Are your kids out of school for the summer yet?
Mine just graduated from preschool. I've spent the last few days in a bittersweet wonder of where time has gone. But now it is time to get out of my funk and start planning activities to keep her busy, keep her mind moving and hopefully spend some quality time outside with the sun.
Our first summer day activity was this Fizzing Frozen Sidewalk Chalk.
Summer Fun
Sidewalk chalk (here is our non-messy DIY Sidewalk Chalk) is a classic spring and summer activity that even I enjoy still. I wanted to create an activity that was a spin off of our outside favorite but that added a little more excitement and wonder to it. I've seen play recipes for frozen sidewalk chalk, but I still wanted to step it up a little more. That is how this Fizzy Frozen Sidewalk Chalk was created. I used ingredients that allowed us to create art on the concrete but that presented a way for a little magic to happen.
Ingredients
- 2 Cups Of Corn Starch
- 2 Cups Of Baking Soda
- 1 Cup Of Water
- Food Coloring
- Popsicle Molds
- Plus You'll Need Access To A Freezer
- Vinegar (for later)
I started by combining the corn starch and baking soda together in a bowl. Give it a quick, thorough mix. Slowly add the water. You want the mixture to be thick but not too thick. I would explain it as a watery paste. Make sure to mix well so that all the ingredients are incorporated together.
When you've reached the consistency you need, pour it into molds. We used popsicle molds and they were perfect because they had a built in handle.
Add about 5 drops of food coloring to each mold and stir. Use more or less food coloring, depending on what colors you are trying to achieve.
Put in the freezer until frozen. At least a couple hours. I made ours the night before so they could be completely frozen when we were ready to go outside and play.
Time To Play
When we were ready to go outside we grabbed our frozen sidewalk chalk and a squirt bottle full of vinegar. I also brought our jug of vinegar out because I knew one squirt bottle wouldn't be enough.
With the frozen sidewalk chalk sticks straight out of the freezer they were perfect for drawing, just like typical sidewalk chalk. As they began to melt it created abstract art that was just beautiful. The colors meshed together so perfectly. I never expected that, to be honest.
The time to bring out the vinegar was as they started melting. My daughter would squirt the vinegar onto the sidewalk chalk sticks and the melted puddles and they fizzed up like a mini eruption.
The squeals of laughter coming from my daughter were priceless.
I loved that this activity was super simple and inexpensive to make and led to hours of play. We were able to draw, create abstract art and practice science all from one play recipe.
More fun PLAY Recipes
- Best Peeps Playdough Recipe (edible!)
- 2 Ingredient WOW Slime
- Microwave Puffy Paint
- Homemade Edible Sand
- Edible Finger Paint for Kids
- Chocolate Playdough Recipe
Deanna Hershberger is a work at home mom, coffee obsessed, a diy addict and a Netflix binger. She spends her days playing and making with her daughter and enjoys quiet nights at home with her husband. She shares all of this on her blog Play Dough & Popsicles.
