The kindergartners just created their first project out of clay. I started the lesson by asking the students if they knew where clay comes from and a few knew that it comes from the ground. I explained a little bit more about how clay used to be a hard rock, and when water and acid break down a specific type of rock that it becomes clay. Next we discussed what a kiln is and how we can make things out of clay and fire it in a kiln to make it hard. I then showed them how to make a pinch pot and they understood that it is called a pinch pot because you use a pinching motion to create it. It was then their turn to create a pinch pot. They all created their pots and they will be painting them with tempera paint after they have been fired. We will talk about ceramic glaze this year, but they will not be introduced to the glazing process until 1st grade. Their pots need to become what we call bone dry before we can fire them. The clay must be dry and hard before a firing or else the moisture makes it more prone to blow up in the kiln. My kiln is not currently hooked up yet, but it should be soon! I will post pictures of their creations after they have been fired and painted.
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AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. Archives
May 2017
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