What is sand?

Sand is tiny pieces of rock that have been broken down by wind and water over a long time.

Imagine you're playing with a bag of pebbles, and you shake it really hard. Over time, the pebbles get smaller and smaller, like when you crush a cookie in your hand until it becomes powder. That’s kind of what happens to rocks out in nature. Wind and water act like your hands, breaking them into super tiny bits we call grains.

If you walk on a beach, the sand under your feet feels soft because those grains are all small and round, just like little marbles that roll around when you step on them. But if you touch sand in a desert, it might feel harder or even scratchy, depending on what kind of rock it came from.

So next time you're at the beach, remember: you're walking on millions of tiny rock pieces, just waiting for you to play with them!