Fifth Grade
Clay Angels
Tell your students the difference between carving and modeling in sculpture (carving takes away material, such as cutting into a block of wood or stone, to reveal the figure, while modeling builds up material, like play dough or wax, to form a figure). Using clay is creating art using the modeling process.
Discuss techniques of working with clay that they have learned from past projects, including scoring, using slip, stamping, and cutting around a stencil. You can even brings samples of past projects (handprint, heart frame, jewelry bowl, sun, coiled pot) to remind them of what they have done (the kids love remembering what they have done in previous years). Tell them that they will need to use all the skills they have learned in the past, plus today they will also need to learn about using a ball of clay, rolled tightly to avoid any air bubbles (and the resulting possibility of explosion in the kiln!) and pushing clay through a press to make the hair strands. All these separate elements will come together in this project.
Remind them that one of the most important things to remember is to SCORE and SLIP every single time they want to put two pieces of clay together. If they want the skirt edges to stay together when it is dry, or the head to stay on, etc. they must always SCORE and SLIP.
Discuss techniques of working with clay that they have learned from past projects, including scoring, using slip, stamping, and cutting around a stencil. You can even brings samples of past projects (handprint, heart frame, jewelry bowl, sun, coiled pot) to remind them of what they have done (the kids love remembering what they have done in previous years). Tell them that they will need to use all the skills they have learned in the past, plus today they will also need to learn about using a ball of clay, rolled tightly to avoid any air bubbles (and the resulting possibility of explosion in the kiln!) and pushing clay through a press to make the hair strands. All these separate elements will come together in this project.
Remind them that one of the most important things to remember is to SCORE and SLIP every single time they want to put two pieces of clay together. If they want the skirt edges to stay together when it is dry, or the head to stay on, etc. they must always SCORE and SLIP.
The Project
Prep- 2 hours (includes making 2 samples, less time if you have more helpers)
Materials
-2 blocks white clay
-Clay wire cutter
-Plastic knives
-Toothpicks
-Garlic press (use all)
-Angel stencil for body (in 5th grade file cabinet drawer)
-Dixie cups (one for every 2-3 students)
-Slip (make your own slip in a plastic cup by mixing a small amount of clay with water. Use your fingers to help the clay break down in the water. You probably only need about 1/2 cup of slip for the whole class. I pour a tiny amount of slip into the Dixie cups once they have used the cups to cut the collar.)
Clay Prep
1. If you have 3 or 4 helpers this prep will only take an hour.
2. Take block of clay and wire cutter and cut thin slabs of clay.
3. After cutting first slab put it on clay cart with a piece of moist cotton fabric under it and roll it to ¼ to ½ inch slab. Do one of these for each student (plus a few extras for samples or accidents).
5. Fold moist cloth around rolled slab and place in a Ziploc bag. I can usually fit 3-4 slabs in each bag.
Materials
-2 blocks white clay
-Clay wire cutter
-Plastic knives
-Toothpicks
-Garlic press (use all)
-Angel stencil for body (in 5th grade file cabinet drawer)
-Dixie cups (one for every 2-3 students)
-Slip (make your own slip in a plastic cup by mixing a small amount of clay with water. Use your fingers to help the clay break down in the water. You probably only need about 1/2 cup of slip for the whole class. I pour a tiny amount of slip into the Dixie cups once they have used the cups to cut the collar.)
Clay Prep
1. If you have 3 or 4 helpers this prep will only take an hour.
2. Take block of clay and wire cutter and cut thin slabs of clay.
3. After cutting first slab put it on clay cart with a piece of moist cotton fabric under it and roll it to ¼ to ½ inch slab. Do one of these for each student (plus a few extras for samples or accidents).
5. Fold moist cloth around rolled slab and place in a Ziploc bag. I can usually fit 3-4 slabs in each bag.
Lesson
Show students the sample angel you made. Explain what you did to make it: (model as you explain so they can see what they will be doing)
-use stencil and plastic knife to cut out bottom base of angel – use dixie cup to cut out collar
-use lace or beads to press or use toothpick to draw designs into the base (opposite side from the name), as desired
-show students how to score the edges of their angel base by using toothpick to make lines or x's. Demonstrate dabbing the slip on the edges so you don't smear the scoring away, but add enough moisture to help the edges stick together. Connect the scored and slipped edges of the base to make a cone shape, smoothing out the joined line with your finger (and more slip if needed)
-score and slip the top of the cone to attach the circle for the collar of the angel
-show students how you roll some of the extra clay to make a ball for the angel’s head (roll good to get all the bubbles out); score and slip to attach
-make hair by pressing clay through a garlic press; show them how to keep adding more clay to make longer hair; use plastic knife to remove from press; score and slip to attach
-use toothpicks to create face and any additional details or patterns on dress
-remind students to score/slip all pieces together so nothing breaks or blows up in kiln
Art Project
-pass out clay slab to each student (leave each piece on cloth to put on desk, to prevent sticking to desk and to help keep desk a bit cleaner)
-students use angel stencil to cut out body - use bottom of Dixie cup to cut out collar (set aside)
- write name & date on back side near the wide rounded edge with toothpick. Press lace or beads to make designs on front side.
