Meet Charlie Crow
He’s a crow that lives near a huge quarry and is always telling people why they are such dangerous places to play.
Listen to this podcast in which Charlie Crow explains the dangers of playing in the sand in a quarry…
After that you should have a good idea why playing in the sand at a quarry is a bad idea!
Why would anyone go to a quarry to play in the sand?
As you know quarries are where they dig out things like rock and sand to make building materials for homes, roads and schools.
Because of this they usually have sand banks or big piles of sand and gravel that might look appealing to dig and play in.
No matter how inviting it looks though, quarries are super dangerous and you should never go near them.
So I know quarries are dangerous because of falling rocks, steep cliffs and quicksand – but how is playing in sand dangerous?
It’s very dangerous if you decide to do it in a quarry.
The big sand piles in a quarry can easily collapse on you in no time at all.
If that happens, then you wouldn’t be able to dig yourself out because the sand would be so heavy on top of you!
You would be stuck and can get really hurt in the process.
Are there any other places with sand that I shouldn’t be playing in then?
Yep! You’ll also see sand piles near wharfs, in railway yards and on building sites.
These are all super dangerous places to play with sand piles just like a quarry.
If you see a pile of sand you want to play in in any of these place… just keep walking and forget it!
So where can I play in the sand?
If you really want to play in the sand then ask an adult to take you somewhere that’s safe.
Beaches are your best bet but you might have a sandpit near you or a playground where you can dig and play.
Your mission is to complete this quiz…
What is a quarry?
- A place where rock and sand are dug out of the ground
- A type of playground
- A big shop
- A swimming pool
Why should you never play in a sand pile at a quarry?
- The sand can collapse and trap you
- The sand is too cold
- The sand is full of toys
- The sand is too soft
What other places have dangerous sand piles?
- Building sites
- Theme parks
- Forests
- Playgrounds
What should you do if you see a sand pile in a quarry?
- Stay away and keep walking
- Climb on it
- Dig in it
- Play hide and seek
Why is sand heavy when it collapses on you?
- Because there is a lot of it and it packs tightly
- Because it is made of metal
- Because it is wet
- Because it is sticky
What can you find in a quarry that is dangerous?
- Steep cliffs
- Soft grass
- Play equipment
- Ice cream stands
Where might you see a sand pile besides a quarry?
- Near a wharf
- In a park
- At a school
- In a garden
Why is it hard to dig yourself out if sand collapses on you?
- The sand is too heavy and keeps falling back
- You are too tired
- The sand is too hard
- You don't have a shovel
What should you do if you want to play in sand?
- Go to a safe beach or sandpit
- Go to a quarry
- Go to a building site
- Go to a railway yard
Why are quarries not safe for playing?
- They have dangerous cliffs, rocks, and sand piles
- They are too far away
- They are too noisy
- They are too dark
