Making Clay Pots With Kids

Clay pots do not need to be made on a pottery wheel.

Clay is a great art supply when it comes to small children. The squishing and molding of the clay increases the strength in their hands and by making objects with the clay, they feel a sense of accomplishment. There are a variety of different types and recipes for clay, but all clay can be used to create pots. There are many different ways to go about making a clay pot, but the snake technique is fun and easy for kids to create a pot in the shape they want.

Things You'll Need

• Clay
• Craft stick
• Knife
• Glass of water

Instructions

1. Knead your clay on a flat table to remove any air bubbles. Divide the clay into two portions. The first portion will be used for the base of the clay pot. Take this clay and form it into a ball. Flatten the ball out onto the table and shape it into the desired shape of your pot.

2. Take the remaining portion of clay and divide it into smaller sections. Take each section and roll it out to make long sections of coils, or snakes.

3. Take the first snake and place it on your base piece of clay. Follow the base with the snake and when you reach the starting point, continue to take the snake around the outside. Repeat this step until the snakes, or coils, reach the desired height of your pot.

4. Use your fingers or the craft stick to now smooth the snakes or coils together. You may need to moisten your fingers with the water to help smooth the coils together. This needs to be done on both the inside and the outside of your pot.

5. Shape your pot once the coils have all been smoothed together. Trim the edges of the pot with the craft stick or a knife to make sure it is even. Depending on the type of clay you used, you can either set your pot out to air dry or bake it.

Tips & Warnings

• Once your clay pot it dry or baked, decorate it with paint. While pots are used for plants, your pot can also be used for a variety of different items. You can use this method to make a variety of differently shaped containers. You can also make a simple pinch pot, which is a smaller pot, made by forming clay into a pot shape, hollowing it out with your fingers, then pinching the sides of the pot.

References

• AHC Arts and Crafts; Techniques Kids Can Use for Making Clay Vases and Jars