Today’s Family continues to support our families. Home Activities is a new blog series where we share activities and games to keep bodies and brains active while we all practice safe social distancing. Just as we’re sharing these thoughts with you, please share these ideas with your family and friends through social media.
Summer is usually a hot and sweaty season, and the summer of 2020 seems to be no different! With temperatures skyrocketing, be sure to be careful when doing this next Home Activity. Remember to drink lots of water, wear a hat and sunscreen, and take trips inside to cool off while playing outside.
Today, we will be learning how to make our own sidewalk chalk – with an icy twist! Here’s what you will need:
- Baking soda
- Cornstarch
- Food colouring
- Water
- Ice cube tray
- Mixing Bowls
Optional: Vinegar and Spray Bottles
First, mix equal parts baking soda and cornstarch together in the mixing bowl. Fill up each space in the ice cube tray about halfway. Add a couple drops of food colouring to each space. Try making lots of different colours! Then, add some warm water to fill up the cubes. Carefully mix the whole mixture together and put it in the freezer to freeze.
Once the ice chalk is frozen, it is ready to play with! You can draw colourful pictures on the driveway, sidewalk, or other stone or concrete surface you have access to. And, because the chalk is made of water, starch, and baking soda, it will wash off cleanly and easily!
The fun does not stop here, though. If you have some vinegar and a spray bottle, you can turn this activity into even more of a science experiment. Try spraying some vinegar on your ice chalk pictures and watch what happens. The vinegar will react to the baking soda and cause your drawings to fizz!