DIY Hourglass
PAW Patrol is on a roll — always ready to rush to solve a problem or save the day!
A visual timer like an hourglass is a great tool to support children’s problem solving skills so they can be quick and helpful like the PAW Patrol. A timer can help children learn to share, take the time to work on something new and challenging, or transition from activity to activity.
Parent/Caregiver Tip: Timers can be handy tools to teach children self regulation skills — and to help focus them on tasks from cleaning up a messy room to solving a problem that needs solving.
Age Groups: Big Kids, Little Kids, Toddlers
Skills: Fine Motor, Math, Self Regulation
Materials
- Two empty 8oz water bottles
- Salt
- Glue and/or strong tape
- Cardboard
- Nail
- Markers for decoration
Instructions
- Let's make our own hourglass to use as a timer!
- First, I’ll use a nail to make a hole right in the middle of each bottle cap. Then, let’s stick the caps together with glue. The tops should touch each other.
- Now, let’s pour salt into one water bottle, and screw two back-to-back caps on. Then, let’s screw the empty water bottle onto the other cap. When everything is attached, let’s use strong tape around the necks of each bottle and the caps to keep the hourglass stable.
- Let's glue cardboard squares to the bottom of each bottle for stability … and decorate our creation.
- Now we can turn our hourglass over and watch the salt fall from the top to the bottom. How long does it take for all of the salt to fall from the top bottle to the bottom empty bottle?
Vocabulary
Timer - a specialized clock that measures time
Wait - to stay in a place and be ready for something
Patient - willing to wait calmly
