This
was the first class of a 4 week clay after school workshop for students
in Kindergarten, first, and second grade. Some of the students were new
to clay, while others had previously had experience with some type of
clay.
Materials needed
Low fire white clay, split into 4 oz (115g) portions, with one for each student
Boxwood clay tools
Mini sketchbooks
Pencils
Plastic drink bottle lids with water
Mat board cut into 4" squares, paper scraps for names
Visuals of mice sculptures by various artists
1. We looked at various artists' interpretations of mice, discussing what kinds of materials were used, what the mice were doing, identifying characteristics of mice, colors, textures, and expressive qualities.
2. Students spent 10 minutes making mice drawings in their sketch books to generate ideas for their clay sculptures.
3. Next step was a short clay demo. I took a 4 oz ball and divided it in half. One piece I flattened, like a pancake, to act as a patch of landscape. The other piece I divided into smaller pieces. Rolling one piece into a ball, I pressed a finger inside and proceeded to turn it, while pressing all the way around to form a small bowl. Next, I flipped it over and made one end pointed for the nose. I demonstrated how to use the additive method to attach mini pancake shapes for ears, snakes for tails and little balls for eyes. I find it helpful to put lids from one gallon water bottles in the center of each table, each with water for use in attaching clay pieces together. The small sizes of the lids ensure that students don't add too much water to their sculptures.
1. We looked at various artists' interpretations of mice, discussing what kinds of materials were used, what the mice were doing, identifying characteristics of mice, colors, textures, and expressive qualities.
 | |
| Mice sculptures by various artists |
3. Next step was a short clay demo. I took a 4 oz ball and divided it in half. One piece I flattened, like a pancake, to act as a patch of landscape. The other piece I divided into smaller pieces. Rolling one piece into a ball, I pressed a finger inside and proceeded to turn it, while pressing all the way around to form a small bowl. Next, I flipped it over and made one end pointed for the nose. I demonstrated how to use the additive method to attach mini pancake shapes for ears, snakes for tails and little balls for eyes. I find it helpful to put lids from one gallon water bottles in the center of each table, each with water for use in attaching clay pieces together. The small sizes of the lids ensure that students don't add too much water to their sculptures.
4.
Modeling tools were used to add details like fur, dots in the eyes, and
for smearing the seams where two pieces of clay were attached to one
another. I told them it is a bit like smearing peanut butter on bread
with a knife...they were to make sure pieces were all firmly attached.
5.
Finally, mice were attached to the landscape patch and if desired,
lines added for grass, plants, etc. Extra bits of clay were added for
cheese, or other items the mice were eating.
7. Pieces were set aside to dry and will be fired later.
6.
I had them place each of their sculptures on the 4' square mat boards with
their names on the paper scraps, so I could add the names to the bottoms of the clay
pieces later. This takes a few minutes after class, but saves
tons of time later when returning fired pieces to their creators. Their
handwriting can get illegible when being written on the underside of wet
clay.
7. Pieces were set aside to dry and will be fired later.
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