Clay Flowers

Description:

For this activity we started with learning different techniques and vocabulary you can use while working with clay. Some of those techniques and vocab were score, slip, coil, slab, and a few more. We started with flattening our piece of clay using a roller. We then chose a flower design we wanted to create and used a wooden tool, almost like a big toothpick, to cut out our flower design. After this you could either create another flower to layer or put behind it or use the coil method, it was up to us to create what we wanted. I chose to do another flower layer so I rolled out my slab of clay again and cut out a bigger flower so it would show up behind my smaller one. After creating both my flowers I had to score and use slip to adhere them together. When they were stuck together we put them into paper bowls and tapped them on the table to make them into a bowl shape and to give the petals dimension.

Extension Activity:

For an extension activity, students will create a clay garden using the different clay techniques. They will form flowers, leaves, and stems by shaping clay, using coils for stems and slabs for petals and leaves. The pieces will be connected by scoring and applying slip. Students will then assemble their garden, using paper bowls to shape the flowers and give them dimension. This activity helps students understand basic concepts of material manipulation and bonding in clay while exploring the science of structure and form. After the clay dries, students can paint their creations, applying scientific principles of color mixing and surface texture.