How to Build a Sand Castle

1. The basics

1.1 Water

  •             First, you will need water, plenty of water.
  •             Select the place to build a sand castle.
  •             The best location is close to the source of water, such as sea shore.
  •             The water supply is essential to construct the sand castle.
  •             Make sure the water source is close enough so you can have the permanent water supply while constructing the sand castle.

1.2 Sand

  •             You need plenty of sand to construct a sand castle
  •             The more sand you have at hand the better
  •             The ideal location for the construction of a sand castle is the sea shore
  •             The sand should be available all the time throughout the construction period
  •             The quality of sand does not matter much but the sea shore sand is the best option to choose.

1.3 Weather

Select the good weather to construct a sand castle

Caution: Don’t build a sand castle on rainy days because rain will destroy the sand castle

Caution: Don’t build a sand castle on a windy day because wind make the construction process difficult and hazardous. Be aware of the risk of sand penetrating your eyes that may cause harm to your eyes.

Choose a sunny, not windy day

1.4 Determine the time you will need

Determine how much time you will need to complete your castle

Caution: don’t try to make your castle too big or complicated, try constructing small castles at first.

1.5 Plan your sand castle

  •             Plan your sand castle before hand
  •             Plan what will you construct (how many towers, walls, size, etc.)

1.6 Dig a water hole

  •             Dig a water hole for the permanent water supply
  •             Water is essential for the sand castle
  •             The water supply should not stop

Caution: if the water supply stops, the risk of the castle collapse emerges

2. The equipment

2.1 A long-handled, lightweight shovel

  •             Ideally a long-handled model with a small scoop
  •             The sand-sculpture task that feels the most like work is digging the hole and mounding up the sand
  •             A little garden spade is better than nothing.

2.2 A bucket

If you can’t dig down to water you’ll need at least two buckets: one to mix the sand and water in and one to carry water.

2.3 Carving tools

You could probably find most of these buried in kitchen drawers and toolboxes. Smoothing and shaping tools: at a minimum, find yourself an old kitchen (or plastic) knife with the tip broken off. For basic shaping, almost anything with a thin blade and straight edge will work such as putty knives, paint scrapers and trowels. The best all-round shaping tool for your kit is something with an offset handle. A pastry knife with a squared-off end (they usually come rounded) is ideal. Finishing tools: at a minimum, find yourself a soft-bristled paintbrush and a plastic drinking straw. The brush will come in handy for smoothing surfaces and the straw works well for blowing loose sand out of detailed carving. In an emergency, you can make a pretty good set of tools out of plastic eating utensils.

3. The building blocks

3.1 Towers

Step 1 Position yourself at the edge of your water hole, close to the pile of sand that will serve as your foundation. This foundation should already be well packed and have a flat surface.

Step 2 Mix the sand and water in the bottom of the hole until the sand flows.

Step 3 Scoop up a big double handful of sand, keeping your hands together and pointed towards your stomach.

Step 4 Plop/pour the sand on to the foundation, immediately flattening it with your palms by applying firm pressure. Keep working the sand with a steady jiggling action. Aim for a patty 20-30cms in diameter. Note: speed is key here. If you hesitate, the water will run through and the sand will be frozen in place.

Step 5 While the sand is still moving, put your hands on the edges of the sand pancake and continue vibrating the sand. Once the water has run through and the sand is no longer moving, stop. Don’t pound on your sand pancakes; let water and gravity do the compacting.

3.2 Walls

Step 1 Mix the sand at the bottom of the hole.

Step 2 Pull a double handful of wet sand from the hole.

Step 3 Plop the sand into the space between two of your towers. Let it fall as far down as it will go, then quickly position your hands on either side and jiggle the sand to help it settle in even deeper. (Don’t jiggle the towers!)

3.3 Arches

Step 1 Start building two tower bases fairly close (7-12cms) to each other.

Advertisement

Step 2 When you reach the height where you want the arch to begin, scoop a handful of wet sand, and …

Step 3 … positioning your other hand as a support next to one tower, plop your handful and jiggle so that it slops over the edge in the direction of the other tower.

Step 4 Do the same thing on the other tower.

Step 5 Continue working back and forth between the two towers, bringing the ends closer together. Don’t try to build straight across; you have to build upwards, partially supporting each layer on the layer below.

Step 6 When the ends are very close, join them with the keystone – one final plop of wet sand that holds the arch together.

Step 7 Add layers of sand pancakes to the top of the arch until you reach the desired thickness. Keep the supporting hand underneath. Don’t try to pack or force the sand into place; just jiggle the liquid sand to where you want it.

3.4 Carving

  1.  Always work from the highest point down. Otherwise loose sand will mess up already carved surfaces.
  2.  As you carve, little mounds of dry sand will pile up in low-lying areas; you need to keep brushing that it away to get to the firmer, wet-packed sand.
  3.  Whenever possible, hold your knife at the same angle at which you are cutting, so that it smooths and shaves the surface.
  4.  Try not to saw or hack away at the sand; use long, smooth strokes.
  5.  Carve conservatively. Once sand has been carved away there is no easy way to put it back.

Works Cited:

https://www.google.com.ua/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwiCkMbPvtfWAhUMbBoKHe8FCvIQjxwIAw&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DHFpVRd1tkJw&psig=AOvVaw0WNtx-J8FFQxELAFmY2-kL&ust=1507224302994110

https://www.google.com.ua/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjez5WgvtfWAhVLPRoKHYNhAMMQjxwIAw&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.teambonding.com%2Fprograms%2Fsand-sculpting-masters%2F&psig=AOvVaw2AwH31Oj_TTFSU4cudd4jT&ust=1507224305058046

https://www.google.com.ua/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwiH6dG2vtfWAhWH0RoKHaT7BnsQjxwIAw&url=http%3A%2F%2Flist25.com%2F25-of-the-most-amazing-sand-castles-ever-built%2F&psig=AOvVaw1wG-ogNPK6yplKYAy32ZjK&ust=1507224301473548

The terms offer and acceptance. (2016, May 17). Retrieved from

[Accessed: March 28, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016.

[Accessed: March 28, 2024]

freeessays.club (2016) The terms offer and acceptance [Online].
Available at:

[Accessed: March 28, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016

[Accessed: March 28, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016

[Accessed: March 28, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016

[Accessed: March 28, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016

[Accessed: March 28, 2024]
close
Haven't found the right essay?
Get an expert to write you the one you need!
print

Professional writers and researchers

quotes

Sources and citation are provided

clock

3 hour delivery

person