[GreyhoundGirl]

I have the equivalent of about 7 boxes of old, used crayons from this school year. I'm trying to decide what to do with them. I'm thinking about making number molds with them and giving them to kids on my caseload next year as a welcome to school gift (I don't usually do that, but...). So, if they're in 5th grade, they'd get a "5", etc.

I really like the idea of making melted crayons with them, but I can't think of anything else to do with them. I could make different shapes and use them in my own room.

Any other ideas? TIA.

[Keltikmom]

Me, personally? I would just throw them away and forget about them. Yes, landfill. But peace of mind.

Unless there’s an art teacher who could use them.

[h0kie]

Recycle them!

https://www.crazycrayons.com/recycle-program/

My kids loved gathering Capri Sun pouches for recycling when I was teaching. I’d still do it if it didn’t take forever since it’s just me now.

Terracycle used to have a ton of different programs.

[sevenplus]

I either toss them or send them home with the kids.

I've done crayon recycling with students before but haven't in a while.

[Luvetc3]

I gather all the leftovers from the year and put them in box. I have one for markers, one for crayons, and one for colored pencils. Kids can grab the big box to use if they need a color they're missing or if they forgot their own colors.

[readerleader]

1. Recycle. Do you have a recycling or green club?

2. Give to Art teacher.

3. By mid-year kids have lost or broken the majority of their crayons. We just use community bins.

[WordFountain]

A few ideas:

1. Make the crayon mold crayons. They turn out cute & are fun.

2. Give your kids a baggie & let them fill up whatever that want to take home for the summer. (I always did that when I taught; however I taught in a low income Title 1 school where my kids didn’t have much of their own

3. Throw away / recycle (Art teacher, local Rec programs, etc)

4. Save (or give away) for Summer School

[Violets2]

I'm giving all mine to the art teachers to use for a melting project.

[imatchr2]

I taught kindergarten and we would make crayon molds as shaped seasonal gifts for the kids...Halloween, Christmas, Valentines, Easter.

One year we made candles as a class at Christmas. It was fun, and the candles looked amazing, but it was a LOT of work.

[kahluablast]

You could try contacting preschools and see if they want them. We have some low income preschools and they need everything.

[booklady57]

I found this: https://www.crazycrayons.com/recycle-program/

Edit: Oops! I missed the post above that already shared this site!

[WestCoastTch]

Our STEM teacher collects them and uses them for a recycling unit.

[Teddi9192]

If you are going to melt them, I would use these https://www.amazon.com/CrayOn-Double...s%2C166&sr=8-4
And either gift them or use them in the classroom

[School Time]

For several years, I melted crayons and gave them out as prizes. I melted them in the oven and used candy molds. Now there are cute silicone molds which would probably be easier.