K-12

Project MICRO, in collaboration with The McCrone Group, hosts the Project MICRO Sandbox - a collection of sand from around the world for use with Activity 6 of Microscopic Explorations. The Sandbox was created from donations from thoughtful people who live in or have visited the far reaches of our planet.

Free sand samples are available to any educator planning to explore with sand as an educational tool!

See our 'Request Sand' tab to see what kind of sand we have available to share.

Use the button above to download a list of our sand collection.

Like any beach, the Sandbox is constantly shifting as samples are depleted and replenished with new donations. So, please be aware that some samples may not be available when making your request.

For all sand sample requests, please include:

• Your sand selections (limit 6 per request, please),
• your complete name and mailing address where the sands should be sent, 
• and how you plan to explore the sand.

This collection was created for Microscopic Explorations, but ultimately you will determine its usage. Like the number of sand grains on the beach... the possibilities are endless!

Sand donations are what keep the Sandbox full! Please consider adding a sample to help this effort. All donations are appreciated and will be shared with many educators.

Sending Your Sand: Packaging

Sand donations should be sent via a resealable bag (e.g., a Ziploc sandwich bag), half full and placed inside of a second, similar bag. Sandwich-size bags are our preferred volume - but if you want to donate a larger amount, please feel free to do so. 

Sending Your Sand: Documentation

Please make sure to include documentation of the sand collection location alongside your sand! You can refer to our sand collection list for the kind of information we'll need.

Sending Your Sand: Mail To

Please mail your sand donation to the following address:

SANDBOX
Charles Zona
The McCrone Group
850 Pasquinelli Drive
Westmont, IL 60559

We'd love to hear your stories and photos of your sand exploration!

All our stories are posted on the McCrone Group's website in the Sand Gallery.

To submit a highlight of your activities, please fill out our form here: Share Your Classroom Stand Story.

Remember to describe what's going on: where, when, who and what!