End of the Year & Modeling Clay

After artwork goes home, I usually see my classes between one and three times before the last day of school.  This gives us some time for lessons using modeling clay!
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First, we look at examples of local art, and through a game, we distinguish between sculptures and two-dimensional artworks.  Even though I teach in a small town, there is plenty of public art in cities within an hour away that students recognize, and they love talking about works that they have seen in person.  Then, we get to building sculptures of our own!

I give the classes challenges and set my timer.  They absolutely love this!  As soon as the timer goes off, they stop working, put their hands together, and get ready for the next challenge.  The challenges vary depending on grade level and include:

• Creating spheres, slabs, coils, pinch pots
• Rolling long coils and measuring them (so much fun when you are six or seven years old!) 
• Making their first name out of coils
• Creating miniature sculptures of breakfast, dessert, animals that they have to make stand, school/ art supplies, etc.

My kids love these lessons and look forward to them at the end of the year.  Using modeling clay is a fun and easy way to wrap up the school year while still creating art.  

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