Oliver’s Sand Sieve

Oliver wants smooth sand for his pretend bakery. Aunt May brings the sand tray. There are small bits of leaf mixed through the sand.

Oliver picks out a leaf with his fingers. Then he finds another. “There are more underneath,” he says. His pretend cake is not ready.

Aunt May shows him a wide sieve. “Look at the holes.” Oliver peers through it. The holes are small. The leaf pieces are bigger.

Aunt May holds the sieve over a large red bucket. Oliver adds a small scoop of dry play sand. They keep it low in the tray.

They move the sieve gently from side to side. Small grains fall through the holes. The larger leaf pieces stay on top. Oliver looks underneath.

“Smooth sand!” he says. Aunt May puts the leaves aside. They try another small scoop. Oliver watches the sand falling into the bucket.

He fills a wide mould with the sifted sand. Aunt May adds a little water. Oliver pats it down, then turns the mould over carefully.

His pretend cake sits on the tray. “Ready for my bakery,” says Oliver. The sieve rests beside the bucket. It helped them sort the sand.