People used wax candles for light in their homes and in public areas. Additionally, people made their own wax candles. Students can learn to make hand-dipped candles the same way they were made in colonial times. The students will need string, containers of hot melted wax, a drying rack and close supervision. Because the wax will be very hot, an adult should be involved with melting the wax. To make dipped candles, the students will cut pieces of string that are approximately 6 inches longer than they want their candles to be. They will then dip their strings into the wax then pull them out and hold them above the wax for a few seconds. The students will continue dipping their strings in and out of the wax until the candles are the appropriate thickness. Each time the string is dipped into the wax, a thin layer of wax will stick to the string. When the string is pulled out of the wax, the sudden cooling in temperature will harden the wax just enough so that it stays on the string when it is dipped back into the wax. Each time the string is dipped, another layer of wax is added. When the students are done dipping their candles, they can be hung from the wick to harden completely.
Rag dolls were common toys for little girls in colonial time. They were simple to make and easy to repair if damaged. Making a rag doll can show students the simplicity of the toys that entertained kids during colonial times. Draw the outline of a doll on a piece of paper. Then put two pieces of fabric together and cut out the outline of the doll. When the students are finished, they should have two doll shapes. Put the doll shapes together so the sides of the material that will be facing out are facing each other. Sew around the edges of the material, leaving about a 2-inch opening between the legs. Use the opening to reverse the material. Once the material is turned inside out, use the opening to fill the doll with scraps of material, cotton or paper. After the doll is stuffed, sew the opening closed.
Pomander balls are apples decorated with cloves and cinnamon. Pomander balls were hung up to keep the home smelling nice. To make a pomander ball, poke holes in the skin of an apple with a fork and insert a clove into each hole. Cover the apple, as much as possible, with cloves, then either roll the apple in ground cinnamon or sprinkle ground cinnamon over it. Place the pomander ball in a mesh bag and use yarn to tie the bag closed, leaving about 10 inches of yarn. Trim off the excess part of the mesh bag and hang the pomander ball by the yarn.
Candles were often placed in tin lanterns for safety. Students can make a tin lantern with a coffee can, a hammer and a nail. This project should be done under close adult supervision. The students will need to make holes in the coffee can so the light from the candle can shine through. The nail only needs to go through the can enough to make a hole, then it can be pulled out and reused to make the next hole. Students can even make patterns with the holes. The more holes they make in the cans, the more light will shine through.