How to make DIY multicolored crayons

As an educator, I am always interested in fun DIY ideas that can end up as classroom supplies and teaching aids. Here is an activity that requires little effort, yet makes a colorful splash:

You will need:

Crayons of various colors. Can either be broken and overused or brand new. The more crayons you have, the more you can make. (A box of 64 crayons was the perfect amount to fill a regular sized, 12 muffin pan.) An X-Acto knife or other cutting tool. A muffin pan of any size that is meant for oven use. An oven, potholders, and a refrigerator. (Basically, you need a kitchen.)

Steps of the process:

Remove all of the paper from the outside of your crayons using the X-Acto knife or sharp tool. Break up crayons into small pieces. The smaller the pieces, the more colorful your new crayons will be. For reference, mine were broken into 1 or 2 inch pieces. Preheat the oven to 275 degrees. Fill the muffin pan with the broken crayons. Make sure to add a variety of colors in each tin. Once the oven is ready to go, place the muffin pan inside for 10-15 minutes. Check on the crayons occasionally to prevent overheating. After 10-15 minutes/once the crayons have all been melted, use potholders to remove the muffin pan from the oven. Let the pan cool for about 20 minutes. After the pan has cooled, place it in the refrigerator or freezer for about 10 minutes to help the crayons separate from the pan. Remove the pan and tap it on the counter/a hard surface several times to separate the crayons from the pan. To help with removal, you can use a towel to help flip the pan over and the crayons will fall out quickly.

Have fun with your multicolored crayons!