1st Grade Pinch Pot Turtles

I really thought about changing this project this year. I was really close. Clay turtles are cool, but is there something cooler? I decided to try to change it around next year. 

My first graders really enjoyed their clay experience. I condensed this project into one day of working with clay and one day to paint. In previous years I gave them two days to work with clay and I feel I got better results doing the clay in one day this year.

Does anyone have any suggestions for other pinch pot oriented projects for 1st? I saw Mr. E do some cool hatching dinosaur eggs and I've seen open mouth monsters. Has anyone had success with anything else? Thanks!

The lesson plan is here!

1st Grade Clay Turtles

1st grade recently finished their first clay project.  For this project, they learned that clay comes from the earth and that there are many different kinds of clay.  Students started by learning how to make a pinch pot, one of the simplest clay forms.  Legs and a head were then added to the upside down pinch pot to create a turtle.  They were painted with watercolor paints after they had been fired.  

1st Grade Pinch Pot Turtles

1st grade students recently finished their first clay project. It was an exciting time for everyone involved because EVERYONE loves clay. Students began by learning about the qualities of clay as well as learning that clay essentially comes from the earth. They then made small pinch pots, a simple ceramic form. Next, feet, a head, and sometimes even a tail were added to created a turtle. Finally, after the clay was fired in the kiln, the turtles were finished with a touch of watercolor paint. This project was a lot of fun!