End of the School Year...A look back at the many ways Creative PaperClay can be used in the classroom

In my role as an Art Teacher (K-8th grade) I introduce my students to a variety of materials during the school year.  Nothing gets more excitement than when I pull out clay!  I am blessed to have a kiln in my classroom, but to be perfectly honest I prefer Air Dry clays and polymer clays for the ease of use.  My go-to airdry mediums are (of course) Creative PaperClay and Delight Air Dry ❤

Here are the many ways I have used Creative PaperClay and Delight Air Dry in my classroom this year:

4th grade used magazines to create recycled woven baskets.  Once complete we needed to create something to go into the baskets...eggs were the perfect choice!  Out came the Delight Air Dry clay.  The students loved that color can easily be mixed into the clay rather than colored on top...just dap the washable marker onto the clay and then mix in!  Easy peasy.  You can see from the photos no 2 eggs turned out exactly the same.

 

 

 

Next up: Jim Dine hearts
I created these with my 3rd graders.  We looked at many Jim Dine art pieces and talked about the colors, shapes, and designs.  They each created a background with tongue depressors focusing on color and pattern.  Next class we pulled out the clay.  I shared my example (bottom) and demoed how to mix color into the Delight Air Dry clay.  I encouraged them to make a variety of colors....a couple of students only processed "multiple colors" and added all the colors to the entire ball of clay.  Thankfully even "mud" can be gorgeous in the hands of a child (see far left photo).
NOTE:  This was a parent favorite ❤

 

 

 

Next up:  Easter Crosses
I teach art in a Catholic school so I am able to create religious pieces with students throughout the year.  For Easter, my 2nd graders used Creative PaperClay to create a cross or crucifix.  We talked about the thickness and how to best attach components to each other (a dab of water rubbed onto one piece and then the other attached was the favorite method).  I had a variety of texture sheets and texture tools for them to use.  ALL loved how easily the clay accepts texture.
For the background students could choose a wooden picture frame or a canvas.  Both were painted for the "perfect" backdrop.  For the frames, students chose a piece of wallpaper to cover the cardboard center.  Crosses were then glued into place.

 

 

 

 


Time for a Christmas project with my 1st graders.  We used Delight Air Dry for this project.  Again I demoed how to mix color into the clay rather than color on top.  I was WOWWED by what they accomplished!  Pieces dried in place, then were glued down with Elmer's school glue.  Heirloom project sure to be showcased year after year ❤

The final project of the year for my 6th graders featured Pop Art.  What better way to get POP than with clay??  The students used foam core, paint, and cardstock for bases.  Some created Benday dots using bubble wrap to print. The final step was to create lettering.  Some used cutters, but most free-formed letters to create a motion word.  Words dried in place and then were glued down (again with Elmer's school glue).  I think everyone can agree they all did an amazing job! 

 

 

 

I hope you have enjoyed this little walk through my year.  I look forward to introducing my students to more projects in the coming year using these fabulous products!

"POP" Art Brought to Life with Creative PaperClay®

If you have been following my Creative PaperClay® escapades you know that I love to use the product with my art students.  I teach art to grades K-8th in a local Catholic school.  Exciting the littles is a pretty easy task.  Exciting the bulk of my middle schoolers is a continuing journey to find the perfect blend of materials and creativity.  This year I found what I believe to be the perfect blend!

I introduced my 6th graders to the Pop Art of Roy Lichtenstein.  We explored his art, discussing the colors, backgrounds, his use of motion words, as well as his influence on comics.  In talking about his use of action words, I mentioned "Batman"...the boys immediately lit up.  I have a pop art piece on the wall of my classroom, a hand on a telephone receiver with the single word "SLAM!".  We talked about how the use of one word allows the viewer to understand the force behind the image.

Each student received a wood board.  These boards had been taking up real estate in my classroom for four years (and God only knows how many before I got there) and I was ready to rotate them out!  The day's assignment:  Paint your board in a solid color (I gave them a limited number of choices) making sure the surface was completely covered.  After the painting was complete they rotated through a bubble wrap station to create "Benday Dots" over the surface.  As you can imagine, the bubble wrap printing excited them...something a bit different from the norm to roll with paint and print.  I was amazed at how quickly they completed the tasks.  The drying racks were quickly filled and students were ready to continue to the next step.
All of my middle schoolers have art journals.  I had them choose a motion/action word and sketch a design to highlight it.  They were to add possible colors with the understanding that nothing was set in stone and the design could evolve from the original as the piece took shape.  That was class #1.

Class #2:  For the next step I brought out brightly colored cardstock, pieces of matboard, and 1/4" foam core scraps.  Working from individual sketches, the students began to create the "pop" that would give motion to the words.  I demoed how foam core or matboard pieces glued between the layers would quite literally have their designs popping off the wood board.  If I hadn't pulled them into the project before, this defintely got their attention.  All around the classroom the students began to work and were disappointed when it was time to clean up.  I promised that they would have plenty of time to work during the next class and that I was bringing in a very cool product for them to use to add another dimension to their pieces.

Class #3: Creative PaperClay® 

The students were excited to get to work the following Monday.  I gave them these basic instructions:  "You will receive a piece of airdry clay and a paper towel.  Go to the sink and get the towel damp (wring out any excess moisture).  Wrap any part of the clay in the towel when not in use so that it remains moist.  All of the clay MUST BE USED today!"

I put out rolling pins and texture sheets, alphabet cutters of a couple of different sizes.  "Do NOT roll the clay paper thin!  Keep some thickness to your letters.  Do NOT pound your clay into the table!  It WILL stick and you will be sad."  I showed them how to use their fingers to flatten the clay as well as using a rolling pin.  Again the students were told to use all of their piece of clay or share any extras with classmates who might need a little more.  Soon the classroom was filled with "action" 😉

Once each student completed his/her word and any other details, they were placed on a sheet of scrap paper to dry until next class.  I was so excited with the multiple ways pieces developed.  Next class (final for the project): coloring and highlighting the words

Last class: I sadly was away for this class and had a substitute.  Instead of having the students paint, we had them use Sharpie Markers (I value my substitute's sanity 💓 )  The students first used a fat, black Sharpie to highlight the edges.  They were directed to color the edges solidly, not leaving any white showing.  Next, they could choose a color for the top of the word.  Many went back to their original sketches for color reference, while others picked the brightest & boldest color in the bin.  Once words were colored, they were glued in place using Elmers Glue.  Thankfully my substitute told the students they could not take the finished project home until I had a chance to see them.  I was thrilled when I got back to work!

 
Dominic D. (left) & Annie W. (right)

 
Michael C. (left) & Daniel M. (right)

 
Jilliane D. (left) & Isabella M. (right)

 
Isabella O. (left) & Diya G. (right)

Malia H. (left) & my example (right)

I hope you have enjoyed this post.  I think even Roy Lichtenstein would be pleased with how his work was interpreted.  To see more of my work and the work of my students please check out https://polymercreations4u.wordpress.com/ as well as the Creative PaperClay blogspot on the 2nd Wednesday of every month

Until next time...stay CREATIVE!