Objective

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to create beautiful decorative ice candles using just ice and candles. You’ll learn about how ice can be used in a fun and creative way to make something special for your home!

Materials and Prep

• Ice cubes (you can make them using water and an ice tray)
• Candles (any color or size you like)
• A container to hold the ice (like a bowl or a cup)
• Paper towels (to clean up any spills)
• Optional: Food coloring (to color the ice cubes)

Before starting, make sure to freeze enough ice cubes and gather all your materials. You can also prepare your workspace by laying down some paper towels to catch any melting water!

Activities

• Ice Cube Creation:

  Start by making colorful ice cubes! If you have food coloring, mix a few drops with water in the ice tray before freezing. Watch how the colors change as they freeze!

• Design Your Candle:

  Once you have your ice cubes, arrange them in your container. You can create patterns or shapes with the ice cubes to make it look pretty.

• Lighting the Candle:

  After arranging the ice, gently place your candle in the center. Make sure it's stable and safe. Then, light the candle and watch how the ice starts to melt!

• Observation and Reflection:

  Observe what happens to the ice as the candle burns. You can draw pictures or write down what you see and feel while the candle is lit!

Talking Points

• "What do you think will happen when we light the candle next to the ice?"
• "Can you feel the coldness of the ice? How does it feel compared to the warmth of the candle?"
• "Why do you think the ice is melting? What is happening to it?"
• "How do the colors in the ice change when we add food coloring?"
• "What shapes or designs do you like best for your ice candle?"
• "How can we make sure our candle is safe while it’s burning?"
• "What was your favorite part of making the ice candle? Why?"