Submitted by Alex Pace, Northview Elementary School
Montgomery County Schools
K-5
I’ve been putting a lot of effort into improving my clay projects and techniques this year, and it’s really showing! My elementary students at Northview are absolutely crushing their clay projects so far!
We use air-dry clay with 3rd-5th graders and Model Magic with K-2nd. Our first clay projects of the year focus on the Element of Art: Form, and the kids are having so much fun creating their masterpieces.
The 5th graders just finished their clay boxes right in time for the holidays. This was a new project for us this year, and I couldn’t be more proud of how they turned out! They tried slab-building to make their boxes with lids, and the results are fantastic.
The 4th graders made some adorable pinch pot clay monsters. This is an old favorite of mine, and the kids are super excited to get to do it again this year!
The 3rd graders tried their hand at textured clay desserts. It was a new project for me, but everyone loved it! The kids had a blast making their sculptures and couldn’t wait to share their creations with their families. This was also their first time working with air-dry clay, focusing on scratch and attach techniques to connect their pieces.
The 2nd graders created balloon dog sculptures inspired by Pop artist Jeff Koons. I’ve been doing this project for a few years now, and it’s always a hit! The kids love making them, and they turn out just the cutest. We use Model Magic and finish up with some tempera paint.
The 1st graders made clay tree ornaments for the first time. They were so excited to get started! We used Model Magic, added some markers, and decorated with sequins and 3D paper stars to make their ornaments extra sparkly for the trees.
Overall, this year’s clay projects have been absolutely wonderful, and I can’t wait to see how their spring projects turn out later in the year!
