Stop worrying about breaking your chalk! This project is a great use for chalk nubs or small pieces of chalk that you've saved. Help preschoolers crush their chalk into a coarse powder. Placing the chalk in a bag before crushing prevents messiness. Next, use liquid glue to create shapes and designs on construction paper. While the glue is still wet, pour chalk dust onto the paper and watch the glue designs come alive. Try using a variety of colors that contrast with the color of your construction paper.
Preparing chalk according to this method gives a completely different feel and look than dry chalk. When chalk has been soaked, its colors become more saturated, its texture becomes smoother and it blends easier with other colors. Simply dissolve a palm full of sugar in 1/4 cup of water and place the chalk in the mixture. Once the chalk has marinated for five minutes, remove it from the mixture and give your students the chance to experiment with it. Wet chalk is messier than dry chalk, so allow extra time for clean-up.
Take a walk with your preschoolers and look for interesting shapes and textures along the way. When you find something that's interesting, demonstrate the process of chalk rubbing. Simply place a sheet of paper on the object and rub the long side of the chalk along its surface. Experiment with a variety of surfaces, such as brick, tile, pavement, signage, flat rocks, shells, fossils or gravestones. Flat surfaces work best, as they won't tear paper easily, but encourage children to experiment with all sorts of surfaces to discover what works best for them.
Creating pictures with chalk on a sidewalk, a driveway or blacktop is one of the best ways to spend a sunny afternoon. Even if it's raining, chalking beneath an awning or an umbrella is a great way to get outdoors and be creative. Chalking provides lots of opportunity for collaboration and imagination. Try drawing an Antarctic scene with penguins and seals or a beach scene if you wish you were by the sea. It's also great fun to scribble and wiggle your chalk away as you play a game of drawing tag.