Lesson 6: Press and Smooth (Upside-Down Test)

Overview

“Working with clay fosters a special kind of communication among hands, clay and imagination. It is a very personal, almost therapeutic experience.”

– Cathy Topal

Grade Level

Pre-Kindergarten (Three- and Four-Year Old’s)

Media

Clay

Essential Question

How can I make sure my sculpture passes the upside-down test?

What did we do with the clay last week?
Let’s make pieces using what you learned last week.
Make 4 pieces by rolling, pinching, etc.
Invite a student to put the pieces together.
What do you think would happen if I turn this sculpture upside down? Hold it upside down—it falls apart. How can we make these pieces stay together?
Look at the lines between the pieces. We have to make them disappear. How do you think we can do this?
Demo pressing and smoothing until the lines between separate pieces disappear. Hold the sculpture upside-down again to show that it now sticks together.
Let’s make clay sculptures that stand up and pass the upside-down test!

Have 3-4 students come to the art center.
Have students work directly on the table.
Do not give them any instructions.
As they work, ask them what they are doing, and help give words to their actions — roll, poke, pinch, pull, press, etc.
Take photos as students explore for documentation. Record their observations as they work.
After students have had ample time to explore, ask them to press or roll their clay into a chunk and place the clay into deli containers with lids.
Save two clay sculptures for reflection.

What do you see that is different about these two sculptures?
After reflection, have the students whose work was shared roll it into a ball and put it in the deli container in the art center.

Clay, soft, hard, cool, wet, silky, roll, squeeze, poke, twist, flatten, break, pinch, sculpture, three-dimensional