Art Lessons on Clay Sea Shells for Middle School
Information technology seems as though at that place are ever questions swirling about air dry clay, with many teachers wondering if they should even bother with it at all.
With the cost so loftier, is information technology worth it?
That was the question I set out to reply when I recently sat downward with Cassie Stephens. You may know Cassie from her well-loved blog, busy Facebook page, or lively presentations at the AOE Art Ed Now Conferences. But what you may not know is that Cassie but finished writing a volume all nearly non-earthenware dirt. This ways clay that is air-dry out or clay that cannot exist fired in a kiln.
Dirt Lab for Kids: 52 Projects to Make, Model, and Mold with Air-Dry, Polymer, and Homemade Clay is Full of ideas of different ways to use non-earthenware clays. The projects are sure to teach your students basic modeling techniques. And, as a bonus, the majority of the activities in the book can also be done with kiln fired clay too!
Not only did Cassie author the book, she also provided all of the photos. This meant she actually had to brand and test all 52 projects. With that much fourth dimension spent creating with different air dry clays, I knew she'd be the perfect person to talk to.
However, before we dive in, I want to mention that Cassie said that if you accept a kiln, yous should utilize information technology. Naught will replace the experience students accept with actual earthenware dirt.
That said, not all art teachers have a kiln. Even if you do, yous may have a situation where you demand to use air dry out clay. Working with a short time frame, catching upwards a pupil who was absent, or having a pupil re-do something that blew up in the kiln are all times when air-dry out dirt could be your friend.
So without further ado, here are v things yous need to know.
On the differences between air dry out and earthenware clay:
I asked Cassie about the biggest differences between earthenware clay and air-dry out clay. Her answer, "It'south funny, but they're not every bit big equally you'd expect." She went on to say, "Many of the air dry clays I tried had a similar look and experience as kiln fire clay. Y'all can even use the slip and score method to adhere pieces."
Of course, it never gets as hard as something fired in a kiln. Only Cassie did say that adding a glaze of Mod Podge or acrylic pigment tin can help make items stronger. She recommends sending finished pieces home the same way yous do earthenware clay, wrapped up to protect them!
On figuring out which make to buy:
We all know that air dry out dirt can be expensive and that at that place are a lot of brands on the market. That's why Cassie suggests buying a small quantity of a few brands and testing it out yourself. "This manner," she told me, "you tin can foresee any bug your students might encounter with the clay."
Afterward buying almost EVERY kind of air dry dirt on the market for volume research, Cassie recommends the post-obit three brands:
- Crayola
- Activa
- Amaco
On the flip side, Cassie said if y'all truly want to approximate a ceramic experience for your students, steer clear of Model Magic, other "cloud clays," and paper clays. They just don't have the same properties equally the other air dry clays mentioned.
Finally, Cassie shared this tip with me, "I have been sent air dry clay that is rock difficult earlier. Don't exist afraid to send dirt back to the supplier if that always happens to you!"
On the required drying time:
One of the almost important things to think about with air dry clay is if it's going to actually dry. In Cassie'southward book, she has a bang-up recipe for an air-dry out table salt dough that you can make yourself. However, she cautioned that things can get moldy, peculiarly if you don't flip them. For that reason, she said, "I would recommend putting finished projects in front of a fan to speed up the drying process."
On keeping things pliable:
While Cassie made all of her projects in ane sitting, she said wrapping everything tightly in plastic wrap should keep things moist if you need your students to work on them over multiple grade periods.
On calculation color:
I asked Cassie about adding colour to air dry clay. She told me, "Acrylic, tempera, and gouache encompass air dry clay projects well. I would not recommend watercolor as that tends to rejuvenate the dirt making everything really sticky."
Once the colour is added, you can add a coat of Modern Podge or clear spray varnish to make the pieces a piddling tougher and add a bit of sheen.
The lesser line?
Co-ordinate to Cassie, "If y'all don't have a kiln, the biggest pro to air dry clay is that it will give your students a very like experience. Not having a kiln does not mean your students won't have the opportunity to create with a modeling medium."
Give it a endeavour!
If you're looking to test out air dry clay in your classroom, consider the fun dirt taco lesson below. It's a delicious manner for yous or your students to dig into air dry clay. It besides gives your students the chance to do basic skills like scoring, slipping, achieving the right thickness and more. Let's have Cassie walk us through it!
Dirt Tacos
1. Start with a piece of clay the size of a tangerine. Place it on a surface that has a texture. Doilies, burlap, and lace piece of work dandy! Just don't use grandma's heirlooms.
2. Pound the clay with your fist until it is as thick every bit a cookie. Peel the clay off the textured surface and admire the amazing textured imprint!
3. Fold your flattened disk into the shape of a taco shell and fix aside.
4. Use a garlic press or other small-scale extruder to create some cheese.
5. Flatten a small-scale slice of clay to create lettuce. Create tomato plant slices, a coil for hot sauce and/or sour cream. Use your imagination to add whatever yous like on your taco!
vi. To attach everything, utilise a damp toothbrush to sideslip and score. Using your own toothbrush is not advisable but anyone else's is off-white play.
7. Requite everything the "Taco Upside Down Examination." If zero falls out, you're good! Allow your taco to dry for 24 hours or more. The dry out time volition be faster if the projection is placed in forepart of a fan.
viii. Finally, paint with acrylic, tempera, or tempera cakes when dry out. Then, seal it with Mod Podge.
Air dry clay will never replace the real thing, but it can come pretty darn close. And then if y'all don't take a kiln, or desire some clay on hand for those special circumstances where earthenware just won't practise, requite it a try!
If you're looking for even more bang-up info about air dry clay, bring together Cassie at the Summertime 2017 Art Ed At present Conference where she'll be presenting "How to Teach Clay Without a Kiln" where she'll be talking even more in depth about everything you tin do with earthenware clay alternatives. Don't miss information technology!
Do yous use air dry clay in your classroom? What's your favorite make?
What questions practice you still have about air dry out clay?
Mag articles and podcasts are opinions of professional education contributors and do not necessarily stand for the position of the Art of Educational activity University (AOEU) or its academic offerings. Contributors utilize terms in the way they are most often talked nigh in the scope of their educational experiences.
Source: https://theartofeducation.edu/2017/07/20/depth-look-air-dry-clay/
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