Make Baked Crayon Art

This is crayon art with a twist: instead of drawing with them, why not bake them instead? The melted crayon wax creates beautiful, vibrant pools of color that your preschooler will love mixing and swirling to create fun and fascinating designs. No need to buy new crayons for this activity—just use all those broken, worn down crayon stubs that are sure to be floating around the house.

You can do this activity any time of the year, but it's especially fun in the summer. Instead of melting the crayons in the oven, just let them bake outside in the hot sun for a bit. Not only will you save energy, but you can use that time to talk to your child about how the sun is like an oven, and what makes it hot.

What You Need:

• Old crayon stubs, paper wrapping removed
• Matte board or cardboard
• Cookie sheet covered with foil
• Rocks, shells, felt squares, pieces of wood, and other items (optional)
• Oven or hot sunny day
• Craft sticks or coffee stir sticks

What You Do:

1. Place the matte board or cardboard on the foil-covered cookie sheet.
2. Help your child place peeled crayons on the matte board, either randomly or by stacking them.
3. Have your child add rocks, shells, and other items in and around the crayons if desired.
4. Place the cookie sheet in a 250 degree oven for about ten minutes, or leave the arrangement in the hot sun to melt. If you leave the sheet in the sun, use this time to talk to your child about the heat of the sun: why it is hot, how it is similar to an oven, and why it's important to wear sunscreen when outside.
5. Remove the hot sheet from the oven.
6. After the cookie sheet has cooled enough to be handled safely, have your child carefully push and swirl the melted crayon wax with the craft sticks to create a fun design before the wax begins to harden.
7. Let the design cool completely. Carefully remove it from the cookie sheet, and enjoy the pretty swirls of color!

Any sturdy paper or material will do for this activity: try melting the crayon stubs on felt squares, fabric scraps, or poster board.