Homemade Clay for Pinch Pots
Before the advent of pottery wheels, many ancient peoples made ceramic cups, bowls and plates by pinching. This method created thin-walled, shallow items well-suited for painting as well as carrying water and storing food.
Teach your children or students about these methods with a hands-on activity. By making their own clay and pinch pots, they can experience how people lived before modern technology.
Things You'll Need
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
- 1 cup baking soda
- 3/4 cup water
- Large bowl
- Spoon
- Wax paper
Instructions
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1
Add 1/2 cup of cornstarch, 1 cup of baking soda and 3/4 cup of water to a large mixing bowl. Stir until the dry ingredients are saturated with water, then knead with your hands until the dough takes shape. It should be dense and easily pliable.
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2
Pinch off a ball of clay about the size of your fist. Roll it into a sphere between your palms. Hold the sphere in your non-dominant hand and push the thumb of your dominant hand into the center of the ball, forming a 1/2-inch deep indentation.
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3
Set the dented ball down on a piece of wax paper. Pinch the sides of the ball, pressing your thumbs into the indentation. This forms the walls of your bowl. Pinch and form the bowl until the walls are of relatively even thickness.
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4
Gently smooth out the fingerprints in your bowl with a little water and your fingertips. Set the bowl on a piece of wax paper to dry and harden overnight.
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Tips & Warnings
Use tempera paints to paint colorful geometric designs on your bowls, both inside and out. You may try to mimic tribal designs or create your own.
References
- Photo Credit Hands shaping clay on potter's wheel image by fotosergio from Fotolia.com
