Homemade Sidewalk Chalk Recipe

My dear new homeschool friend, Marley, shared this Sidewalk Chalk Recipe with me. She and her daughter had a great time making it together. She wanted to make sure I told you to have your little one(s) help you with the mixing and coloring!

Here's what you'll need:

• Petroleum Jelly (Vaseline)
• Water
• Plaster of Paris (available at any craft or hardware store)
• Washable Tempera paint in the color of your choice!
  I chose red, yellow, green, purple, blue, and white.
• Any mold of your choice (ice cube trays or round popsicle molds for the traditional chalk stick, I used a bunch of different candy molds for ours!)
• Small containers or cups (preferably something you wouldn't mind throwing out for easy clean up)
• Spoons (again preferably disposable)
• Bucket, pail, or large bowl that you can definitely throw away.

Directions:

Step 1: Grease molds, ice cube trays, or popsicle molds with Petroleum Jelly.

Step 2: Mix 1/2 cup of Plaster of Paris with 1/3 cup water. Mix well and slow for about 1 minute.

Step 3: Immediately add 2 TBS of paint (or more for desired color) and mix well.

Step 4: Spoon into molds. Tap molds gently to settle.

Step 5: Repeat steps 2-4 until all the molds are filled. But only mix one color at a time otherwise the Plaster of Paris will start to harden before you're able to get all the chalk mix into the molds.

Step 6: Let chalk dry overnight (or at least 12 hours).

Step 7: Fill the disposable pail, bucket, or bowl half-way with water. Rinse containers and empty any Plaster of Paris chalk mix into the bucket. Discard pail. DO NOT let any Plaster of Paris go down the sink. It will harden and ruin your pipes.

Step 8: When chalk is completely dry, pop out of the molds and go make a hopscotch! :)

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