Homemade Eggshell Chalk
Arts & Crafts Activity

Tuesday, August 28, 2012
This environmental activity will allow you to spend a super-duper time with your kiddo whilst discussing recycling with him. Not only will it offer you the opportunity to develop your child's environmental awareness, it also holds several benefits for your child's overall development, together with wholesome parent-child bonding. Throughout the time you are preparing the chalk and playing with your little one, you're letting him know how important and loved he is in your world.

Go ahead, have fun! Turn this arts and crafts into a blast and invent all sorts of games together. Encourage your child to use his imagination. And who knew homemade chalk was this easy and fun anyway!?

What you will need
  • Eggshells (if thoroughly cleaned and dried, they can be stored for quite some time. Accumulate as many as you can in order to make a large quantity of chalk.)
  • Pestle and mortar to grind the eggshells (you can also crush them with a bowl)
  • Plaster of Paris or flour
  • Water
  • Mold for chalk, such as small paper cups, ice cube trays, tissue rolls, water bottles, etc. (optional)
  • Mixing bowl and spoon (preferably an old margarine or yogurt container for example)
  • Powder paint or food colouring

How it's made
  • Carefully clean and dry the egg shells.
  • Grind the shells until you obtain a fine powder.
  • Mix 2 parts flour or plaster with one part powdered eggshells.
  • Add sufficient water to form a stiff paste.
  • Shape the paste into sticks or press into molds for fun shapes. If making chalk sticks, roll the sticks up tightly in a paper towel or plastic wrap.
  • Allow time to dry (may take up to 2-3 days).
  • To make coloured chalk, add the powder paint prior to pouring in the water, or add just a drop or two of food colouring lastly and mix again until the colour is evenly distributed.

While preparing the chalk, discuss with your child the ingredients and their characteristics (texture, smell, etc). As you add them in one by one, make him observe what happens when combined. This arts and crafts activity is an ideal opportunity to discuss environmentally friendly products, recycling and giving a second life to things you usually throw in the garbage!

Once ready, the chalk is ideally good for exterior use, on the sidewalk or paved driveway for instance. Your little one can use the sticks of chalk to make drawings, or to play hopscotch or even Tic-Tac-Toe! They work very well on construction paper as well. Not suggested to use on chalkboards. 



22 Fabulous Comments:

Linda @ Linda's Lunacy said...

I've never seen a recipe for chalk using eggshells. Another great way to use eggshells and have fun with your kids at the same time. Thanks for the instructions. I'm pinning it, so I don't forget to try it. :)

Unknown said...

What a great recipe! I need to give this a try! My kids are always using up our chalk!

From PDX with Love said...

Who would have thunk....I am so giving this a try! Eggs for breakfast!

Sofia

Honey + Lime said...

Wow, neat recipe using egg shells! What's the best way to grind the egg shells?

Honey + Lime said...

What a cool recipe using egg shells! What's the best way to grind them?

Jessica said...

Really going to bookmark this for next spring!! Kiddo will love this! THanks for stopping by my blog, returning the favor!!!!!

SOS Mom said...

Deanna, there are many ways you can go about it... For instance, you can use a pestle and mortar, a bowl, a rolling pin, or even a rock (a clean one of course!) to bring the shells against the concrete! :)

Anonymous said...

Who knew? How interesting. I would have never guessed that you use eggshells in chalk. Great post. = )

Thanks for following me. I'm linking up with you also. = )

Irish
Dedicated2life.com

Kizzy said...

Wow what a great post and a fantasticv idea, pop over from you post on my FB page and so glad I did!

Unknown said...

Oh what a great idea! I never knew you could use eggshells for chalk, I am going to start saving mine now! Thanks for posting!

Anonymous said...

wow, what an awesome activity, will have to try that one day. going to follow your blog and twitter. added your button to my site.

Unknown said...

Absolutely love this!! My three-year-old is going to have a field day with this, and we eat so many eggs! But, does it work the same with brown eggshells? We're organic here :)

Holly (Woman Tribune) said...

Wow, this is really cool! I have never heard of using eggshells to make chalk before, but I am really intrigued now. Thanks so much for this great recipe!

SOS Mom said...

Good question Leah! I would assume it is, never tried it with brown eggs to tell you the truth! Whoever tries it first lets the other one know! ;) But I would assume it makes no difference, an eggshell is an eggshell, regardless of the color. As long as you powder it down, it should be all good! :)

April - My Bizarre Family said...

Well, that's pretty darn neat! Who knew?! Thanks for visiting my blog...have a great day! =)

Coleen McCrea Katz said...

I am pinning this!!! Great idea!!!

Carrie said...

Oh, how neat!! Thank you for sharing at Sharing Saturday!!

Unknown said...

Hum! I have never heard of this. Wonder what would happen if you added egg shells to paint? Maybe along with a whiting powder as in making homemade chalk paint.
Anyway, Homa Style is having a Simple Holiday Gift Idea Link Party. Your homemade chalk would be perfect as a holiday gift idea.
Please join the link party at Homa Style.
Here’s the link
http://homastyle.com/wp/2012/10/31/simple-holiday-gift-ideas/
Hope to see you there! I'm pinning this!

Kim said...

Sounds like a fun activity! May have to try it with my 3 year old!

New follower via Sunday Sync.
http://musingsofamommabear.blogspot.com/

Helene said...

oh this is soo cool!!! Found you through the Sunday Sync!
Helene in Between

Unknown said...

How cool! We'll be trying this one!

Thank you for linking up with Super Sunday Sync this week! Hope to see you next week :)

bianca said...

This is awesome. I never would have thought it! Will be one to try in the future

Post a Comment