Internet version [Naruhodo no Mori] Vol.39

by Yumiko Mori

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Vol. 39     May 15th, 1998

How to make chalks

Home science experiments for mothers of elementary school children

Mom: "Satoshi, shall we play together?"
Satoshi: "Yes, Mom!"
Mom: "Look!  I am going to mold this."
Mom is molding clay.
Mom's hands are covered with white paper clay.
Satoshi: "Look at your hands!  I don't want my hands to get dirty."
Mom: "Watch this, Satoshi!"
Mom places some red food coloring on the flatten clay, wraps the clay around the coloring, and continues molding. Mixed with the red food coloring, red marble pattern appears.
Mom: "It's beautiful!"
Satoshi: "Can I do this myself?"
Mom: "Yes, you can. Go ahead!"
Satoshi: "I wanted to do this, Mom!"
Mom can not believe what he said. A few minutes ago he said he didn't want to get dirty.
Mom: "If you make pretty clay, we can turn it to a chalk. OK?"
Satoshi: "I will make a snake shape."
Mom: "I am going to make a round chalk."
Satoshi: "After this, I am going to make an apple shape."
Mom: "My next one is a wanton chalk."

One after another, we have made many different shapes.
Soon we used up all of the red color clay.
Satoshi: "I want to do it again. The next clay is going to be yellow!"
Mom: "All right."
Satoshi: "This is really fun, Mom!"
Mom: "I'm glad you like so much."
Satoshi: "After yellow one is gone, we are going to make green cray."
Mom: "But look! Your hands got very dirty."
Satoshi: "I don't care. I can wash my hands later."

Materials

• Paper clay
  
• Food coloring
  
• Newspapers
  
• An empty box
  
• If available : A board used for clay molding
  

• Don't use water.

• In some handcraft shops, you could find paper clay that is sold for doll making. This kind of clay contains stone particles and would be difficult for children to handle due to its hardness.

How to make chalks

1. Chop clay into fist size portions.
   Mold each portion into ball shape and place on a newspaper (or clay molding board).
   Spread each clay portion to circular pancake shape by squashing gently with your fist.
   

2. Place a teaspoonful of food coloring of your choice at the center of each pancake shape.
   Round the clay in a way so that the food coloring is wrapped by the clay.
   

3. Flatten the round clay by rolling on a flat surface.
   Fold the flattened clay.  Flatten the folded clay again.
   

4. Repeat Step #3 until the color is mixed well in the clay.
   Now you are ready to make chalk shapes. Create various shapes such as round shapes or rectangle shapes.

5. Place chalks on an empty box and dry for a few days.
   

6. When chalks are ready to use, try drawing on various surfaces (asphalt, woods, paper, stones, or blackboards).
   

• Try to mix different kinds of food coloring.
  If you don't add any color, you can make white chalk.
  White chalks tend to be softener than color chalks, so they are easier to use.

• Once you draw with these chalks, it will be difficult to erase. So be careful to choose surfaces when you draw.

   Perhaps a lot of children don't want play with mud or paints because they hate their hands getting dirty. But I want my children to feel various things by their hands, such as soil, frogs, bugs, or trees. Even for me, playing with clay is enjoyable if I don't have to do clean-up. Many adults have forgotten these kinds of simple pleasures.

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