Year 2 Science Uses of Everyday Materials – Block 2UEM – Materials Matter

Session 5: Resist the wax!
Science curriculum area(2UEM): / Content(2UEM)
i. identify and compare the suitability of a variety of everyday materials, including wood, metal, plastic, glass, brick, rock, paper and cardboard for particular uses
ii. find out how the shapes of solid objects made from some materials can be changed by squashing, bending, twisting and stretching
Working Scientifically (KS1 WS)
- skills explored withguidance / Working Scientifically (KS1 WS)
i) asking simple questions and recognising that they can be answered in different ways
ii) observing closely, using simple equipment
iii) performing simple tests
iv) identifying and classifying
v) using their observations and ideas to suggest answers to questions
vi) gathering and recording data to help in answering questions
Teaching Objectives /
  • To use wax drawing and colour washing as a reminder of the waterproof properties of wax
  • To make a wax resist picture using wax crayons, oil pastels and paint
  • To consider the questions: why is waterproof material sometimes used for making clothes? Can you think of other reasons why a material needs to be made waterproof?

Key Vocabulary:material, properties, absorbency, waterproof, strong, resist
Resources
Examples of wax resist art, watercolour paint or thinned poster paint, paint brushes, pieces of card, wax crayons, oil pastels, or a stick of fabric wax, squares of fabric, Vaseline™, tin foil. / Weblinks
Useful website showing step-by-step instructions about wax resist painting; Using chalk and oil pastel in wax resist painting; - Characteristicsof materials game.
Before the session:Mix up poster paint to a thin consistency ready for painting. Make available wax crayons, oil pastels and paper or fabric.
Whole class:Remind the chn of Session 3 and the effect of rubbing wax on the fabric. Ask if they can still list the reasons why some materials need to be waterproof. Challenge them to do that in 2 mins. Show them the images in the Examples of wax resist art resource as a source of inspiration for the art they will do during this session. Say:We now know that wax is waterproof and so it doesn't absorb water. When the paint touches the wax, it rolls off and gets absorbed by the surrounding paper. So the lines of your painting will be waxy with no paint, because the paint can't be absorbed there.
Activities:Let the chn practise on a scrap of card or paper to explore the resisting and absorbing qualities of the wax crayon and paint. Explain that they will need to draw lines with the wax crayon and then paint over and around those lines, watching the paint being absorbed into the paper but not where the crayon lines are. Then give them larger sheets of card or fabric upon which to do their design. There are many variations of wax resist painting, some more complex than others. You may want your more able chn to explore resist printing by spreading a layer of Vaseline onto a sheet of tin foil (as if to make an ink pad), carefully pressing a small object (leaf, for example) into the Vaseline and then printing it onto the paper. The Vaseline on the paper should act like wax when paint is applied. This is more advanced than the printing with paint because it requires care when applying both the Vaseline to the object, and then the paint around the Vaseline.
Plenary / When the chn have explored the wax resist painting, ask them to place their art on a central table or area of floor. Then go on a Painting Parade, looking at all their work and congratulating them on their technique. Place them together to produce a collaborative piece of art and display it in the classroom. Together work through
the BBC game.
Give the children whiteboards and then go through the 10 questions. Each time ask them to show you the letter corresponding to the answer they think is right and then click on the correct answer. Congratulate them on their efforts and on their progress towards becoming Material Masters!
Outcomes / Children will
  • Explore wax resist painting using oil pastels, wax crayons and paint
  • Understand the role of wax and its waterproof properties in wax resist art

© Original resource copyright Hamilton Trust, who give permission for it to be adapted as wished by individual users.

We refer you to our warning, at the foot of the block overview, about links to other websites.