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Make your own chalk

Create your own chalk from cornflour using this easy recipe.

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You’ll need

  • Access to water
  • Food colouring
  • Mixing bowls
  • Wooden spoons
  • Baking trays
  • Cardboard tubes
  • Something to protect surfaces (for example, newspaper or tablecloths)
  • cornflour
  • wax paper
  • Aprons or something to protect clothes

Before you begin 

  • Use the safety checklist to help you plan and risk assess your activity. Take a look at our guidance to help you carry out your risk assessment, including examples.  
  • Make sure all young people and adults involved in the activity know how to take part safely.
  • Make sure you’ll have enough adult helpers. You may need some parents and carers to help if you’re short on helpers.

Real chalk is a type of rock that comes from deep in the ground. It’s actually made from the tiny shells of sea creatures that lived millions of years ago. When these creatures died, their shells sank to the bottom of the ocean. Over a very long time, they got squashed together and turned into a soft white rock called chalk. People dig up this rock and use it to write or draw.

The chalk we’re making in this activity is a little different. We're using cornflour and water to make a thick paste that dries hard. It's not made from rocks or sea creatures, but it still turns into something that can be used to draw!

When we mix cornflour and water, it makes a mixture that can be shaped. Then, when it dries, it becomes hard and a bit powdery—just like real chalk. You can even add food colouring to make fun colours!

  • Check for allergies or intolerances then adjust the items used as needed. This may include making sure there’s no cross-contamination of packaging and no cross-contamination during the storage and preparation. 
  • You may need to use separate chopping boards, equipment and utensils, such as tongs or toasters, for different requirements.
  • If you’re unsure, check with the young person and their parents or carers. You can check with the adult directly if it’s a volunteer or helper.
  • Some people may not like certain textures and that’s OK, You can try to find an alternative for them. 

Planning and setting up this activity 

  • Ask everyone to wear aprons or old clothes to protect their clothing from potential stains.
  • Remember to give a safety briefing for the methods you’re using. You may wish to demonstrate the methods or activity before you all start. 
  • Spray and wipe down all working surfaces and tables with anti-bacterial spray before and after use, and wash any equipment you’re using in hot soapy water. 
  • Always have a hand washing station, washing hands regularly throughout this activity, and taking extra hygiene precautions when handling items. Wash any gloves before using them and in between if necessary. 
  • Never use food or other products past its best before or use-by date. 
  • Some people may not like certain textures, such as the body scrub, and that’s OK. People don’t need to touch or use all the items if they don’t want to, and no-one should be made to try the body scrub if they don’t want to. You can try to find an alternative for them. 
  • Put down newspaper or a plastic tablecloth to protect the work surface, or you could run this activity in a safe outdoor space.  

Running this activity 

  1. Gather everyone together and explain that you’ll be making your own chalk using cornflour.
  2. Ask everyone to get into small groups
  3. Give each group a mixing bowl, spoon, the ingredients, a deep baking tray and some cardboard tubes (such as toilet rolls) to use as moulds.
  4. First, measure equal parts cornflour to equal parts water, then add them to the bowl. For example, you could do 2 cups of cornflour to 2 cups of water.
  5. Add the cornflour to the mixing bowl and slowly add water, stirring continuously until a thick paste forms. The consistency should be like pancake batter.
  6. You may want to add in a few drops of food colouring to the mixture to make colourful chalk. 
  7. Stir the food colouring in until it’s been evenly distributed.
  8. Once the mixture is ready, cover one end of the tube with masking tape to keep the chalk from leaking out.   
  9. Place the cardboard tubes in a deep baking tray. 
  10. Next, line your chosen moulds with wax paper. Make sure the waxed side is facing outwards towards the chalk.
  11. Use a spoon or a jug to carefully add the mixture into the moulds, filling them to the top.
  12. Next, let the chalk dry in the moulds. You should leave it for at least 15 minutes. 
  13. You can place the moulds in direct sunlight or use a fan to speed up the drying process.
  14. Once the chalk is completely dry, carefully remove them from the moulds.
  15. You can now use the chalk! Test it on a pavement, chalkboard or card to see how well it works – what can you draw with the colours you’ve made? 

Reflection

This activity was all about being creative and making your own chalk. What did you enjoy most about making your own chalk? Did anything surprise you during the process? How would you improve your chalk-making technique next time? 

Safety

All activities must be safely managed. You must complete a thorough risk assessment and take appropriate steps to reduce risk. Use the safety checklist to help you plan and risk assess your activity. Always get approval for the activity, and have suitable supervision and an InTouch process.

You must run your activities in line with the Safeguarding Code of Conduct for Adults (Yellow Card) and report any concerns to the UK HQ Safeguarding Team.

  • To make this activity easier, you can pre-measure all the ingredients

Make it accessible

All Scout activities should be inclusive and accessible.

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If you enjoyed this activity, you could try another of our art-based activities.