who use to tell me, "Do whatever you like, as long as you clean it up!"

Sounds like the polyfill dunes might work, but I would also opt for something different since I would be afraid of the kids pulling on it. How about paper-mache? It's a little more work, but a fun project nonetheless. Start by crumbling brown paper bags and forming a dune like shape. Cover it with some plastic (piece of garbage bag) and secure by taping it at the bottom of the "dune". Now add the glue paper strips. When dry remove bag, spray paint then glue on the sand as with the board. Or, you can buy the tan sand texture spray paint by Krylon.

Along with the sea shells don't forget to add grass blades and plastic crabs on top of the dunes!

Can you put up a Scene setters anywhere? I found these online.

Science and the Bible - The Bible is not a Science Text yet it is consistent with scientific facts 
        Science - Precision of movement in the universe                                                                
        Bible - Jeremiah 31:35,36