Beeswax and Honey Lip Balm - STEAM Lesson
STEAM activities use hands-on learning—like building, experimenting, and exploring—to boost critical thinking and creativity. For children and siblings facing pediatric cancer, these activities are more than just schoolwork; they bring back a feeling of normalcy, success, and confidence during a difficult time.
STEAM education helps kids learn vital skills, connect with others, and have fun! These at-home STEAM activities let children and siblings facing pediatric cancer explore Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math in a fun, comfortable setting.
Age Group Best Served: K-12
Child/Adult Ratio: 6 to 1
Take Away Artifact: Yes
Approximate time: 45 minutes
Divisions Covered: All
Materials: Measuring spoons, hot plate double boiler, popsicle sticks for stirring
Ingredients: 4 tsp of beeswax pellets 3 tsp shea butter (14 grams), 1 tsp of raw organic liquid honey, 3 tsp of organic sunflower seed oil (or vegetable oil), 7 lip balm containers (flavor extracts can be added-2 drops), empty tubes and frame for filling - (Makes enough for 7 tubes)
Questions to ask: Why is homemade lip balm beneficial? Why is bees wax a good ingredient for lip balm? It is a natural emulsifier that combines oils and water. It is what hardens the oils and butter so you can apply it on your lips easily.
Skills Required for Completion of Task:
Motor skills
- Bilateral upper extremity coordination
- Ability to manipulate small objects
- Hand-eye coordination
- Ability to grip objects
- Ability to stabilize objects/task
Process/Cognitive skills
- Ability to attend to task for greater than 5 minutes
- Follow multi-step directions
- Ability to sequence steps
- Ability to understand safety precaution
- Ability to organize or keep materials organized for task
- Ability to adjust to different workspace requirements
Social skills
- Ability to communicate and share equipment with peers/staff appropriately
K-8 Standards:
Math: 3.NF.A.1: Understand a fraction, 1/b as the quantity formed by 1 part when a whole is partitioned into equal parts; understand a fraction a/b as the quantity formed by a parts of size 1/b. For example, 3/4 represents a quantity formed by 3 parts of size 1/4.
Science: 3.PS1: Matter and Its Interactions 1) Describe the properties of solids, liquids, and gases and identify that matter is made up of particles too small to be seen. 2) Differentiate between changes caused by heating or cooling that can be reversed and that cannot. 3) Describe and compare the physical properties of matter including color, texture, shape, length, mass, temperature, volume, state, hardness, and flexibility.
This activity would be appropriate completed by the following disciplines:
Occupational Therapy, LCSW, Family Services
Instructions:
For 7-8 tubes or containers
Melt beeswax, shea butter oil, and honey in a double boiler on low heat. If you do not have a double boiler, simply use an aluminum bowl placed in a pan filled with warm water.
- Once the beeswax has melted, take it off the heat and stir with popsicle stick until the liquid becomes frosty and the honey well blended. (At first, you will see the honey at the bottom of the oils, which means you need to mix more!)
- Carefully pour into empty tubes using the blue tube frame.
- Apply on your lips as often as needed!
- The shelf life of this honey lip balm is about 1 year, depending on the shelf life of the oils and you have used. It does not need to be refrigerated.
- Yield: about 1.5 oz (7 plastic lip balm containers per recipe)
For 1-2 tubes or containers
Melt beeswax, shea butter, oil and honey in the candle powered melter stirring as melting. Pour melted mixture into a container or tube.
Precautions: Care should be taken when melting ingredients and pouring into empty plastic tubes.
The Austin Hatcher Foundation is a nationally recognized leader in psycho-oncology care, providing innovative, evidence-based services for families facing pediatric cancer. Through a holistic approach, the Foundation supports the emotional, mental, and social well-being of children, siblings, and parents—ensuring families have the resources to heal and thrive during and after treatment.
Through programs like STEAM Club and at-home resources like these, we encourage creativity, build confidence, and strengthen connections through hands-on learning. To learn more about our programs or to request comprehensive support, visit https://www.hatcherfoundation.org/resources/request-an-appointment
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