Make a Sidewalk Chalk Obstacle Course

During the summer in particular it can be so hard to get kids moving. Whether its hot outside or they’re just more interested in a device, a book or something else, they often aren’t getting the amount of physical activity they should.

This sidewalk chalk obstacle course from Playtivities is quick to set up and a lot of fun for kids of various ages (and grownups, too). She offers ideas for planning out your course, but of course what you do will depend on how much space you have and the age of the kids you are working with.

Or try mapping out an obstacle course through the whole yard, where you use the sidewalk for part of it but also include running through part of the yard, ducking under or climbing over things, whatever works for the space you have.

[Photo: Playtivities.]

Sidewalk chalk is a great way to entertain the kids and you don’t need to buy it. It is so easy to make at home and inexpensive too. Sidewalk chalk is great for adults who like to draw or doodle too. Grab the kids and find some concrete sit down and have fun.

Looking for more sidewalk chalk crafts? Check out these articles we wrote featuring Sidewalk chalk tutorials, ideas and activities too. We have a popular recipe over on our site too – DIY Sidewalk Chalk .

Making and using sidewalk chalk became very popular in 2020 as decorations and drawings were placed on the streets by children during the lockdown. If you are looking to make your own chalk check out this Sidewalk Chalk paint Kit it uses liquid chalk for squeezing and painting rather than hand drawing with solid sidewalk chalk.

Next Plan Idea:

Outdoor Activities for Summer Fun

Human brains are pretty amazing, allowing us to think, feel, create, communicate, move and more. But humans aren’t the only animals with cool brains, as Crab Museum explains in the book The No-Brainer Brain Explainer (illustrated by Bruno Valasse).

This book, aimed at kids in grades 1-4, is colorful and silly but also educational about how brains actually work, with billions of neurons sending electrical and chemical signals around the body.

“Everything we think, feel and experience comes from an electrical relay race, with neurons passing chemical batons to each other,” the book says. “The constant chatter of billions of brain cells creates your entire world.”

The book compares the brains of mammals to those of crabs (the book is “written” by a crab after all) and notes that crabs have fewer neurons and of course are much smaller, but they have separate parts of their brains that control their eyes and their legs. Crabs are also capable of remembering things, using tools and solving puzzles.

Some animals’ brains allow them to know more about their world in different ways from humans, such as spiders being sensitive to vibrations in their webs and catfish having an amazing sense of taste, with taste sensors all over their bodies.

It notes that 95 percent of brain activity goes toward things we do unconsciously, like breathing, walking and catching a ball flying toward us. It also talks about dreams, memory, how our emotions try to predict the future, where brains came from and fun facts about brains. For example, did you know a sperm whale is believed to have the biggest brain of any creature that’s even lived? Their brains weigh 18 pounds, compared to just 2.5 pounds for humans.

Information on what creatures have the smallest brains, the toughest brains, the most brains and those who actually eat their own brains will delight kids (and maybe gross them out a little bit). They’ll also enjoy learning about the mycelium network of fungi, which is like a brain without a body, and slime molds, which are like a brain without a brain.

It ends talking about why human brains are so special because we’ve found ways to work together, communicate and build communities on a scale bigger than any other animal.

Kids and adults alike will enjoy this colorful, silly and informational book about brains!

About the book: 64 pages, hardcover. Published 2026 by Wide Eyed Editions. Suggested retail price $19.99.

Next Plan Idea:

Have you read?

Leave a Reply