Hi there! Today, we’re going to learn about recycling and how we can turn old crayons into new ones. Squeaks and I were about to draw some beautiful flowers, but Squeaks noticed his crayons were worn down and hard to use. Instead of throwing them away, we decided to recycle them!
Recycling means taking something we would usually throw away and turning it into something new. This is a simple way to help the Earth. When we throw things in the trash, they often end up in a landfill, which is a big area where garbage is kept. Some trash, like food scraps, breaks down quickly, but other things, like plastic bags, take years to decompose. Some materials, like glass, hardly break down at all!
Landfills can get very full, and when they do, we need to create new ones. This can take up space where animals and plants live, which isn’t good for them. Recycling helps by turning trash into new items, keeping them out of landfills.
We can recycle our old crayons by turning them into new ones! If you want to try this, make sure to ask a grownup for help. You’ll need your old crayons and a mold that can go in the oven.
First, remove any paper from the crayons. Then, place the crayon pieces into the mold. The mold should be able to handle some heat because we’ll put it in the oven at a low temperature, like 80°C (170°F).
Let’s make some crayons that are all one color and some that are two colors. Put them in the oven and wait for about 8 minutes. While we wait, let’s think about what happens when we heat the crayons. Just like ice melts into water when it gets warm, crayons melt into liquid wax.
After heating, the crayons will be runny but still the same color. Once they cool down, they’ll harden again, just like water turns back into ice when it freezes. Our recycled crayons will feel and work just like new ones!
By recycling our crayons, we kept some trash out of the landfill and learned some cool science along the way. Now, Squeaks and I are ready to start coloring again!
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Crayon Color Hunt: Go on a crayon color hunt around your home or classroom. Find old crayons that are broken or too small to use. Sort them by color and count how many you have of each. Discuss with a friend or family member why it’s important to recycle these crayons instead of throwing them away. How many new crayons do you think you can make from your collection?
Melting Experiment: With the help of an adult, try melting a few crayon pieces in a small, heat-safe container using warm water instead of an oven. Observe what happens to the crayons as they melt. How is this similar to or different from melting crayons in the oven? Talk about what you see and feel. What other things can you think of that melt when they get warm?
Recycling Detective: Become a recycling detective in your home or school. Look for items that can be recycled, like paper, plastic, or glass. Make a list of these items and discuss with a grownup how recycling them can help the Earth. Can you think of new things that could be made from these recycled materials?
