more clay stuff

One Y2 class created dinosaurs yesterday. They pushed, pulled and generally bullied the clay into a shape resembling a stegosaurus. Broken lollipop and cocktail sticks were then added for the plates and tail spikes. We'll paint them once they're dry.

 

 

Meanwhile the other Y2 class have been working on an island theme. We painted our clay thumbpot islands and added a card 'house'. When put together en masse they look a bit like the British gas advert on telly, except that ours are on 'water' and not in the air!

no time to breathe!

A very busy last couple of days in school. In FS1 they are currently looking at 'when I grow up...'. So we did drawings that literally grew up!

 

 

In Y3 they've just started studying the Ancient Greeks so we drew Greek warriors and mythical beasts. Next week we'll be making pots using the coil method, which we'll then decorate with similar images.

 Today, Y1 painted some huge papier mache trees. We completed 5 in all - they will form part of a magical forest (hence the strange colouring!).

And finally, in Y2 we drew some dinosaurs.

Oh and we've also been making clay islands (based on an upturned thumb pot) but I didn't manage to get any pics! Nearly the weekend - might have a chance to recharge!

rice bowls

Today y2 made a start on their rice bowls. We used the tried and trusted thumb pot method.

 

We enlarged the hole using thumbs and fingers.

We smoothed and shaped until we arrived at a bowl shape.

We even added a foot from a sausage of clay.

All fingers and toes are now crossed so that they don't explode, crack or fall apart in the kiln. They are on a drying programme at the moment and then will be bisque fired ready for decorating next week.

a clay day today

Y2 are studying China so today we made 'rice' bowls using the thumbpot method. They did well at keeping a uniform thickness to the walls. We couldn't make them too thin as the air-drying clay cracks easily. We have though ordered a kiln and so in a few months time (when the new art room is up and running) we should be able to produce fired and glazed items - yay!

 

 

We even managed to put 'feet' onto them (using a coil of clay) - hopefully we smoothed them in enough to stop them falling apart when dry!

thumb pots

We're doing the Ancient Greeks this term so in art we had a go at making some clay pots. We've started off with thumb pots (or pinch pots if you prefer) and will be going onto coil pots. Unfortunately we haven't got a kiln so are having to use air-drying clay - am sure the pots will still be reasonably serviceable though. We'll varnish them to add a bit of protection 'cos they can sometimes be quite fragile.

The children thoroughly enjoyed getting their hands dirty (literally!). I've reminded them that aprons are a very good idea!