Start to Finish Instructions for a Pottery Wheel for a Kid

Bowls and mugs are ideal beginner projects for kids.

A pottery wheel is a tool used by potters to create round-shaped items, such as bowls, vases and mugs. Using this fast spinning wheel requires a certain amount of practice and precision, however, it can be an exciting and intriguing craft for kids. With adult supervision, kids can easily produce their own pottery wheel creations. After your pottery project has been formed, you will need access to a kiln, which is a special pottery oven, to harden your creation before you paint it.

Things You'll Need

• Pottery wheel
• Clay
• Fishing line

Instructions

1. Throw your ball of clay down onto the center of the wheel. Start the wheel spinning slowly. Wet your hands and adjust the clay so it is exactly centered on the wheel.

2. Press your thumb down into the center of the clay. Make sure you don't press a hole all the way through the clay, otherwise you will have a hole in the bottom of your creation.

3. Widen the hole that you made in Step 2. Slowly pinch your thumb and fingers together. Keep your hands steady, otherwise your project will end up uneven.

4. Experiment with working the clay until you have the shape you want. After you have the design you would like, turn off your potter's wheel. Slide a piece of fishing line along the bottom of your project to unstick the clay from the wheel.

5. Harden your project by baking it in a kiln. Paint or glaze your finished project as you desire. Fire the pottery piece again in the kiln if the type of glaze you are using requires that step for food safety.

Tips & Warnings

• Kids should only use a pottery wheel with adult supervision.

References

• JHPottery: How to Use the Pottery Wheel