Clay Actvity

 

Activity: 

For this activity, we worked with media clay. We began by removing any air bubbles through a series of techniques, including slapping, slamming, and kneading the clay. Once the clay was bubble-free and formed into a smooth ball, we used a rolling pin and two pieces of wood to achieve a consistent thickness. The goal was to roll the clay evenly, ensuring a uniform width throughout.

Next, I used a bowl and a piece of cardboard to trace a circular shape onto the clay, which would serve as the outline for my tic-tac-toe board. I then employed various clay tools to carefully cut out the design. To enhance the piece further, I added 3D borders by rolling thin strips of clay and affixing them around the edges, giving the board a raised effect.

With the remaining clay, I shaped dog bone motifs and small circles to represent a water bowl. To make the bowl more realistic, I used my thumb to gently create a shallow dip in the center. For the finishing touches, I painted the board red and green in the spirit of Christmas, while the dog bones were painted white, symbolizing the treats and toys I receive for my dog every holiday season.

Extended Activity:

You can incorporate Language Arts as an extended activity. Have students write a couple paragraphs about what/how they made their project and why it is important to them. Incorporating an English standard that matches the grade level, in this instance fourth grade, an example would be a standard for using correct listing terms e.g. First, Next, Then, After. Incorporating English into this activity can help students write easily due to the fact it is something that interests me.