"It's my favorite bowl ever!" - Caroline, 3.5 years "I want to make clay swirls like that." - Adaline, 4.0 years Jen joined us at morning meeting to share how she uses paper to create 3D forms and templates for some of her clay work. While there can be different ways to do it, we started with flat paper (cardstock and graph paper), scissors, and tape. The children were invited to make "slits" in the paper where they would then make "criss-crosses" to tape together. As you cross the pieces, the paper begins to stand up -- we were moving from 2D to 3D. Will began to notice the properties of the paper: "The graph paper is a little bit wiggly." - Will, 4.1 years
The children seemed to love this process. They were excited to make multiple forms - some made up to four different forms. They were also eager to translate this into clay - the next step in our process. Translating to clay "Paper is different than clay because you need different tools." - Will, 4.1 years The idea of The Hundred Languages is that children have many ways to express themselves, to learn, to create. While we were not asking the children to create a direct translation of their paper template, we were using the same process. We know that they can use these techniques for this process, but that it will also show up in other work that they do. We started with a clay slab (= flat paper), fettling knives/exacto knives (=scissors), and score/slip tools (= tape). We discussed this translation of tools and techniques with the children and they were eager to get to work. Adaline, Will, Georgia, and Lillian Many children had to resist the urge to cut the slab in half, but they remembered the slits they had made in the paper and did the same with the clay. Some made slits that were far apart, while others "fringed" the clay just as they had done with the paper. The position of their slits determined the number of "criss-crosses" and shape that the form would take. Again, the fettling knives in clay require a strong fine motor grip and gross motor strength (arm/shoulder/core) to push the knife all the way through the clay. We will continue to work on this and offer additional opportunities to do this - though the clay is always available at the clay table. **Note that we have been referring to them as "forms" instead of "bowls" because, as they children pointed out, they do not all resemble bowls -- nor do they need to.** Henri, George, and Caroline Henri, 4.2 years "Look! It's standing up now." - Henri Caroline, 3.5 years Caroline created two. On the first one, she expressed some disappointment in the shape, so we tried again with a round clay slab that was similar to her round piece of paper that she had used the day before to create her paper template. When she finished her second one Elyse asked, "Caroline. Are you so proud of the work you did?" Caroline responded by saying, "Yes! I'm so proud of myself!" Zoe, Gracie, and Eliza Eliza, 4.0 years George, Christopher, and Win These pieces, and more, will be at the Thanksgiving Feast as part of our centerpieces. Using what we know
Glazing ClayIn Brown Room, we only introduced glossy glaze. A few weeks ago, we introduced underglaze. We also know that the glazing process can be a bit tricky - you have to cover all of the clay that you want to have color or gloss, but it can be difficult. We wanted to slow down the process and give them a chance to plan out what they might want their pieces to look like.
"I remember something about the glazes - making them colorful." - Gracie, 4.0 years Pierce, 4.2 years George, 4.2 years
Gracie, 4.0 years "Look at Gracie's pumpkin. It's pretty." - Eliza, 4.0 years "It's like a pattern. It goes orange, blue, orange. This part will only be orange." - Will "I love clay. It's kind of like muddy." - Zoe, 3.10 years Thank you to all of you who were able to take time to look at their clay this morning. We were so excited to have it unloaded in time for them to share it with you. Their work is amazing, and being able to share it with you in the morning is very special and valuable. We encourage you to take time to do this during drop-off. You are free to open portfolio drawers and browse around the room - remember that you are free to take down conversations or flip through "books" of images and drawings. We will have more clay coming out of the kiln on Monday morning, and it will be featured as centerpieces on our Thanksgiving Feast table.
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