Book Week

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DIY Giant Pavement Chalk

Be a pavement artist, just like Barnaby from the book ‘Chalk Boy’ by Mandy Ord and Margaret Wild! Mix up all the colours of the rainbow as you create your very own giant sticks of pavement chalk!

You will also need a small bowl or scrap paper, water and re-sealable bags to complete this activity.
  • Step 1Begin by making the moulds. Use masking tape to completely seal up one end of a cardboard roll. Create as many moulds as colours you wish to create.
  • Step 2Open the re-sealable bag and place 1 paper cup of plaster inside.
  • Step 3Next add half a paper cup of water into the re-sealable bag and seal it (make sure to remove the air when sealing). Use your hands to scrunch the bag and mix the plaster and water, being careful not to burst the bag.
  • Step 4Add 2 heaped teaspoons of Tempera Powder Paint into the re-sealable bag and use the same technique as before to mix the powder through the plaster mix, turning it your chosen colour. Make sure the colour is mixed through thoroughly.
  • Step 5Once the colour is mixed through, use scissors to snip a corner off the re-sealable bag to create an opening, holding it carefully so the plaster doesn’t spill out.
  • Step 6Place the cardboard roll mould you made into a small bowl or onto scrap paper (just in case it leaks!). Make sure it is stable and standing upright, then begin to fill with the plaster from the cut corner of the re-sealable bag. Tap the roll a few times on the desk once full to hopefully remove any air bubbles.
  • Step 7After 2 hours, or once the plaster is set enough to hold its shape, tear the cardboard roll away from the plaster, revealing the colour underneath. Use your fingers to peel away layers of card as it may stick to the sides of the chalk. To remove the more stubborn, smaller pieces of card that may be stuck, rub a scratch board tool over the surface to dislodge.
  • Step 8Wait 24 hours for the chalk to completely dry out then it is time to hit the pavement!
  • 2 heaped teaspoons of regular Acrylic Paint can be substituted for Tempera Paint Powder if needed.
  • A dehumidfier can be used to speed up drying time of the chalk.
  • One tub of plaster will give you approximately 13 cups. One tub of tempera paint powder will give you approximately 90 heaped plastic teaspoons of colour (enough for 45 sticks of Chalk).

Materials used in this activity

Cardboard Rolls - Pack of 110
Optional
Product Code: 10307
EACH $38.49 (inc GST) $34.99 (ex GST)
4 to 7 $32.99 (inc GST) $29.99 (ex GST) 8 or more $26.94 (inc GST) $24.49 (ex GST)
Increase value Decrease value
Product Code: 11085
EACH $5.49 (inc GST) $4.99 (ex GST)
Increase value Decrease value
Masking Tape - 24mm x 50m
Optional
Product Code: 11775
EACH $6.59 (inc GST) $5.99 (ex GST)
20 or more $4.61 (inc GST) $4.19 (ex GST)          
Increase value Decrease value
Plaster of Paris - 1.8kg Pack
Optional
Product Code: 12357
EACH $15.39 (inc GST) $13.99 (ex GST)
6 or more $10.77 (inc GST) $9.79 (ex GST)          
Increase value Decrease value
Product Code: 15518
EACH $3.84 (inc GST) $3.49 (ex GST)
Increase value Decrease value
Product Code: 15733
EACH $3.29 (inc GST) $2.99 (ex GST)
Increase value Decrease value
Product Code: 18673
EACH $16.49 (inc GST) $14.99 (ex GST)
Increase value Decrease value
Product Code: 18674
EACH $16.49 (inc GST) $14.99 (ex GST)
Increase value Decrease value
Product Code: 18675
EACH $16.49 (inc GST) $14.99 (ex GST)
Increase value Decrease value
Product Code: 18676
EACH $16.49 (inc GST) $14.99 (ex GST)
Increase value Decrease value
Product Code: 18679
EACH $16.49 (inc GST) $14.99 (ex GST)
Increase value Decrease value
Wooden Teaspoons - Pack of 25
Optional
Product Code: 20098
EACH $4.39 (inc GST) $3.99 (ex GST)
5 or more $3.29 (inc GST) $2.99 (ex GST)          
Increase value Decrease value