You can melt crayons in the classroom using an oven, with adult supervision.
Here's a breakdown of how to do it, based on the provided reference:
Melting Crayons Using an Oven
The video reference provides specific instructions for melting crayons using an oven, but it is important to consider safety when doing this in the classroom. An adult should always be in charge of operating the oven and handling the melted crayons.
Step-by-Step Guide:
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Preparation:
- Remove the paper wrappers from the crayons.
- Place the unwrapped crayons in a mold that is oven-safe. Silicone molds work well for this because they're easy to remove the melted crayons from once they have cooled.
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Oven Settings:
- Preheat your oven to 275 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Place the molds with crayons inside the oven.
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Melting Process:
- Heat the crayons for approximately 7 to 8 minutes. Keep a very close eye on them, as they will melt quickly. The video mentions "it melts fast so keep your eye on it."
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Cooling:
- Once the crayons are fully melted, remove the mold from the oven with appropriate safety gear.
- Allow the crayons to cool completely in their mold.
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Removal:
- Once cooled and hardened, carefully pop the crayons out of the mold.
Important Safety Tips:
- Adult Supervision: Melting crayons in an oven requires adult supervision at all times.
- Oven Mitts: Use oven mitts to handle the hot molds.
- Ventilation: Make sure the area is well-ventilated.
- Temperature Control: Keep the oven temperature at 275°F as indicated in the video.
- Molds: Silicone molds are ideal, but ensure that whatever mold you choose is heat-safe and suitable for oven use.
Other Methods (Not Covered in Reference)
While the reference focuses on oven melting, here are some other methods, although these are not specifically advised for use in the classroom without appropriate supervision:
- Hairdryer: Crayons can be melted with a hairdryer set on high heat, but it is a very slow process and may not be appropriate for classroom use due to the time it takes and potential for hot air burns.
- Sunlight: Placing crayons in a heat-safe container in direct sunlight for several hours, but it depends on how hot it is outside and is also an unreliable method for melting quickly.
- Double boiler: Crayons can be melted using a double boiler setup, but this may be too complex and unsafe for the average classroom setting.
- Hot Plate: Hot plates can be used to melt crayons in a metal container, but this method involves open heat and must be supervised by an adult at all times.
Conclusion:
Melting crayons in the classroom is possible with an oven, using the approach of placing unwrapped crayons in silicone molds, placing in an oven heated to 275F for 7 to 8 minutes, and removing once completely melted, cooling and removing. Adult supervision is necessary to prevent accidents and ensure safety.
