Experimenting with clay for a cake sculpture
I can experiment with different clay techniques to create a textured, cake-inspired sculpture.
- Year 5
Experimenting with clay for a cake sculpture
I can experiment with different clay techniques to create a textured, cake-inspired sculpture.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Understand the properties of clay and how to manipulate it.
- Experiment with different clay techniques (pinching, coiling, slab building).
- Develop fine motor skills and creative expression through hands-on exploration.
Keywords
Clay - a natural material that can be shaped when wet and hardens when dried or fired
Texture - the feel or appearance of a surface, which can be smooth, rough, or patterned
Score & slip - a technique for joining clay pieces by scratching the surface (scoring) and adding watery clay (slip)
Coil - a rolled-out snake-like piece of clay used for building shapes
Common misconception
Two pieces of clay can just be pressed together to attach them.
Clay needs to be scored and slip applied to create a strong bond, just like glue helps stick paper together.
Equipment
Clay (air-dry or kiln-fired). Clay tools (wooden sticks, rolling pins, carving tools). Water pots & sponges. Images of ceramic cakes for inspiration. Paper & pencils (for sketching designs).
Licence
Lesson video
Loading...
Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match the keywords to their definitions:
Q2.Complete the following statement: Texture means the feel or appearance of a .
Q3.Complete the following statement: Clay can be shaped when wet and hardens once or fired in a kiln.
Q4.Ceramics is the name given to both functional and decorative objects made from ...
Q5.Ceramics have been used for __________ of years for sculptures and artworks.
Q6.Which of the following could be used to add texture to wet clay?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What is clay most commonly used for in art?
Q2.What does the word texture mean when talking about clay sculptures?
Q3.What are the three basic techniques to shape and join clay?
Q4.Why do artists use the score and slip technique when working with clay?
Q5.Put these steps in the correct order for using the score and slip technique:
Q6.Match the clay term to its correct definition:
