Last month I started a new Back to Basics series at Dukes and Duchesses. Each month I’ll share a traditional game and a coordinating DIY project. This month’s traditional game is hopscotch and I’m sharing a recipe for homemade sidewalk chalk!
I remember playing hopscotch a lot as a kid but my kids rarely play it. It’s such a simple game, requiring almost nothing, and my girls had a lot of fun playing it this week.
To play, simply draw a chalk grid {like the one below} on the sidewalk.
Throw a small rock and let it land on one of the squares. Hop {on one foot for the single squares and landing on two feet in the side-by-side squares}, jumping over the square containing the rock.
Scoop the rock up as you hop back to the starting point. If you lose your balance or step on the lines, you’re out.
Simple and fun, right? And even more fun if you draw the lines with your own homemade sidewalk chalk!
To make your own sidewalk chalk, you’ll need Plaster of Paris, powdered tempera paint, water, and a mold of your choice {this time around I used cupcake wrappers in a muffin tin but I’ve used fun molds in the past}.
Mix 1 cup of Plaster of Paris with 1 cup of water. Stir well {I use a whisk} until the lumps are gone and then add tempera paint powder until you have the color you want.
Pour into your molds. Just a note: this photo shows paper cupcake wrappers but I would only recommend using foil cupcake wrappers {without the paper inserts} … they peel off more easily at the end.
Let the chalk dry until hardened {at least 12 hours} and then remove the chalk from the mold and let it continue to dry for at least 24 hours {I placed mine on a baking rack so the air could circulate around the chalk}.
That’s all there is to it … a simple recipe to make your own sidewalk chalk!
We even played it yesterday! Thanks for the hard work to make the end of our walk FUN! See how cool it is to be Dukes & Duchesses neighbor?!?
Love this. I need to teach my girls hopscotch. It’s always been a fun game.
My daughter knows how to play. We play it sometimes. But now I will make my own chalk she can play as much as she wants.
How well/long does this store? Does it need an air-tight storage container or will an air-tight zippy bag do? I would love to make this for my granddaughter but I don’t see her every day so I would have to know how to keep it between visits.
It’ll store forever. It doesn’t even need an airtight container. We have ours in a box in the garage.
Lookin’ good Lila Tara!
I had no idea that it had plaster of paris in it!! You are one smart cookie my friend! Thanks for sharing with us this week at Monday Funday!
Take care,
Trish
Neat idea! I’ll have to remember this for when my little one gets a bit bigger.
I think this will be a must this spring and summer.
I’d love if you shared this recipe at my Show & Tell party this week.
Just found your site through Kids Activities Blog, I love the sidewalk chalk idea, I’m always buying sidewalk chalk for my kids, it will be fun to try to make it. Thanks!