Melting Into Spring

In this lesson, springtime creatures were the main focus.  To create this creatures, we used a process that included crayon shavings, wax paper, heat, and an insect template.  The first step we completed was to file crayons and collect those shavings on our wax paper.  We only wanted the shavings to cover one half of the wax paper so that we could fold the other side over the top.  In order to make our projects colorful, it was important to file different colored crayons, the brighter the better.  Once there were enough shavings to cover one side of the wax paper, we folded it in half, with the shavings in between the two layers of wax paper.  Then, our teacher used an iron to melt the crayon shavings.  This caused the various colors to blend together in a very unique way, making it look very cool!  The next step was to select the outline of an insect that we wanted to make.  It was important to trace the insect accurately to ensure the final product would look correctly.  Once traced, we cut out the image and added any necessary lines.

For my project, I used red, orange, and yellow crayons to make my caterpillar.  I found that by using the yellow, it brightened up the image.  Lastly, I glued my caterpillar onto a piece of blue construction paper, which made it sturdier as well as making the colors stand out more.

An extension activity that can be done with this process is to have students use specific colors together to predict what color they will make when melted together.  This would be a fun way to learn about blending colors together, and students could use the products to create various images like the insects we made or name tags.  Another fun way to incorporate this activity could be done while learning about stained glass windows.  Students can design a window frame and use various crayons to create several different colors.