My child and I are going to make decorative ice candles by putting filling the bucket half full of water, putting a second smaller bucket inside weighted down. We will fill the water with pretty natural elements such as cut up oranges pine branches, cranberries and such. We will set these outside to freeze and once frozen they will be beautiful outdoor candle holders. / Lesson Plan

Objective

By the end of this lesson, you and your child will have created beautiful decorative ice candles using natural elements. This activity will teach them about the freezing process, the importance of nature, and how to combine art with science in a fun and engaging way.

Materials and Prep

• A large bucket (for freezing the water)
• A smaller bucket (to create the candle holder shape)
• Natural decorations (cut up oranges, pine branches, cranberries, etc.)
• Water
• Weights (like stones or marbles, to hold the smaller bucket down)

Before starting, make sure you have a cold outdoor space where the water can freeze, and gather all your materials. It's also a good idea to plan how you want your candles to look by arranging your natural decorations beforehand.

Activities

• Nature Collection:

  Go outside and collect beautiful natural elements like leaves, flowers, or berries. Talk about which colors and textures you find interesting and how they will look in your ice candle.

• Water Filling:

  Fill the large bucket halfway with water and carefully place the smaller bucket inside. Discuss how the smaller bucket will create a space for the candle holder.

• Decoration Placement:

  Arrange your collected natural items in the water around the smaller bucket. Talk about how each item will look when frozen and how they will create a colorful design.

• Freezing Time:

  Place the bucket outside to freeze. While you wait, discuss what happens to water when it gets cold and why it turns into ice.

• Unveiling the Ice Candles:

  Once frozen, bring the bucket inside and carefully remove the smaller bucket. Discuss how the ice feels and how the decorations look. You can even light a candle inside if it's safe!

Talking Points

• "What do you think will happen to the water when we put it outside?"
• "Can you name some things in nature that are cold? How do you think they feel?"
• "Why do you think we use natural items to decorate our ice candles?"
• "What colors do you see in our decorations? How do you think they will look when they are frozen?"
• "When water freezes, it changes into ice. Can you think of other things that change when they get hot or cold?"
• "How does our ice candle look different from regular candles? What do you like about it?"
• "What do you think will happen to the ice candle when the weather gets warmer?"