Melted Oceans

Why

Mix and blend melted crayon colors to create ocean in motion scenes.


Steps

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.


Safety Guidelines

Adult supervision is required for any arts & crafts project.

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.

Adaptations

  • 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.

Related Lesson Plans

Lesson Plans

 

Supplies

crayola supplies
  • Crayons
  • Construction Paper
household supplies
  • aluminum foil
  • hot pads
  • warming trays

Overview

grades

  • Grades 1 to 3
  • Grades 4 to 6
  • Grades 7 to 12

subjects

  • Science
  • Visual Arts

time

  • 30 to 60 minutes
  • Multiple Sessions

benefits

  • Children identify colors and how movement is represented in ocean photographs and paintings. If possible, they observe and sketch real waves in varying weather conditions.

  • Students experiment with melted crayon techniques. Whenever crayons are heated for an art activity, provide adult supervision and conduct melted crayon techniques in a well-ventilated area. Overheating wax crayons during melting may release irritating fumes.

  • Students use their knowledge of color mixing and blending, and of ocean waves, to create colorful sea images.

Cirriculum

Research Canada Standards
Research UK Standards
Research U.S. Standards