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clay projects for kids

updated thu 16 jan 03

 

Susan Fox-Hirschmann on mon 13 jan 03


Hi,
I would appreciate any suggestions on some good books with clay projects for
kids ages 8-11, or any other specific advise on fun things to do with kids
this age.

Thanks!

Sincerely
Susan
Annandale, VA

Martin Howard on tue 14 jan 03


With that age group in the Pottery Parties I get a theme from discussion
with the parent person.
Most parties at present are based on Harry Potter.

So, two days before the party I throw cones for Sorting Hats and enclosed
shapes like Russian Dolls for the Owls.

On the day before or the morning of the party I do some slabs and cut into
tiles.
These are for impressing the Hogwarts house names.

On the day of the party the six children with a parent sit around the table
and work on the hats, the owls and the tiles.

One at a time they come to me on the teaching wheel (it has a seat at both
ends) and they throw, with my help, a bowl or a mug.
After 2 hours all 6 have produced something on the wheel, a personalised
sorting hat, a owl that probably resembles one of the family! and a tile for
their bedroom door,

Various instructions are left me about slip colours and a tired but happy
little lot of children troop of to the eating part of the Party.

Unfortunately some let fall that they are heading to MacDonald's and I try
to keep a happy face!

If the theme is horses, the preparation changes to mainly slabs and some
extruded shapes. I also sort out some templates that help the children put a
horse figure into the clay. Again, they write instructions on their name
sticker about colours.

Ideas? Just provide the materials and some methods and then leave as much as
possible to the children's imagination.
That is limitless and a lesson to us adults all the time.

However I did find that some children from rather regimented private schools
were lacking in the imagination department. They needed to be TOLD just what
to do. Children from the State primary schools have no such problems, IMHE.

Martin Howard
Webbs Cottage Pottery
Woolpits Road, Great Saling
BRAINTREE, Essex CM7 5DZ
01371 850 423
martin@webbscottage.co.uk
http://www.webbscottage.co.uk
Updated 2nd January 2003

Alistair Gillies on tue 14 jan 03


In message <4a.167e4b8c.2b54d26f@aol.com>, Susan Fox-Hirschmann
writes
>Hi,
>I would appreciate any suggestions on some good books with clay projects for
>kids ages 8-11, or any other specific advise on fun things to do with kids
>this age.

Of what duration do you want these projects - I have some that I have
used for 10 - 11years and up

Alistair Gillies
Shropshire, England.

Got a bit chilly here last week - minus 2 C !
Luckily for us temperate island dwellers it has now warmed up a bit.

Catherine White on tue 14 jan 03


Hi, Susan,
There's a book by Jean Kirtpatrick called Kirtpatricks Kritters. It's
available in most clay stores. It's a delightful assortment of critters
that are easily formed with not only general instructions but specifics for
each one's ears, nose, mouth, feet, tails, and eyes. It's the best and the
simplest that I've encountered.
Enjoy............

Catherine in Yuma, AZ
Two ancient electric kilns. Both outside.

----- Original Message -----
> I would appreciate any suggestions on some good books with clay projects
for
> kids ages 8-11, or any other specific advise on fun things to do with kids
> this age.
> Susan Annandale, VA
>

Melanie Arnold on tue 14 jan 03


In a message dated 1/14/2003 1:57:38 AM Eastern Standard Time,
Artpottery616@AOL.COM writes:


> Hi,
> I would appreciate any suggestions on some good books with clay projects
> for
> kids ages 8-11, or any other specific advise on fun things to do with kids
> this age.
>
>

Here are 2 good books:

(1) The Great Clay Adventure by Ellen Kong ISBN 0-87192-389-0

(2) The Kids 'N' Clay Ceramics Book by Kevin Nierman ISBN 1-883672-89-9

Hope this helps. ~Melanie Arnold