Melted Crayon Rain Art

We made it rain in our classroom this week.

We watched it fall down in big streaks and little streaks.

Every storm was a little different.

Just add some clouds

and you've got a beautiful rain storm.

---------------------------------------------------------------------
This is probably one of my favorite art processes to date. The end result turns out so beautifully, and the process itself is pretty fast and easy for young kids to engage in. However, it is messy and requires some planning and set-up to try and control that mess. But sometimes messy learning is the best kind, and in my book this one is totally worth it. It's almost mesmerizing to watch, and just really fun to try. So I thought I'd share some more details about how this process worked for me in my small classroom setting.

Materials:
Cardboard (painted white)- you could use a canvas for a fancier look :)
Different shades of blue and gray crayons
Painter's tape
Hair dryer
Easel
Plastic covering for the floor/Paint shirts for the kids

Method and Tips:
--I used painter's tape to attach the crayons to the cardboard because I was using the crayons multiple times. I have also seen artwork using this method that affixes the crayons using hot glue, and then they become part of the finished product. Disclaimer: the crayons did fall out of the tape sometimes, but we weren't too worried about that since the fall sometimes added extra streaks to the art, and we typically had enough color to work with even if some fell. There might be better ways to temporarily secure the crayons, but this worked for us.

--The wax does spray a bit, depending on how much you move the hair dryer. I covered my easel with paper, and placed plastic sacks over the tray to catch splatters of melted wax. Covering the floor, and paying attention to nearby surfaces (such as a cabinet, in my case) would also be recommended. Afterwards I used a magic eraser and some elbow grease to clean off the wax that sprayed places I wasn't expecting, but it would have been faster to just cover things up initially with paint sheets or plastic or something.

--I secured the cardboard to the easel using a clip or painter's tape, and let the kids freely create. I did warn that the crayons became very hot as they melted, and encouraged them not to touch the art until it had dried, which it does very quickly once you stop the heat. I also encouraged others who were watching to stand back to avoid any splattering wax. The kid holding the hair dryer wore a paint shirt just in case, but for the most part the wax didn't spray outward in their direction- it mostly just sprayed down or to the side.

-Some wax did end up on the hair dryer, but did come off. If you are worried about that, you might not want to use your most expensive hair dryer...

--This would probably be a fun activity to try outside if you have an electrical outlet and an extension cord. That way, you wouldn't be quite as worried about the mess inside.