Clay Play Shapes Students' Minds in Art, History

students literally got their hands dirty learning all about the art of clay making and the history behind it, all while having a lot of fun in the process.

The school welcomed guest instructor Cliff Mendelson, a professional potter, artist and instructor, to the school this week to present his “Day-in-Clay” workshop for fourth grade and fifth grade classes.

Once the students got their hands on a piece of clay they were quickly pinching, rolling and twisting pieces into their very own decorative ceramic vase.

At the start of the lesson, Mendelson gathered the students around a large table in the art room where dozens of examples of Native American pottery, their focus in this lesson, were displayed.

While giving them a close view of how to use a pinching motion on a ball of clay to make the bowl, he spoke to the students about the styles and patterns of Native American pottery and what may have inspired their art. Students responded with answers such as the sun and the trees, such things in nature which would have inspired the Indians work.

He told the students the best tool in the world is their very own hands which they used to form all the pieces of the vase. He also showed them how to use a paddle to slap and help form the clay and smaller tools the blend the pieces together so they stay in place.

Students watched closely as Mendelson carefully rolled a piece of clay into a slender rope shape which he would then attach to the bowl to make the lip of the vase. He also introduced the students to different patterns that could be worked into the piece, while also encouraging them to use their own creativity.

He worked a smaller piece of clay into a coil and then carefully blended it onto the lip of the vase to begin a pattern that would go all around the top. While blending another coil to the top he taught the students that the significance of this particular shape represents the continuation of life. Mendelson used the different samples of Native American pottery on display to explain differences in texture – some have patterns layered into the piece, others are flat and painted on.

Mendelson got many “oohs” and “aahs” from his young audience as he twisted together two ropes of clay making a braid which could be used as a handle for the piece or as the top.

The students were then shown many different fun ways they can creatively make patterns with various different tools and objects. For example, he laid a string of beads over a piece of clay, slapped it gently with a paddle creating a pattern from the indentations of the beads. Some students were seen pressing fabric onto their vase to create a textured pattern. Another student used a paper star shape to press a star pattern all around the vase.  

By the end of the workshop each student had his or her own decorative vase to  paint at another time with the art teacher when the pieces are completely dry. The gray clay will eventually turn white which is important to remember when they paint, Mendelson said. The students can creatively work in additional patterns to the piece using paints.

Mendelson has been presenting the Day-in-Clay multi-cultural curriculum based program "Day-in-Clay" to K-12 students for more than 15 years.

Fifth grade classes attended the workshop in different sessions on Thursday. The program will be presented to the fourth grade classes on Friday.