One of the great resources we have as part of the Art program at Horace Mann is our ability to do clay projects from start to finish. We are lucky enough to have a kiln right in our school to fire all sorts of projects from slabs to pinch pots and beyond!
Working with clay is fantastic opportunity for students to explore their own creativity while contributing to their sensory development and problem solving skills.
Our goal for our students is by the time our 5th graders graduate, each child will have the opportunity to experience each of the three major hand building techniques - slab, pinch, and coil - used in working with clay. As they progress through the different grades they will learn basic and advanced skills for each of these techniques.
Grade Level |
Suggested Projects for Hand Building Techniques |
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PRIMARY |
Basic Projects |
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Kindergarten |
Slab: basic - rolling and cutting an outline, drape/press onto 3-D shape, add texture Projects - slab bowl, slab trivet |
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First grade |
Pinch Pot: basic - hand form a bowl; Project - pinch pot bowl |
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Second grade |
Coil pot: basic - join and smooth coils on a slab base to make a small pot Project - coil pot |
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INTERMEDIATE |
Advanced Projects |
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Third grade |
Pinch Pot: advanced - add decorations and/or handles, experiment with shapes Projects - pinch pot monsters, pinch pot animals |
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Fourth grade |
Slab: advanced - add texture, cutouts, form cylinders, add attachments Project - slab mugs, slab candle holders, slab leaf bowls |
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Fifth grade |
Slab, Pinch, and/or Coil: advanced – all of the above! Projects - Get creative! Pinch pot gnomes |
Wrangling clay projects is a group effort. Docents will work with kiln coordinators and other docents to take their projects from initial idea all the way through firing and glazing the finished pieces.
The basic steps to completing a clay project:
The key to the kiln is kept in the office with Mrs. Nauman! Please remember to return it each time. Allow plenty of time for set-up and clean up – at least ½ hour on either side of the lesson time!
Questions? Contact clayandkiln@mannptsa.org