Clay and Weaving!

I'm brave, I tried a new lesson again.... I can say as we are completing these clay frames that you have to follow some basic rules or you will have broken frames. We have had only 3, but I did make extras. 

My 4th graders tackled this lesson with stoneware clay, and finished them with oil pastels, one color of watercolor paint and I painted modge podge on them when dry. 

 The texture is the key part of the coloring process! I have rollers and rubber texture mats. 

At least pencil think and more than 2 fingers in width.

 You need some lid tracers and a pin tool. Don't try to cookie cutter it. 

I strongly recommend 15 or 19 holes punched with a straw. You must have an odd number!!

If they go hole craze, pop out the clay from the straw and plug the holes. 

I found the directions for weaving the warp threads here on Cassie Stephen's blog. 

I am also doing her plate weaving at the same time with 2nd grade. 

This is how I loaded them to prevent them from snapping and breaking. I also loaded them leather hard and they didn't break since they were not as fragile. 

In the second class period they colored their frames on folded newspaper to prevent them from banging them on the desks. Use oil pastes or construction paper crayons, followed by very watered down prang watercolor paint. (one color was my rule)

In the third class, I had the kids number the wholes and I precut yarn. 

Yes, this is the most confusing part, but we did it in one class period. 

After you finish the warps, use the odd number thread from the front to begin weaving in the center. I recommend trying it yourself a few times, before teaching it. 

Here are a few that are almost finished. I found some really nice textured yarns at Joann's. 

I am planning to display these for open house in March. 

I have decided to have a circle themed art display this year.