The Great Crayon Melt: A Science & Art Adventure

Materials Needed

• A box of crayons (old, broken ones are perfect!)
• Heavy paper or a small canvas (cardstock or watercolor paper works well)
• A hairdryer
• An old towel or newspaper to protect your work surface
• Masking tape or a glue gun (adult supervision required for glue gun)
• An easel or a wall to prop the canvas/paper against
• Safety goggles (optional, but good practice for "scientists")
• Science notebook or plain paper and a pencil

Lesson Details

Subjects: Science (States of Matter), Art (Color, Texture)

Grade Level: Age 7 (1st-2nd Grade)

Time Allotment: 45-60 minutes

Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, the student will be able to:

1. Observe and describe the change of a solid material (crayon wax) into a liquid when heat is applied.
2. Explain that heat is the energy source that causes this change.
3. Create a unique piece of abstract art using color and texture from melted crayons.
4. Predict and confirm that the liquid wax will turn back into a solid when it cools down.

Lesson Procedure: Step-by-Step

Part 1: The Setup & Prediction (10 minutes)

1. Prepare the Workspace: Lay down newspaper or an old towel to protect the table or floor. This is our "laboratory."
2. Prepare the Canvas:
   • Ask the student to choose a selection of crayon colors. Encourage thinking about how colors might look together.
   • Have the student peel the paper off the top half of each crayon. This is great for fine motor skills.
   • Line up the crayons in a row at the top of the canvas or paper. Help the student attach them using a hot glue gun (adult-only step!) or by securing them tightly with masking tape.
3. The Big Question (Hook): Hold up a solid crayon. Ask the student: "This crayon is hard and solid. What do you predict will happen if we add a lot of heat to it? What will it look, feel, or act like?" Record their prediction in the science notebook.

Part 2: The Experiment & Creation (20 minutes)

1. Safety First! Explain that the hairdryer gets very hot and the melted wax will also be hot. The hairdryer should always be pointed away from people and toward the canvas. Safety goggles can be worn to feel like a real scientist.
2. Let the Melting Begin!
   • Prop the canvas up against a wall or on an easel so it's nearly vertical. The crayons should be at the top.
   • Set the hairdryer to a high heat and low fan speed.
   • Let the student take charge of the hairdryer (with supervision). They should aim the hot air directly at the crayons.
3. Observe & Discuss (Science Detective work): As the crayons begin to melt, ask guiding questions to encourage observation and critical thinking:
   • "What do you see happening? Are they changing fast or slow?"
   • "Describe the crayon wax now. Is it a solid or a liquid?"
   • "Look at the colors running down the page! What happens when the yellow and blue drips mix?"
   • "How can you change the direction of the drips? Try aiming the hairdryer from the side." (This encourages problem-solving).
4. Art in Action: The student continues to melt the crayons until they are happy with their creation. This gives them agency and a sense of ownership over their artwork.

Part 3: Cooling Down & Conclusion (15 minutes)

1. The Final Form: Turn off the hairdryer and lay the artwork flat to cool. Observe the melted wax for a few minutes.
2. Discussion: Ask the student:
   • "What is happening to the liquid wax now that the heat is gone?"
   • "Touch the drips gently once they look dry. Are they solid or liquid now?"
   • "Why do you think it changed back to a solid?" (Guide them to the answer: because it cooled down).
3. Review the Prediction: Look back at the prediction in the science notebook. Was it correct? It's okay if it wasn't—scientists learn from every result!
4. Wrap-up: Have the student draw a simple diagram in their notebook showing the "Cycle of a Crayon": Solid Crayon + Heat → Liquid Wax → Cools Down → Solid Art.

Differentiation & Inclusivity

• For Extra Support:
  • Pre-peel the crayons to help with fine motor challenges.
  • Use a smaller canvas so the activity feels more manageable.
  • Provide verbal prompts to describe the textures and colors they see.
• For an Extra Challenge:
  • Introduce a "resist" technique. Before melting, have the student draw a simple design with a white crayon. The melted wax will flow around the white wax drawing.
  • Experiment with melting crayons onto different surfaces like a piece of wood, a rock, or cardboard to see how the texture changes.
  • Encourage more complex color theory predictions: "What will happen if we put orange between red and yellow?"

Assessment (Show What You Know!)

• Formative (During the lesson): Listen to the student's answers to the guiding questions. Can they use words like "solid," "liquid," "melt," and "heat" correctly? Are they actively observing the changes?
• Summative (At the end): The student gives a short "Artist & Scientist" presentation. They show their artwork and explain:
  1. What they did to create it.
  2. What they learned about what heat does to a crayon.
  3. One new thing they discovered during the experiment (e.g., how the colors mixed, how the drips moved).