Objective

By the end of this lesson, the student will understand how heat affects different materials, particularly how it can change the properties of wax crayons. They will also learn to apply the scientific method to explore these effects, drawing connections to archaeological artifacts and their preservation.

Materials and Prep

• Wax crayons (a spectrum of colors)
• Heat source (like a hairdryer or a candle, used safely)
• Paper for observation notes
• Protective surface (like cardboard or an old tablecloth)
• Pencil for writing observations

Before starting the lesson, ensure the heat source is used safely, and have a designated area where the melting of crayons can take place without causing damage or mess.

Activities

• Color Melting Experiment: The student will use the heat source to melt different colors of wax crayons on the protective surface. They will observe and note how each color behaves when heated, including melting point and texture.
• Comparative Analysis: After melting, the student will compare the melted crayons to their original state. They will document any changes in color intensity, texture, and structure, discussing what this might mean for artifacts found by archaeologists.
• Create a Melting Chart: The student will create a chart to track the melting points and behaviors of each crayon color. This will help them visualize the effects of heat on different materials.
• Scientific Method Application: The student will formulate a hypothesis about how heat might affect archaeological artifacts, conduct their experiment, and analyze the results to see if their hypothesis was supported.

Talking Points

• "What do you think happens to materials when they are exposed to heat?"
• "Can you describe the physical changes you see in the crayons as they melt?"
• "How do you think these changes relate to the preservation of artifacts?"
• "Why do you think archaeologists are concerned about heat exposure on artifacts?"
• "What types of artifacts do you think might be affected by heat?"
• "How does the melting of crayons help us understand the concept of material properties?"
• "What observations did you make about the different colors and their melting behavior?"
• "How can we apply the scientific method to what we just did?"
• "What was your hypothesis, and do you think the experiment supported it?"
• "Why is it important to document changes when conducting an experiment?"
• "What safety precautions should we take when working with heat?"
• "How does this experiment relate to real-world archaeological practices?"
• "What other experiments could you think of that explore heat and materials?"
• "What did you find most surprising about the melting process?"
• "How can we further investigate the effects of heat on other materials?"
• "In what ways do you think this knowledge could apply to other fields, like art or engineering?"