As summer approaches, here is a fun eco-friendly children’s activity: homemade sidewalk chalk. Sidewalk chalk is the stuff that summer memories are made of.  Kids can use it to express themselves on the pavement of their driveway or walkway by creating hopscotch, foursquare outlines or any doodle and it just washes off.  Here is a simple recipe that involves reusing many odds and ends from around the house to create useful chalk. This is one eco-friendly children’s craft that will have them enthralled as they get to make chalk and then get to have countless hours of fun afterwards playing with it.  This craft was the brain child of none other than Martha Stewart, so you know when push comes to shove this is the best homemade chalk recipe you will find.

Tools and Materials:
• Cardboard tube (saved from center of paper towels, toilet paper, wrapping papers, tinfoil, etc.)
• Scissors
• Duct tape
• Freezer paper
• 32-ounce plastic containers (saved yogurt containers work great)
• Tempera paint in a variety of colors
• 1 cup water
• Mixing spoon
• 1 1/2 cups Plaster of Paris (a compound mainly comprised of gypsum readily available in arts and crafts shops)
• Rubber spatula
• Cooling rack

Directions:
1) If necessary, cut cardboard tube to about 5 1/2-inch lengths (the size of half a paper towel tube). Other sizes can be used as well. Use the duct tape to tape off one side of each tube
2) Insert a sheet of freezer paper, cut to size (with paper inside the tube)
3) In a plastic container, mix 2 to 4 tablespoons (depending on color desired) of paint into the cup of water. Continue mixing while slowly adding the Plaster of Paris to the water, until completely combined. The mixture should be about the texture of frosting
4) Fill prepared tube with mixture, assisting with a rubber spatula. Tap tube on work surface to release air bubbles
5) The plaster will set in about a half hour, and can be removed from tube after about one hour (check for hardness by gently squeezing tube). Once chalk is removed from tube, place on a cooling rack and let dry completely (at least 24 hours) before using

Here is another tip for making this eco-friendly children’s craft a little more whimsical, use silicone baking trays. That’s right your silicone baking trays will make great chalk molds, as they come in fun shapes such as stars and hearts etc.. When using the silicone molds you do not need to use the cardboard paper towel tube. When making the more traditional tube shape, the homemade version has a great advantage over the store bought one, as they are larger. Large tubes mean that they will last longer. This is an eco-friendly children’s craft that will keep the kids happy for more than just one day, as making the chalk is a great rainy day project. Then it is a fabulous out door activity when the weather is favorable.  Sidewalk chalk is not only for outdoor use, a great idea to decorate a play room a kid’s bedroom is to paint a wall or section of a wall with chalkboard paint, once dried the kids can draw till their hearts content. If all else fails an old fashion chalkboard will suffice. Overall a fun project the whole family can enjoy.

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