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OBSTACLE COURSE

Do the Summer Olympics have you wanting to jump, twist, dash and shout?! Set up an obstacle course! Learn easy ways to your own chalk. Embrace the Olympics motto: Citius, Altius, Fortius, which translates to Faster, Higher, Stronger!

ACTIVITIES
 
Make an obstacle that's uniquely your own and that incorporates elements of your site. 

Draw a long line with lots of zigs, zags, swirls and a few breaks. Along the path add instructions like “swirl,” “growl” and “cartwheel.” The obstacle course can include physical activities such as jumping jacks and pushups.
 
Get creative! For instance, the line can lead to spot with a jump rope, a hoola hoop, or musical instrument

Obstacle suggestions:

  • Alphabet sequence jump

  • Balance

  • Cartwheel

  • Clap

  • Dance

  • Dinosaur stomp

  • Doodle (see Zentangle)

  • Follow

  • Growl

  • Hop

  • ​Hopscotch

  • Jumping jack

  • Jump

  • Jump over

  • Leap frog

  • Pushups

  • Read a book

  • Right Hop

  • Roar

  • Run

  • Spin

  • Stomp

  • Twirl

  • Walk backwards

MAKE YOUR OWN CHALK

Method 1:
Plaster of Paris

 

Ingredients

  • Kid-safe Plaster of Paris: 1/2 cup per batch of chalk

  • Tempera paint: this type of paint washes away easily so if works well if you’ll be using it on the sidewalk or on a chalkboard

  • Waxed paper: to cover the mold while it dries

 

Steps

  1.  Pour paint into bowls. You’ll need two tablespoons of paint per batch of chalk. Measure it out into bowls, with one color per bowl. You can also mix paints to create new colors; for example, mix red chalk with yellow to make orange chalk, or blue with yellow to make green. Just make sure the total amount of paint in each bowl adds up to 2 tablespoons.

  2. Add the Plaster of Paris. Scoop 1/2 cup of plaster into each bowl. Stir thoroughly so that the mixtures are fully incorporated and free of lumps.

  3. Add a drop of liquid dish soap. Stir one or two drops into each bowl of chalk mixture to help the chalk wash away more easily.

  4. Pour the chalk into molds. Using a spoon, pour the chalk mixtures into prepared molds, one for each color. Cover each mold with waxed paper.

  5. Let the chalk dry. Place the chalk in a dry place, wait at least 12 hours for the chalk to dry, and then remove it from the molds.

Method 2:
Eggshells and Flour

 

Ingredients

  • Eggshells: completely dry, 1/2 cup per batch of chalk

  • Flour: to thicken the mixture and fill out the chalk

  • Food coloring: either the liquid or gel food coloring

  • Waxed paper: to cover the mold while it dries

 

Steps

  1.  Grind the eggshells. Use a mortar and pestle or a bowl and the back of a spoon to grind the eggshells to a fine and smooth powder. 

  2. Mix the base. Mix two parts flour to one part eggshell in a bowl. Add water a little at a time until you’ve created a thick paste. Separate the mixture into bowls based on the number of colors you want to make.

  3. Add food coloring. Stir a few drops of food coloring into the different bowls.

  4. Fill the molds. Spoon the chalk mixture into the prepared molds, one for each color. Cover the molds with wax paper. 

  5. Let the chalk dry. Place the chalk in a dry place, wait at least 12 hours for the chalk to dry, and then remove it from the molds.

Method 3:
Cornstarch

 

Ingredients

  • Cornstarch: use equal parts cornstarch and water

  • Food coloring: either the liquid or gel food coloring

  • Waxed paper: to cover the mold while it dries

 

Steps

  1.  Mix the cornstarch and water. Pour equal parts cornstarch and water into a mixing bowl. Stir so that the mixture has a thick, smooth consistency. Separate the mixture into smaller bowls, one for each color of chalk you want to make.

  2. Add food coloring. Use a few drops of food coloring to dye the mixtures in the different bowls. Stir each one well so that the color gets fully incorporated. 

  3. Pour the chalk mixtures into molds. Using a spoon, transfer the chalk mixtures into the prepared molds. Cover the molds with wax paper.

  4. Let the chalk dry. Place the chalk in a dry place, wait at least 12 hours for the chalk to dry, and then remove it from the molds.

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