Naturally Educational » 3-5 (Preschool), 3-5 (Preschool), 5-6 (Kindergarten), 5-6 (Kindergarten), 6-8 (Early Elementary), Fall, Sight » Jack-o-Lantern Candle Craft
Jack-o-Lantern Candle Craft
October is my favorite month and it is not just because it is my birthday. I love the apple-picking, the leaves turning colors, butternut squash, and of course, Halloween.
And nothing says Halloween quite like a glowing Jack-o-Lantern. My daughter made hers with some left-over tissue paper and a glass baby-food jar.
We love crafts, especially ones made from natural or recycled materials but I’ll admit…we take shortcuts sometimes. Especially when I’m hosting a play date, I buy some craft kits from Oriental Trading company. I like their sun-catchers but we always have left-over tissue-paper squares. This craft was a fun and easy way to use up the extra materials.
Materials:
- Glass Jar (Baby Food or Jam)
- Orange Tissue Paper or Crepe Paper
- Black Construction Paper
- Glue + Water Mixture
- Tea light
Instructions:
- Mix glue and water (about 50/50) and spread on the glass jar.
- Paste on squares and continue to add glue mixture until the jar is covered.
- Draw and cut out a jack-o-lantern face from the black construction paper.
- Coat with a thin layer of glue mixture and let dry.
- Add a tea light.
Variations/Modifications: Instead of a tea light, you could also create a candle with melted wax and a wick.
Educational Experience:
- Language Arts: Introduce the term “translucent”.
- Science: Describe the effects of candlelight as opposed to electric lights. Research the invention of the electric lights and the use of candlelight prior to its invention.
- Arts: Explain color blending and secondary colors with younger children.
- History: Examine how immigrants bring cultural traditions with them to their new homelands and how those traditions sometimes change. Research the origin of the “jack-o-lantern”.
Extensions:
- Literature: Read “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” and discuss the role of the jack-o-lantern head.
- Arts and Crafts: Carve real Jack-o-Lanterns from pumpkins.
- Emotional and Social: Talk about how changing the features of your jack-o-lantern transforms it from playful to scary to angry, etc.
More Pumpkin Crafts from Other Sources:
- Paper Bag Pumpkins (at Little Elephants)
- Mod Paper Pumkins (at Hostess Blog)
- Toilet Paper Roll Pumpkin (Real Life Kids’)
- 3-D Paper Pumpkin
Written by Candace
Candace Lindemann, Yale, BA, Harvard Graduate School of Education, EdM, is an educational consultant and published writer. She enjoys new learning experiences with her children, ages 4 and 2.
Filed under: 3-5 (Preschool), 3-5 (Preschool), 5-6 (Kindergarten), 5-6 (Kindergarten), 6-8 (Early Elementary), Fall, Sight · Tags: Baby Food Jars, Halloween, Jam Jars, Pumpkins, Recycled Crafts, Reuse and Recycle, Tissue Paper
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[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Candace, Candace. Candace said: Teaching Moment: Jack-o-Lantern Candle Craft: October is my favorite month and it is not just b.. http://bit.ly/ClzqL [...]
[...] crafts such as egg carton bats, pumpkins and cats from laundry soap bottles, cereal box luminaries, jack-o-lantern candle craft, or use decorations that can be eaten (pie pumpkins, squash) or composted or used in the garden [...]
Love the lantern! We’ve done similar projects decorating jars with tissue paper, but I never thought to make them seasonal. Love it & will definitely add to our repertoire!
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This post was mentioned on Twitter by candaceapril: Teaching Moment: Jack-o-Lantern Candle Craft: October is my favorite month and it is not just b.. http://bit.ly/ClzqL...
I love your new site! What a great idea to teach through arts and crafts, I like how you have added the educational tips in the craft instructions, brilliant idea!
Good night, HAPPY HALOWEEN! A little late..!