WELCOME TO THE CLAY PAGE!


School Clay Lead: Lauren Jewell
Questions? Please contact clay@avhsc.org

 

 About the Clay Program at Alta Vista


What is the clay program?

The clay program is funded by the Alta Vista Home and School Club and allows each class to make 2 projects per year to take home (1 project in the fall and 1 in the spring). Each clay project consists of a clay shaping session and a clay glazing session spaced 4 weeks apart. In total, there is 4 clay sessions per school year. (Note: 5th graders only take one project home. The spring project is the tile project and stays at the school.)

 

Why do we have the clay program?

Schools incorporate clay projects to foster creativity, develop fine motor skills, enhance spatial awareness, promote problem-solving abilities, and allow for tactile sensory experiences through the manipulation of a 3D medium, all while encouraging self-expression and imaginative thinking in students. 

 
Key benefits of clay projects in our school: 
  • Motor Skill Development: The act of squeezing, rolling, pinching, and shaping clay strengthens hand muscles and improves hand-eye coordination, which is crucial for writing and other fine motor skills. 
  • Spatial Awareness: Creating 3D objects with clay helps students visualize and understand spatial relationships, considering different angles and dimensions. 
  • Creative Expression: Clay allows students to freely express their ideas and imagination without limitations, fostering creativity and artistic development. 
  • Sensory Engagement: The tactile nature of clay provides a sensory experience that can be calming and engaging for students, especially those with different learning styles. 
  • Problem-Solving Skills: Planning and executing a clay project requires students to think critically, troubleshoot challenges, and adapt their approach as they work. 
  • Cognitive Development: Clay activities stimulate cognitive functions like planning, visual perception, and critical thinking. 
  • Social Interaction: Collaborative clay projects can encourage teamwork, communication, and sharing ideas among students. 

Who runs the clay program?

 

We have a clay lead that manages the program. The clay lead handles:

  • general training at the beginning of the year
  • training volunteers as needed throughout the year
  • ordering and restocking clay supplies as needed
  • creating and managing the clay calendar
  • organizing the clay room as needed
  • operating the kiln (important - only lead is trained to operate the kiln!)

Depending on the class, new additional responsibilities this year include:

  • scheduling clay sessions for each class
  • determining projects for each class
  • running the projects on the day of

What do the clay helpers/volunteers do? 

We need clay helpers to help at each of the clay sessions in each classroom. This will include such things as setting up and rolling/prepping clay, putting tools and other supplies out, helping students with their projects, and cleaning up. 

 

How can I find out more about the clay program?

There is training at the beginning of each school year. Go to the volunteer webpage to see the training schedule. If you missed the training please contact the school clay lead. Also, check out the bottom of the page for additional training resources. It is EXTREMELY important that the clay shaping and glazing procedures and checklists be reviewed prior to your clay session!

 

What happened to the classroom clay leads this year? 

For parents that have been involved in our clay program in prior years, we have made some changes this year to make it easier for volunteers. We no longer have a mandatory classroom clay lead for each class. The school clay lead has agreed to take over some of the classroom clay lead responsibilities. If you have been a clay lead in the past and are interested in taking on a larger role this year for your child's class, you can speak with Lauren at the training or contact clay@avhsc.org. 

 

What are the clay projects?

For each grade (Transitional Kindergarten through 5th) we have specific learning objectives. There are between two and six projects to choose from for each grade that meet those learning objectives. It is important to note that these projects have been reviewed and approved and are the projects that each class must choose from. If a teacher or volunteer would like to select a project not on the list, then can reach to Lauren at clay@avhsc.org to discuss the project. Please click on the grade level links below in the next section to access grade level specific learning objective and projects. 

 

ALTA VISTA CLAY LEARNING OBJECTIVES AND GRADE LEVEL INFORMATION

General Learning Objective for Alta Vista Students:

 

Clay Shaping: Students will learn to manipulate clay, explore different techniques, and create various forms. Clay forming involves the three basic hand shaping techniques: Pinching, coiling, and slab building. Students will also explore additive sculpting (combining two or more pieces of clay together) using the score and slip attachment methods as well as subtractive sculpting (removing clay to form objects).

 

Glazing: Students will learn to apply glaze correctly, understand the differences between glazes and paints, identify different glaze colors, appreciate how glaze enhances the final product and understand that glaze is permanent once fired. Specific objectives include applying glaze evenly and thoroughly by starting out with one color and building up to applying 4 colors by 5th grade. Other creative glazing techniques will be explored such as applying glaze using sponges, brush splattering, overlapping and blending colors, and inlays.

 

Grade Level Learning Objectives and Projects:

 

Click on your student's grade below to access grade specific learning objectives, approved projects and links to training and instructions for each project.

 

Grade Level Approved Projects:

TRANSITIONAL KINDERGARTEN

KINDERGARTEN

FIRST GRADE

2ND GRADE

3RD GRADE

4TH GRADE

5TH GRADE

 


ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION AND TRAINING