How to Make a Sand Hourglass

Make your own hourglass with common household items.

An hourglass uses sand to measure a certain amount of time. Some hourglasses are made out of glass, as the name suggests, while some are made out of plastic. Children of all ages can make their own hourglass at home using sand, two old soda bottles and a few other materials that can usually be found around the house. These simple-to-make creations are great for arts and crafts projects for school or home.

Things You'll Need

• Sand
• 2 plastic soda bottles
• Funnel
• Duct tape

Instructions

1. Clean out two used 2 liter soda bottles. Allow them to air dry completely before moving on to the next step.

2. Fill one of the bottles about 3/4 of the way with sand. Use a funnel to make this process easier and not as messy.

3. Stand the empty bottle on top of the sand filled bottle so that their necks are touching.

4. Join the necks of the two plastic bottles using strong duct tape. Wrap the tape around the bottles a few times so that they do not come apart. If they do you will have a big mess on your hands when all the sand spills out.

5. Flip the bottles so that the sand flows from one bottle to the other.

Tips & Warnings

• Sand can be bought at most local arts and craft stores.

• Use colored sand for a whimsical effect.

• Use a timer to see how long it takes for all of the sand to flow from one bottle to the other.

• Do not use wet sand. It will not flow through the bottles freely.

References

• Easy Fun School: Homemade Hourglass
• Crafter's Craft: How to Make a Sand Hourglass with Plastic Bottles