Activities with Chalk

Chalk is not only for the classroom. With a little bit of chalk and a big imagination, your child can learn about colors, shapes and textures, and enjoy some outdoor fun. Here are some projects you can enjoy with your playful preschoolers

  • Draw roads for cars
  • Create sidewalk art. Use colored chalk, or paint with water and brushes.
  • Create shadow art on the driveway. Have one person make neat shadows while another one traces them with chalk. Move away and then color them in or add more details.
  • Encourage your child to draw with chalk on such textures as the sidewalk, construction paper or aluminum foil. Talk about how the chalk looks and feels on each of the textures.
  • Ask your child to moisten the construction paper with some water. What happens to the chalk drawings?
  • Try moistening the chalk instead of the paper. How does it feel? What happens to the chalk?
  • As your child draws, name the colors as you talk about them. For example, “Look at that red line. It’s moving down the paper now that it's wet!" Or, “That big blue line is the same color as the sky.”
  • Have fun with shapes. Draw a big circle and encourage your child to jump in and out of it. Make some squares and join your child in a game of hopscotch.
  • Make chalk rubbings. Send the kids out to look for different and unique designs in their surroundings. Have them put several small samples on a large piece of paper by placing the paper on the object and rub across it with the chalk. Here are some ideas to give them - trees, pavement, patio brick designs, corrugated lawn furniture, wood siding, and tile flooring. After they are done, discuss their findings.
  • Trace your child's body on the sidewalk and encourage him or her to fill in the eyes, nose, mouth and clothes. Don't worry if they're not in the "right" places.

    Always supervise young children when playing with art materials, and ensure that your child never puts chalk in his or her mouth.

    Street Chalk
    1 cup plaster of paris
    ½ cup cool water
    2-3 tablespoons of BIO COLOR

    1. Mix 1/3 cup of the cool water with the BIO COLOR
    2• Pour plaster into a disposable container
    3• Using a disposable stirring stick, pour BIO COLOR/water mixture into plaster
    4• Stir well, especially at the bottom of the container (Colors will darken as they dry.)
    5• Add just enough water to wet all of the plaster
    6• Stir well and pour into molds

    Suggested molds: 3 oz/5 oz dixie cups
    Novelty ice cube trays

    Chalk will set in about 30-40 minutes. Then release from molds and let stand for 24 hours. (Leave chalk in dixie cups to cure.)

    Sidewalk Chalk
    2 Cups Water; 2 Cups Plaster of Paris; 2 Tbsp. Tempera paint ; Toilet paper tubes with duct tape over one end

    Combine and stir together. Let stand a few minutes. Place tubes on cookie sheet lined with foil or wax paper. Pour mixture into holders and let stand until semi-firm. Remove holders and let dry completely. Ready to use in 1 to 1 1/2 hrs. (Reminder, never pour plaster down sink).

    Eggshell Chalk
     4-5 Eggshells; 1 tsp. Flour; 1 tsp. very hot tap Water; Food coloring, optional

    Wash & dry eggshells. Put into bowl and grind into a powder. A mortar and pestle works fine for this.

    Discard any large pieces. Place flour and hot water in another bowl and add 1-tablespoon eggshell powder & mix until a paste forms. Add food coloring if desired. Shape & press mixture firmly into the shape of a chalk stick. Roll up tightly in a strip of paper towel. Allow drying approximately 3 days until hard. Remove paper towel & you've got chalk! Eggshell chalk is for sidewalks only.

    Need more ideas? Check out our Curriculum & Learning Activities collection!

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