I am amazed at how fast this year is flying by! Today was interim day for second quarter already.
Last week the kids designed rubber stamps, carved them, and printed a "product." Most of them turned out really well. A lot of the kids made cards but some went to town using their stamps to create gift wrap, toys, and other fun things.
Today we took those stamps and made lasting impressions! I gave the students about a pound and a half of clay and they made Santa cookie trays, decorating them by pressing the self-made stamps into the moist clay. They are already anxious to have them dry enough to fire in the kiln so they can do the glazing. It was fun to see the light bulbs as they realized their stamps could be tools for more than one thing. Already they were talking about how they could use the trays now and when they grow up could use them for their kids. Coolness, for sure. Making memories and planning for future ones.
I love teaching clay. I remember in seventh grade getting my tiny ball of clay and being told to make a "pot." No other instructions were given. I guess the teacher figured we ought to be able to wing it. I thought it was so much fun and we all thought our work was magnificent. For a few weeks the teacher kept telling us they weren't ready yet then finally just quit talking about them. We must not have done a very good job because none of us ever saw them again. In high school we were given more clay, more time and better instructions. I was proud to take those home. I still have those huge, beautiful pots.
When I am teaching clay, I like to explain the process while I am demonstrating it. It seems to make more sense to me. I also like to have them make something useful as well as beautiful. More of them go home that way instead of being homeless on my shelves at the end of the year.
So, even though the year is going fast, I am afraid the next few days will seem to slow down a lot. After all, I am watching clay dry.
'til later,
Lady P
