CLAY PLAY

It starts with training...

The teachers at The School for Young Children recently attended a workshop presented by Kathleen Bailer on the benefits of using natural clay with young children.

 

 

As you can see from the photos, we enjoy this medium as much as the children do!

 

Then we try it with the children...

Natural clay was introduced to the children in morning classes and the Backpack Club. We were amazed and excited to observe them explore and create, truly following Kathleen Bailer's stages of development.

"Clay is a versatile modeling material that presents endless opportunities for exploration and learning."
Developmental Stages of Children's Clay Work, Kathleen Bailer, (2001).


As with any appropriate activity for young children a variety of educational benchmarks can be observed while the children are working. Throughout this page related benchmarks will be noted.

 

Stages of Clay Play...
Exploratory Stage


Children at this stage will explore clay in their own way. They are interested in the qualities of clay -- what it feels like and what it can do.Children will explore clay by pushing, building, poling, tearing, pounding, smoothing, etc.

"It's whoosh, squishy and mushy." —Julia, age 4
"It feels funny when you first put the water on
  it." —Olivia, age 4

 

State Department
of Education Benchmark


Educational experiences will assure that preschool children will:

  • perform fine-motor tasks that require small muscle strength and control
  • show beginning control of writing, drawing and art tools
  • use a variety of art materials and activities for sensory experience and exploration
  • elect to use the art media
  • ask questions about and comment on observations and experimentation

 

"I'm squeezing." —Caroline
"It sticks onto it (the board.)"
—Joshua, age 3
"My hands feel wet and mushy." —Alexandra

 


"You know why it looks like that? Because it was two pieces." —Julia

State Department
of Education Benchmark


Educational experiences will assure that preschool children will:

  • make and verify predictions about what will occur
  • use language that shows understanding of scientific principles

 

Stages of Clay Play...
Shape Stage


Children in this stage are interested in how they can shape the clay. They will begin to roll coils (sometimes called "snakes") and balls either between their hands or on the table. Often children will make "whole families" of coils or balls sometimes covering their entire work surface.

 

State Department
of Education Benchmark


Educational experiences will assure that preschool children will:

  • create and duplicate patterns and shapes using a variety of materials
  • show spatial awareness by demonstrating and understanding of position and order
  • demonstrate understanding of one-to-one correspondence while counting

 

Stages of Clay Play...
Design Stage


Once children have mastered rolling coils and balls, they will begin to line them up creating designs by sticking objects into the clay such as dried flowers, seeds, wooden sticks, feathers, beads, pip cleaners and wire. Creating textures by pressing various fabric and found objects into clay is another appropriate way of extending children's natural desire to design and explore.

"It smells like grain." —Alexandra, age 4

"My hands feel mushy." —Olivia, age 4

"I flattened mine a little bit." —Andrew, age 4

 

 

State Department
of Education Benchmark


Educational experiences will assure that preschool children will:

  • use multiple-word sentences or phrases to describe ideas, feelings and actions

 

 

Stages of Clay Play...
Simple Representational Stage


Using basic shapes such as coils and balls, children will begin to create people, animals and objects in their immediate environment. A ball of clay with a coil sticking out of both sides will become a 'person'. Three balls stacked on top of each other will become a 'snowman'.

 

 

State Department
of Education Benchmark


Educational experiences will assure that preschool children will:

  • demonstrate spatial awareness in fine motor activities
  • demonstrate the ability to represent experiences, thoughts and ideas using several art forms
  • use a variety of visual art media for self-expression

 

Natural clay is a medium that provides the opportunity for growth in all developmental domains. It allows for self-expression and builds self-confidence.

 

"It's malleable nature allows children to have control over the forms they make and have the power to change any part with pressure from their fingers. It is impossible to make mistakes with clay.", Kathleen Bailer, 2001

www.k-play.com
   

 

© 2003. The School for Young Children at Saint Joseph College. All Rights Reserved.

238 Steele Road
West Hartford, Connecticut 06117-2791
(860) 231-5560
Fax: (860) 231-5581