Water Table Activities

Many children love the chance to play with water. The tactile experience of moving their hands through the cold liquid and playing with various water toys and tools can turn into a learning opportunity. Water tables are sensory educational tools that bring the delight of experimenting with liquid into the classroom. Commonly found within preschool and younger elementary classrooms, there are a number of activities a teacher can plan for the table.

Treasure Hunt

Have a treasure hunt in the water table. This can be an enjoyable activity for very young children as they sift through the sand under the water in search of different objects. To complete this activity, place a layer of sand at the bottom of the table deep enough to bury the objects of your choice. To make it more interesting, have a theme of the hidden objects, such as plastic farm animals or coins.

Boat Building

To complement a classroom discussion about buoyancy and why things float, have the children build boats using foam trays. You could either cut the trays into a boat shape or use them as is. Have the children paint them or decorate with other waterproof decorations. Use a Popsicle stick and paper to form a sail, and have them take turns floating their creations in the water table. Place a small, battery-operated fan nearby to provide wind.

Fishing

Encourage the imaginations of the children by giving them a chance to go fishing in the water table. Make fishing poles by tying a doughnut-shaped magnet on the end of a string. Tie the other end of a string to a dowel or stick to complete the rod. To create fish for the children to catch, stick a paperclip into the mouth area of some plastic fish. Include a basket for placing the fish after they catch them so the floor doesn't get wet.

Water Alternatives

A water table isn't limited to liquid activity. A dry water table provides a contained area for play with different tactile mediums. Fill the table with rice, pasta, glass beads, gravel or any other objects young children can play with. Provide the children with different tools to measure and move the material that fills the table. Items such as funnels, measuring cups, toy trucks and spoons can all provide young ones with the chance to experiment and learn through play.