CLAY

Clay

There is something beautiful that happens when children dig their hands into clay. They pinch, pull, twist, and with each motion, their imagination runs loose. Unlike crayons and paper, clay’s three-dimensional nature allows the child to think deeper; to express themselves in a fuller, more engaging way; and to problem-solve as they create. Their clay work invites conversations, since children often add details which appear curious and interesting to the observer.

During this study, we explored both open-ended clay art and pottery. We learned of Native American practices of harvesting clay from the bottoms of mountains and streams, and connected clay back to soil. We investigated soil’s components, and did an absorption test to see what happens when you add water to rock, to sand, and to clay. We felt a soil sample from Mr. Rafael Aponte’s farm, and noticed how different this soil felt from our school soil; it was so rich in clay. We took all we learned back to our own practice - we kept our hands busy, pinching, pressuring, pulling, making the malleable become magnificent.

Here are some of the children’s observations of clay.

Many thanks to The Clay School, who generously fired our clay creations in their kiln!

Quotes from children about clay

“I made me out of clay. I pinched the clay and added details. Then, I used paint to color my face, my nose, my mouth, my hair. It feels good to learn. I feel happy when I am learning. I am a good artist. I can make things.” - Jacob

“I know about clay. I know that you can play with clay. If feels like hard and soft sometimes. I like to make stuff like a dinosaur, a pterodactyl, a bird, or a brontosaurus. If feels great to make things with clay because I can make stuff that I imagine I want to do. You can make letters out of it too, like ‘I’, or ‘A’, or ‘T’. I feel I am a good artist.” - Nicolas

“Clay is hard when it’s dry and squishy and soft when it’s wet. It makes me feel so excited to squish it. I made a sculpture of myself. One of the hands broke, so I decided to make another sculpture. It still broke, but I still like it. I can still see my face. It still looks good. I am proud of my sculpture. When I grow up, I’m going to be an artist. But not one with clay. I’m going to take pictures. I’m going to make a lot of money.” - Diana

“Clay gets hard when it gets dry.. My clay teapot broke at home. My brother and my sister put it in hot water let it dry, and then they fixed it. Working with clay makes me feel happy because you can smush it and if feels kind of soft and you can make stuff with it, like build with it. I feel great about my clay pot. It looks beautiful.” - Khadija

“Clay feels squishy and sometimes hard. I like clay. I made a bunny out of clay because I like bunnies. I made a pinch pot, too. I learned how to make it in outdoor class. I think I feel happy when I make art because I like art. I am an artist.” - Niya

All About Clay

Here are some of the children’s observations of clay.

Many thanks to The Clay School, who generously fired our clay creations in their kiln!

Quotes from children about clay

“You can make anything out of clay. You can make yourself out of it. I feel surprised and happy when I work with clay. First, I have an idea, then, I make it out of clay. One time, I made an eraser. I like that when I make a mistake, I can start all over again. You can try over and over and over again. When it dries, don’t hold it hard, or it will break open.” - Fatell

“Clay is made from dirt. I make art with clay. The clay feels hard. You have to be strong to work with clay. I am strong. I feel happy when I work with clay.” - Simon

“Clay looks like gooey and like slime. It looks cute and stretchy. I like clay because it’s cute and my fingers go “chikoo” (child makes hand motions to show how she works with clay.)”. - Ashley

“Clay is messy. I like working with messy things because it’s fun. I like to make it into things. Sometimes, I make a cup and a pot, and sometimes, I make my Dad and brother. If feels good on my hands.” - Gabe