Melting Into Spring

This lesson was taught by myself and Morgan Lock. When we drew what type of project we had to teach, we got crayon and oil pastel. To start our lesson we had students go on a search around the room looking for plastic bugs that we had previously hidden. We then showed a clip from A Bug's Life and talked about some of the similarities and differences they see in bugs. 

To create our project we had the students pick up two pieces of folded wax paper and a file. We had pre-peeled crayons placed on each table for students to use. We instructed students on how to properly file the crayons so that they didn't hurt themselves while doing it. Then we let the students file as many colors as they wanted on one side of the wax paper.

When they were finished filing the crayons, they were instructed to fold the wax paper and carefully carry it over to the counter where we were waiting with irons to melt the crayons. We gave students the option of us leaving the iron on the wax paper and moving it around or placing the iron on their for a short amount of time, picking it up, and placing it on another spot. Both methods made the meltings turn out differently. 

Once the students let both of their meltings cool they were instructed to trace the bug template of their choice onto the wax paper or create their own bug. Once the bug was traced, they cut out the bug and glued it onto a piece of construction paper. They were then told to decorate their bug with oil pastel, sharpie, or pieces of other crayons markings. 

Students could make one or two bugs. Once they were completed they were asked to evaluate themselves on their work. We then took the bugs and hung them up on a bulletin board. The theme of our board was "We're Melting into Spring." Multiple photos of the bulletin board are posted below. 

As an extension activity I would take students outside on a bug hunt during science to see if they could find any of the bugs they created. We could also learn about different types of bugs and what makes them different. 

This is one of the bugs I created. 

This was another bug I created. 

This was our bulletin board display. 

Closeup of the left side of the bulletin board. 

Closeup of the right side of the bulletin board.