We spent several days in December working on the students’ presents to their families. For many of the students this was their first experience working with clay.
Students began by building the clay into three rings around a wooden doweling form. They learned how to join the clay sections and make it smooth with small bits of water. They pulled out ‘carrot’ noses and then created hats for their people. Holes were put into the sides of the snow people and the students’ initials were carved onto the bottom of the forms.
These clay forms needed to spend a week drying in the class before they were put into the school’s kiln where they underwent their first ‘firing’. When they came out of the kiln the students glazed them, and their hats, and then they went back into the kiln for their second (and last) firing.
Students collected twigs from the playground which were used for the snow-people’s arms. Students made felt scarves by gluing small bits of felt onto a longer piece. They chose three pom poms for the buttons and used a black Sharpie pen to draw on the mouths. When the pieces were all put together the snow people all looked very festive indeed!
I hope you all enjoy having these as part of your holiday celebrations for years to come!
