Melted Oceans
Mix and blend melted crayon colors to create ocean in motion scenes.
1. Choose Crayola® Crayon colors similar to the hues you have seen in ocean water. Peel the paper wrappers from the bottom of the crayons.
2. Cover a warming tray with aluminum foil. Turn the tray on to low heat. Select an adult or partner to hold white construction paper on top of the aluminum foil, wearing protective hot pads.
3. Slowly and gently, draw and swirl the crayon on the paper as the heat melts the wax. Blend colors. Vary shapes and lines. Cover the entire paper.
4. When finished, remove paper from heat. The picture hardens in a few seconds. When held up to a window, it resembles stained glass.
Adult supervision is required for any arts & crafts project. Observe children closely and intervene as necessary to prevent potential safety problems and ensure appropriate use of arts and crafts materials. Some craft items, particularly beads and buttons, are potential choking hazards for young children. Avoid use of such small parts with children younger than 3 years. Craft items such as scissors, push pins and chenille sticks may have sharp points or edges. Avoid use of materials with sharp points by children younger than 4 years. Read all manufacturers' safety warnings before using arts and craft supplies.
Adult Assistance is required for this arts & crafts project.
Fabric Crayons or Melting Crayons—Melt crayons in a well-ventilated area. Overheating wax crayons during melting or ironing may release irritating fumes. Ironing should be done by an adult.
- Create an undersea environment in the classroom. Listen to recordings of surf and whale sounds. Hang fish nets. Collect shells. Read while sitting in a small boat. Sing sea chanteys. For related Lesson Plans, see Undersea Adventure and Undersea Plant and Animal Life.
- Study whales and other sea creatures (sizes, habitats, history, pros and cons of whaling). For an extended project, draw a room-size animal. Gradually color it and the surrounding water with crayons.
- Children's knowledge of the ocean and its inhabitants can also be assessed when they write a poem or story about their Melted Ocean. This lesson plan was adapted from ideas submitted by Paula R. Tillery of Umatilla, Oregon, for the 50 States - 50 Weeks Dream-Makers® series.
Travel in a Time-Machine Tunnel
Undersea Plant and Animal Life
Put Numbers in Their Places
