How To Make Homemade Sidewalk Chalk for Classic Outdoor Fun!

If you are looking for ways to keep the kiddos busy and engaged this summer, why not make your own outdoor play materials. Not only will you end up with homemade sidewalk chalk but you can also enjoy making it together. Plus, bonus points for learning in the kitchen! Reading and following recipes of any kind along with measuring is an amazing way to learn while having fun.

Learn how to make homemade sidewalk chalk with kids for a fun outdoor activity this summer.

DIY Sidewalk Chalk

This sidewalk chalk without cornstarch is fun to whip up! Make sure to grab the right supplies to get started with classic fun in the sun. Creating your own play and art materials including puffy paint and playdough is a great alternative to buying them!

Ingredients:

2 cups Plaster of Paris, per color of sidewalk chalk
2 tablespoons liquid tempera paint, per color of sidewalk chalk
1 cup water, per color of sidewalk chalk
Cardboard tubes, approximately 4 inches long
Duct tape
Wax or parchment paper, cut into 6-inch squares
Scissors
Mixing spoon or spatula
Disposable 12 inch piping bags

Instructions:

STEP 1: Prepare the cardboard tubes by sealing one end with duct tape. Next, line each tube with wax or parchment paper that has been cut into 6-inch squares.

NOTE: You can also use silicone molds for fun shapes.

cardboard tubes with duct tape at the end to seal them

STEP 2: Mix together the water and tempera paint.

mixing red paint and water in glass measuring cup

STEP 3: Stir in the Plaster of Paris until you reach the consistency of toothpaste. The mixture will be thick but still liquid enough to pipe into cardboard tubes.

mixing paint, water, and Plaster of Paris in a glass bowl

STEP 4: Immediately transfer the Plaster of Paris into a piping bag. You can make your own bags from zip-top bags too. Snip the corner of the piping bag and squeeze the mixture into the cardboard tube, tapping to get the plaster mixture to settle. Alternatively, you can press the mixture into molds.

sidewalk chalk mixture shown in piping bag

chalk mixture squeezed inside cardboard tube rolls

STEP 5: Allow your homemade sidewalk chalk to dry overnight. Remove the cardboard tube and wax paper. If the sidewalk chalk is still damp, allow it to dry completely on a wire rack before using it.

hardened chalk drying on wire drying rack

NOTE: Expect the colors will be soft and pastel but oh so much fun to use.

drawing a flower with sidewalk chalk on pavement

Fun Things To Do With Sidewalk Chalk

Try chalk art! Grab a roll of painter’s tape and make a canvas! You can tape off suggestions for nice clean lines and geometric shapes similar to our tape resist rainbow art here.
Make an outdoor activity course along your sidewalk for everyone to join in.
Write a special note for the delivery driver or garbage person!
Draw a classic hopscotch board or invent your own version with shapes, colors, or themes.
Encourage kids to draw creative murals or designs on the pavement. Theme ideas: undersea worlds, outer space, or a self-portrait.
Draw oversized game boards like Tic-Tac-Toe, Checkers, or a Snakes and Ladders path that kids can “play” by stepping on.
Design a mini “city” with roads, houses, and parks for toy cars, dolls, or action figures.
Practice numbers, letters, or math by writing problems, spelling words, or tracing letters for younger kids to solve or repeat.
Use stencils or make your own (from cardboard or paper) to create fun patterns or shapes with chalk.