Clay in the Classroom

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Clay in the Classroom

There are so many ways to use clay in the classroom.  I love creating ways to connect with children that work and these work. My favorite clay in the classroom idea is a diversity craft that opens up possibilities for meaningful and necessary conversations about racism – a tough topic but one that must be addressed.  Story Starters made from clay are great because the kids can make pieces and so can you (yours to help direct topics and ideas).

DIY Story Starters for the Classroom

Often times the most difficult part of starting a story (whether for telling or writing) is coming up with the basics.  By creating clay story starters, kids are offered a large variety of possibilities to support their creative thinking.  To create this, you will only need one supply and a little imagination!  That one supply needed is Bake Shop clay from Sculpey and let me tell you — it is easy and awesome to work with!

Directions

Start by setting up an area for the creating of the pieces. This should include:

• Flat Work Surface (Cutting Boards Work Great)
• Bake Shop Clay in a Variety of Colors
• Clay Tools (Optional) — Roller, Cutter, Etc.

Next, explain the different components to a story and request that all of them have pieces made to fit. There are three categories for this.

• CHARACTERS: People/Animals
• SETTING: Places (Indoor/Outdoor) and Time (Day/Night)
• SUPPORTING ELEMENTS: Could Be Anything

Be sure to instruct them to make their creations SMALL enough to fit into a compartment in an egg carton.  This creates a great way to store the Clay in the Classroom story starters! Depending on supplies and time — a set can be made for classroom use or sets for individual students. A great tool to use for sizing is a mini muffin pan or a macaroon pan.

Once they are completed and you have baked them following the instructions in the packaging, you have the pieces to start stories.  Don’t worry about the details regarding size proportions or colors.  The kids will be more likely to access their imagination if they are allowed the freedom to make what interests them.  You might end up with a mouse that is five times the size of a tree.  That is okay.  It makes for a great story.

I love this original set from several years back and all of the elements it creates for story telling!

This printable (download FREE HERE) is a great tool for supporting the process.  It is a great start for a written piece for older kids or an organizer for story telling.

It is important to create children in all skin colors. 

This is a great lesson on color in and of itself.

Once all of the pieces have been baked according to the directions (Bake Shop Clay from Sculpey), use them with this FREE printable to create the pieces to tell a story.

Clay in the Classroom – Mold Matchings

This project has a FREE printable request to send home to parents so you can turn this into a home-school connection activity.  You can get it HERE.

Classroom Management Beads – Clay in the Classroom

Clay in the Classroom – Fun with Letter

Puppets – Clay in the Classroom

Clay in the Classroom – DIY Manipulatives

This project has a FREE printable of charts that you can use in a variety of ways and you can grab them HERE.

Why to Use Sculpey Clay with Kids

Using clay in the classroom allows students to be participatory in the learning process.  When students have ownership in the materials, they are more successful. Kids love clay. It is a great supply to use for so many reasons. Not only it is it fun, it also offers many developmental benefits to growing and learning. Here are a few.

• Clay encourages sensory development.  The act of “playing” with clay is a multi-sensory hobby: touch, sight, smell—and even sound.
• Working with clay develops coordination and motor skills.
• It’s therapeutic and lessens anxiety.
• Molding with clay extends attention span.
• Playing and creating with clay builds imagination.
• Creating with clay boosts self-esteem.

Cheers,

Laura

PS:  Here is another one of my favorite ways to use clay in the classroom!  STORY STARTERS!

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