Chalkboard and Loose Parts!
Noah discovered the container of chalk yesterday and wanted to draw with it.
As I was getting out some black paper I spied the roll of chalkboard contact paper that Micador had given us a while ago. It’s been sitting there in the cupboard waiting for me to come up with an awesome project worthy of breaking it out of the packaging.
The thing is, after all those months, I still had no idea what that project would be. So I did something drastic… I grabbed the roll of chalkboard contact, ripped open the packaging and decided to make a blackboard for Noah to draw on.
We have an upright chalkboard on one side of our easel, but I had something different in mind. I wanted to created a flat, table sized, chalkboard that was easily portable.
I cut the sides off a large cardboard box (we have a never ending supply thanks to our renovations) and stuck two large pieces together so they would be nice and sturdy. Then I covered one side with the chalkboard contact paper… done!
The reason I wanted to make a flat chalkboard was so that we could use it for more than just drawing. I grabbed a selection of ‘loose parts‘ – stones, glass pebbles, plastic ‘rocks’ (my kids call them emeralds!) and the coloured dots from our Speilgaben set – and some chalk of course.
Once set up on the table I drew a spiral and placed a few gems along the line, hoping it would spark Noah’s interest. I had no idea just how he would adore this set up or all the cool things he would create with it!
First we played with spirals, squiggles and shapes. Adding more marks and drawings and lining up loose parts along the lines. Excellent fine motor and pre-writing practice.
When we cleaned off the chalkboard to draw something new Noah decided to draw his favourite thing… Daddy! A whole family of people were drawn and embellished with the loose parts.
After lunch we cleaned it off again and added some cars, roads, and a car park, of course!
Incorporating the chalk board and loose parts into imaginative play was lots of fun, and soon we had collected some animals to make a farm, drawing fences and adding little piles of food.
When I first decided to use my precious chalkboard contact paper for this project I had no idea that it was just the super cool and awesome project I had been waiting for!
There are not many activities that capture an active three year old’s imagination and spark his creativity in the way this simple chalkboard play did, and I am so glad I opened the packet and made that simple chalk board.
This morning there was a little surprise waiting for Noah on his new chalk board… and so the creating continues!
Can you think of any other ways we can use our new chalkboard?
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{disclosure: We were given a selection of Micador Art supplies to try out. I was not obligated to write this post nor compensated in any other way. All opinions expressed are my own.}
Fantastic! I bought a roll of that stuff on sale to make a shopping list / menu board on one of my cupboards (which has been terrific) but I know there was leftovers and this would be great for my boys…if I can just remember where I put it…
Where can you buy this chalk board roll?
You can buy it from Amazon, or I’d look for it anywhere that sells self adhesive contact paper.
What a brilliant idea. Well done.
Absolutely SENSATIONAL! What a great idea and a fun way of using bits and pieces. I also love that the chalkboard you made allows your child to create different activities everytime they use it. So creative.
This is a fantastic idea. My 3 year old would love this.
I love the idea of having a flat chalkboard. Your son came up with such creative ideas!
Love this!! Soooo much!! Just brilliant! :)
This. Is. Fabulous. I love the creativity it sparked and the way you guys combined 2 dimensional art (the chalkboard) with 3 dimensional art – all the pieces. The possibilities are endless! So, so cool. I’m pinning this!
I’ve already pinned this, but had to stop and leave you a message. I LOVE this idea, and I already have plans to try it out in my preschool class in September. Lovely!!
Thanks for taking the time to comment and I hope your preschool class enjoys the activity as much as we are!
Excellent idea to use chalk in different ways
How cute is the farm
My son would enjoy this :-)
I love this! Great idea!
This is A.W.E.S.O.M.E !! I haven’t seen this before.. where do I buy ?!?!?!?!??! :)
What a fabulously creative idea! I looove everything he did with it too :) Love it!
Great ideas! I love that you can put a few things out to spark his interest, but he can direct the play from then on. :)
What an awesome idea Kate! I used some chalkboard paint to make a chalk table for Eliane (Ms 3) for Christmas last year, out of an old kids’ table we had sitting in a shed. It got some use, but then got forgotten. I’m going to be getting a bunch of wishing stones and pebbles and things out and giving this idea a whirl!
Drastic indeed! This is the most wonderful idea I’ve seen in a while. You know a whole bunch of us are going to be trying this out over the next week… P.S. Little Noah is a cutie cupcake.
Wow that looks like SO MUCH FUN! I will have to buy some of that stuff if I ever come across it. Love it.
This is absolutely my kind of activity. I LOVE it!
My daughter loves creating on black surfaces. I’m sure she’d love this too. I’ve never seen the blackboard contact paper- thanks for sharing
very good
What a fabulous post! Your pictures are always so awesome :-) I can’t wait to run across the chalkboard contact paper someday, will definitely pick some up!