Candle Making

LESSON 3

Children explore the concept of harvest, celebration, and gratitude, by crafting hand-dipped beeswax candles for an upcoming special feast.

  • Beeswax for melting

  • Candle wicks or spool

  • Washers or nuts

  • Stainless steel pitcher or aluminum can for melting wax and dipping

Materials

  • Gather materials

Preparations

  • Facilitate a discussion about the harvest season, encouraging children to share their understanding of hard work and the importance of celebration and gratitude during this time.

  • Guide children in safely creating beeswax candles, emphasizing adherence to safety guidelines and close supervision.

  • Assist children in setting up their work areas and promote workspace organization and cleanliness.

  • Model for children how to measure and cut wicks, teaching measurement and crafting skills.

  • Guide children through the process of dipping candles to create hand-dipped beeswax candles of the desired thickness.

  • Assist children in the final steps of cooling, trimming wicks, and preparing finished candles for safe use and enjoyment.

Objectives for Teachers

  • Children recall and share what they've learned about the hard work involved in growing and gathering food during the harvest season.

  • Children understand the significance of celebrating the harvest season by having a feast with loved ones and expressing gratitude.

  • Children anticipate and look forward to participating in a special feast with family or friends in a few days, creating a sense of excitement and involvement.

  • Children create beeswax candles for the upcoming feast.

  • Children prepare their work area by covering it with newspaper or a drop cloth, showcasing an understanding of workspace organization and cleanliness.

  • Children will measure and cut the wick to the desired length, displaying basic measurement and crafting skills.

Objectives for Children

Collect and Connect

  • Practice saying the poem with the actions you came up with.

The Harvest

The silver rain, the shining sun,

The fields where scarlet poppies run,

And all the ripples of the wheat

Are in the bread that we do eat.

So, when we sit for every meal,

And say a grace: we always feel,

That we are eating rain and sun,

And fields where scarlet poppies run.

A. Henderson

Activity Flow

Start by discussing the previous lesson on the harvest season and ask your child to share what they remember about the hard work that goes into growing and gathering food. Explain that many people like to celebrate this time of year by having a feast with loved ones and expressing gratitude. Let your child know that in a few days, you'll be preparing a special feast together.

Today, we're making beeswax candles to adorn our feast table. Keep in mind that working with hot wax can be dangerous, so be sure to follow safety guidelines and closely supervise children while they make the candles.

  1. Prepare your space by covering your work area with newspaper or a drop cloth to catch any wax drips.

  2. Measure and cut the wick to the desired length for your candles. Make it slightly longer than the candle's height. It might be helpful to tie a washer or nut to the bottom to help keep the candle straight as you dip.

  3. Place the beeswax pieces or blocks in a double boiler or microwave-safe container. Melt the beeswax gently. If using a double boiler, keep the water simmering, but not boiling. If using a microwave, heat the wax in short, 20-30 second bursts until it's fully melted.

  4. Use a thermometer to ensure the wax doesn't get too hot. Beeswax should be melted at around 160-170°F (71-77°C). If your wax does get too hot (like ours did) just wait for it to cool down before you begin dipping the candles. If you try dipping when the wax is too hot, it doesn’t stick to the candle wick.

  5. Hold the wick at one end and dip it into the melted beeswax. Let it soak for a few seconds, then pull it out. Allow the excess wax to drip back into the pot.

  6. Wait a few seconds until the wax begins to harden, or to speed up the process of cooling, you can dip it into a glass of cold water after each dip.

  7. Continue dipping the wick into the wax, allowing it to harden between each dip. Once the candle begins to thicken you can cut off the washer or nut.

  8. Keep repeating the dipping process until your candle reaches the desired thickness.

  9. Once your candle is the desired thickness, allow it to cool and harden completely. You can place it on parchment paper.

  10. Trim the excess wick at the top, leaving about 1/4 inch above the candle.

  11. Your handmade beeswax candle is now ready to light and enjoy.