DIY: Orange Lamp | Tinkerer Box Blog

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Orange Lamp

Stem Activities

Ages: 6-8

Less than 30 minutes

Grownup needed

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Oranges aren't just for making delicious juice - they can be transformed into charming little lanterns! With simple household materials, you can create a natural and cosy orange lamp.

Materials Needed

Vegetable oil
Fruit knife
Spoon
Lighter (or matches)
Orange

Arranged on a light woodgrain table are several items, suggesting preparation for an experiment or demonstration. A clear glass bottle containing a yellow liquid, possibly oil, sits to the left. A white rectangular tray holds a small knife with a gray handle, a white plastic spoon, a red lighter, and a whole, ripe orange. The items are neatly placed on the tray, implying a deliberate setup for a specific purpose.

Step-by-step tutorial

Step 1

Cut the orange in half.

Two hands are shown in the process of cutting an orange on a white cutting board or tray. One hand holds the orange steady while the other hand uses a small knife with a gray handle to slice into the fruit. The orange is being cut lengthwise, and the cut is partially visible. The image suggests a simple food preparation task.

Step 2

Use the spoon to scoop out the fruit flesh, being careful to preserve the white pith in the centre!

Hands are using a white plastic spoon to extract juice from a halved orange on a white surface. One hand holds the orange half while the other uses the spoon to press against the fruit's flesh, releasing juice. A small amount of orange juice is visible on the white surface.

Step 3

Clean the orange peel halves simply.

Two hands hold the two hollowed-out halves of an orange over a white surface. The orange rinds are mostly empty of pulp and juice, suggesting they have been thoroughly squeezed or scooped out. The image focuses on the inside of the orange peels.

Step 4

Using the fruit knife, cut the top of the orange peel half that doesn't have the white pith.

Two hands are shown carefully peeling an orange with a small knife on a white surface. One hand holds the orange while the other hand uses the knife to remove the peel. A section of the peel is being lifted away from the fruit. The focus is on the peeling process.

Step 5

Pour vegetable oil into the orange peel half containing the white pith and let it soak for 20 minutes.

A hand holds a hollowed-out orange half while a clear glass bottle pours a yellow liquid, presumably oil, into it. The oil is flowing into the orange peel, which acts as a makeshift container. The process suggests an unusual or experimental use of the orange peel.

Step 6

Now, carefully light the white pith using matches or a lighter, taking care not to burn yourself. Then, place the orange peel with the cut top over the lit half. Your orange lamp is complete!

A small, makeshift candle is created using an orange peel as a container. The orange has been cut in half, and the pulp removed, leaving the rind. A small piece of wick or string sits in a pool of orange oil or juice inside the bottom half of the rind. A lit match or lighter ignites the wick, creating a small flame. The top half of the orange rind is then placed back on top, partially covering the flame and creating a small, enclosed orange candle. The video demonstrates a simple DIY project for creating a candle using an orange.

The Science Behind It:

The white pith of the orange (also called "albedo") contains natural oils that help maintain the flame when burning, acting like a small candle wick. The vegetable oil serves as a lubricant and fuel, helping the flame burn steadily and continuously.

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