This is a fun sensory activity, as the sand can be modelled and moves. You can buy some from Argos or Amazon, and comes in a variety of colours, with a variety of accessories. During these activities you can contrive motivation for requests for the sand and different accessories, for instance, spades, rollers, knifes/cutters (mand 1M-5M). Also you can contrive mands that incorporate adjectives, colours, big or small, etc. (mand 9d, 10c). You could also place the sand in a pot or container and pause before lifting this and say “ready, steady…” and when your learner says “go” (mand 7b), list the pot and watch the sand fall. Also there may be motivation to request for actions, squash, roll, cut, scoop, or help (mand 7b, 7f, 7M). You can label or identify colours “what colour is this?” or “show me the red sand”, and you could also cut the sand into a variety of shapes and label or identify the shapes, “What shape did we make?”, or “find the square cutter”. (tact, 10d, 10e, LR* 10b, 10c). This also incorporates many play targets (IP† 3c, 6c, 7c).
Preceding skills reference to the VB-MAPP Assessment tool:
Sundberg, M. L. (2008) Verbal Behavior Milestones Assessment and Placement Program: The VB-MAPP. Concord, CA: AVB Press.
*LR: Listener Responding †IP: Independent Play