Fall Leaves

This is a project my 6th graders actually completed a few weeks ago and I am just now getting the pictures online. These always look so nice in a display....I just love them! I know the kids are eager to get their leaves back so I thought if I posted them online, maybe that would please them....at least for a while.

Oink! Oink! Zoo Pals!

While Blogsurfing, I came across an art teacher that created Zoo Pals out of clay. My first thought was, "That looks too easy"...then we started making ours. While they were difficult to sculpt, they were a great deal of fun to glaze. The kids did a fabulous job on these and we had fun!

Clay Leaves

I search and search for clay projects that look cool. Oh, the troubles I have. So, this year I decided to start, "Blogsurfing" (not sure its a common term, just one I find fun) for fun lessons. I'm not afraid to admit that this lesson was one I borrowed from another art teacher while Blogsurfing. I love the fall __________ (fill in the blank with leaves, weather, smells, colors, activities, etc. and all pertain to me). So, when I saw this idea of having the kids make clay leaves I was really excited but a little worried that it was too easy.....then I decided to add my own levels of difficulty.

We start all clay projects with a vocabulary test that all of the kids must pass. Next, I sent the kids out in search of the largest leaves they could find. They came in with several really cool leaves! The kids then had to roll out a slab of clay that was 1/8 of an inch thick, press their leaf into it, and trace around the leaf. We then smoothed out the leaf and pressed it into a bowl. For the bisque fire (the first firing of the clay), I left the leaves in the clay.

For the first day of glazing, I brought in a plethera of fall leaves and the kids chose one as their, "inspiration" for their glaze. We started by glazing the veins of the leaves and then moved on from there. I was really pleased with the outcomes!

Storybook Houses

Around Thanksgiving the 8th grade Independent Study students began creating their version of a storybook-type house out of clay. The final products came out of the kiln today and they look great!....just see for yourself!