Thisissand

Thisissand (This is sand) is the perfect blend of art and stress relief. Students simply go to the website and click the screen to begin dropping sand. The sand can be set to cycle through multiple colors or a single color. The sound of falling sand is almost like moving water, and the effect is the same: very relaxing. 

Some teachers may find Thisissand a unique addition to their suite of mindfulness or SEL activities. For example, teachers working on helping students with self-awareness and self-management can teach students to use Thisissand as a stress management tool when they're coping with challenging emotions. While using the tool, teachers or other experts could help students focus on breathing to settle themselves or gather their thoughts. Thisissand is a great option for free choice, indoor recess, or quiet time. As seemingly every color is available, teachers and students may find it interesting to create something that represents their mood or feelings in that moment. Some students will find ways to make complex pieces of art!

Teachers should keep in mind that students don't need to create accounts to use Thisissand. However, if students use the app version, they'll be asked to purchase more features (and also select things the app can access from their device). It's also possible to create accounts on the app (for those 13 years old and up).

Note that on either the app or the web version, students can explore other people's art. While it's difficult for users to create anything explicit in the art itself, submissions also include titles and nicknames. These do sometimes include explicit or offensive content. This isn't rampant enough that teachers should avoid Thisissand, but it'd be best to let students know that they should come to you if they notice anything. There's a reporting feature for this content.

To see how this tool works, watch our video overview of Thisissand.