A picture from the cartoon Simon in the Land of Chalk Drawings. In a purple sky with stars, Simon points outside the window of a blue, red, and green rocket ship, drawn with chalk.

Chalked Drawings

If Your Drawings Came to Life

Once upon a time, there was a boy named Simon who drew chalk drawings that came to life. Based on a series of books, Simon in the Land of Chalk Drawings was a short-animated series televised in the 1970’s. When Simon drew things on his magic chalkboard, they came to life in the Land of Chalk Drawings which Simon could visit by way of a ladder near his home. What might you draw if you knew it would become real? While drawings don’t usually pop to life, they can activate your imagination. Researchers today believe that using your imagination or “daydreaming” can increase your ability to find creative solutions to everyday challenges. So give it a try!

If you’re interested, you can find episodes of Simon in the Land of Chalk Drawings on YouTube.

Make Your Own Chalk Drawings

Step 1: Scratch Your Drawing

The black paper in this kit is specially coated colorful paper. By scratching through the dark surface, you can create your own scene to spark a daydream. What might you draw if it could come to life? You can use the sharp point of the stick to draw fine lines and the larger end to scratch away larger sections. Keep in mind that if you want a black line through a large space, you must scratch around the line you want to keep. There are two pieces of paper in this packet so you can try out your ideas.

Step 2: Decorate the Space

Add details to your drawing to create a complete scene. Maybe your scene is outside, in which case it may include flowers, clouds, or trees. Or maybe it’s inside, so you may want to include furniture or other details. The more detailed your drawing is, the easier it will be to start your daydream.

Step 3: Do a Little Daydreaming

When you’ve finished your drawing, close your eyes or stare at a fixed point in the room. Try to see your drawing inside your mind. Use your imagination to make the characters in your drawing come to life. What will happen next in your drawing?

Things to Think About:

  1. Were you able to imagine your creation coming to life? How did you feel as you imagined the scene playing out?

  2. If you felt anxious, scared, or upset, is there something more you could draw in your picture that could change the feeling of the scene?

  3. If you could be in the scene, where would you be and what might you do?