Multi-Colored or Rainbow Crayons

I was used to the old method of making rainbow crayons, where you melt each color individually in soup tins, in a boiling pot of water. Then you pour the colors into a mold, letting each layer cool before adding the next color. I'm all for old skool, but it's time consuming, and too much to clean-up. This method is much easier, not to mention it minimizes and simplifies the process. Props to my co-teacher Ashley for sharing this method.

What you'll need:

• bits and pieces of old crayons
• 2 large mixing bowls (one to put the crayon pieces in, and the other for the crayon wrappers).
• 1 or 2 silicone brownie pans (available at Michael's); I've also heard some people use chocolate molds.
• 1 cookie sheet (to slide the silicone brownie pan
• a large Ziplock bag
• a cooling rack
• heat oven to 230 degrees

The little one and I peeled off all the remaining wrappers and put the crayons in a large mixing bowl. Afterwards, we put the crayons in a large Ziplock bag (squeeze all the air out of the bag) and crushed the crayons with a rubber mallet. You can also use a meat tenderizer or hammer. Make sure to do all your smashing outside on a hard surface or at least on a wooden cutting board, or risk chipping the counter top.

Use a teaspoon to scoop crayon bits into the silicone brownie pan.  The little one used her old baby spoon and it worked great! Make sure you fill it just a little over the top because the crayons will melt, and you don't want to end up with some scrawny squares.

It looks good enough to eat! Just fill it a little over the brim.  Put it in the oven at 230 degrees for 15 minutes. To make it easier to take the silicone pan out of the oven, I slid the cookie sheet under it. I then placed the brownie pan on top of a cooling rack for about 10-15 minutes.

After the crayons  cooled down, I just popped them right out of the brownie pan, which is why I used the silicone kind.

How can you use this in your classroom? It teaches children about science (solid turns into a liquid, then back into a solid). If you only use the primary colors, it can teach children about the secondary colors when they melt and mix together. It's just a cool activity for the children to do, and they even get to take it home too. If you have children of your own, it's an easy and inexpensive method to make give-aways for your party.