-fill Dixie cups with a tiny amount of slip (just covering the bottom of cup)
- students score and slip edges of base; connect sides to make cone; score and slip to place circular collar on top
-students roll ball for head (must be rolled well to get out air bubbles); score/slip to put head on collar
-make hair with garlic press. Score/slip to put hair on head
-use toothpick/knives to add additional patterns on angel dress, draw on face
-if time allows, students can add other details, such as arms, hair bows, crowns, etc., as long as appendages are kept close to the body (no outstretched arms) to avoid future breakage. As always, score and slip to attach.
-When the student is done, have parent volunteers check inside angel to make sure the name is readable, and to go over the lines again if it isn't - they can also add student's class number if desired
-carefully place finished angels in cardboard boxes, making sure the cone of the dress is sturdy and steady
-let angels dry for 2-3 weeks
Show students the sample angel you made. Explain what you did to make it: (model as you explain so they can see what they will be doing)
-use stencil and plastic knife to cut out bottom base of angel – use dixie cup to cut out collar
-use lace or beads to press or use toothpick to draw designs into the base (opposite side from the name), as desired
-show students how to score the edges of their angel base by using toothpick to make lines or x's. Demonstrate dabbing the slip on the edges so you don't smear the scoring away, but add enough moisture to help the edges stick together. Connect the scored and slipped edges of the base to make a cone shape, smoothing out the joined line with your finger (and more slip if needed)
-score and slip the top of the cone to attach the circle for the collar of the angel
-show students how you roll some of the extra clay to make a ball for the angel’s head (roll good to get all the bubbles out); score and slip to attach
-make hair by pressing clay through a garlic press; show them how to keep adding more clay to make longer hair; use plastic knife to remove from press; score and slip to attach
-use toothpicks to create face and any additional details or patterns on dress
-remind students to score/slip all pieces together so nothing breaks or blows up in kiln
Art Project
-pass out clay slab to each student (leave each piece on cloth to put on desk, to prevent sticking to desk and to help keep desk a bit cleaner)
-students use angel stencil to cut out body - use bottom of Dixie cup to cut out collar (set aside)
- write name & date on back side near the wide rounded edge with toothpick. Press lace or beads to make designs on front side.
-fill Dixie cups with a tiny amount of slip (just covering the bottom of cup)
- students score and slip edges of base; connect sides to make cone; score and slip to place circular collar on top
-students roll ball for head (must be rolled well to get out air bubbles); score/slip to put head on collar
-make hair with garlic press. Score/slip to put hair on head
-use toothpick/knives to add additional patterns on angel dress, draw on face
-if time allows, students can add other details, such as arms, hair bows, crowns, etc., as long as appendages are kept close to the body (no outstretched arms) to avoid future breakage. As always, score and slip to attach.
-When the student is done, have parent volunteers check inside angel to make sure the name is readable, and to go over the lines again if it isn't - they can also add student's class number if desired
-carefully place finished angels in cardboard boxes, making sure the cone of the dress is sturdy and steady
-let angels dry for 2-3 weeks
WARNING: DO NOT ALLOW CLAY TO GO DOWN YOUR DRAIN!
Not even the left over slip.
For more information on working with clay, see our media page on clay.
Not even the left over slip.
For more information on working with clay, see our media page on clay.
Firing and Glazing
-when the clay projects are dry you can schedule a date and contact the kiln helper to turn on the kiln for you once you have loaded it.
-it takes about 2 days for the kiln to run and cool, then you will unload it.
-glaze is kept in the clay cabinet with samples. The angels are glazed in clear (the clear glaze actually looks blue in its container)
Hint for glazing: fill a bowl with glaze and, holding each angel by the bottom, dip the head end in the glaze, covering as much of the hair as possible. Pull out and let drip for a moment, then use a brush to spread the rest of the glaze over the rest of the angel. This really helps getting the glaze in all the cracks of the hair!
-make sure you don’t get any glaze on the bottom or it will stick to the kiln (glaze can be wiped off with a sponge if needed).
-glazed angels need to be fired again in the kiln; contact a kiln helper and load the kiln. Return to unload.
Finish Angels
-once angels have been glaze fired you can gather your parent helpers to hot glue (glue gun) bows and halos on the angels
-ribbon and metallic pipe cleaners are in the 5th grade file cabinet drawer
-this is optional. They can be left unadorned as "figurines" or you can just add bows without halos.
-when the clay projects are dry you can schedule a date and contact the kiln helper to turn on the kiln for you once you have loaded it.
-it takes about 2 days for the kiln to run and cool, then you will unload it.
-glaze is kept in the clay cabinet with samples. The angels are glazed in clear (the clear glaze actually looks blue in its container)
Hint for glazing: fill a bowl with glaze and, holding each angel by the bottom, dip the head end in the glaze, covering as much of the hair as possible. Pull out and let drip for a moment, then use a brush to spread the rest of the glaze over the rest of the angel. This really helps getting the glaze in all the cracks of the hair!
-make sure you don’t get any glaze on the bottom or it will stick to the kiln (glaze can be wiped off with a sponge if needed).
-glazed angels need to be fired again in the kiln; contact a kiln helper and load the kiln. Return to unload.
Finish Angels
-once angels have been glaze fired you can gather your parent helpers to hot glue (glue gun) bows and halos on the angels
-ribbon and metallic pipe cleaners are in the 5th grade file cabinet drawer
-this is optional. They can be left unadorned as "figurines" or you can just add bows without halos.