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Lesson 4 of 6
  • Year 2

Sculpture: make a simple clay animal

I can create a simple clay animal sculpture.

Lesson 4 of 6
New
New
  • Year 2

Sculpture: make a simple clay animal

I can create a simple clay animal sculpture.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Understand how to use a card template to create a basic animal shape in clay.
  2. Explore texture by using tools and objects to create patterns on clay surfaces.

Keywords

  • Perforate / perforations - a line of tiny holes that helps you to cut or tear something more easily

  • Texture - the feel or appearance of a surface

Common misconception

Pupils may feel the need to cut the clay straight away before connecting the dots.

Encourage pupils to connect the dots carefully first before cutting. Consider giving them a light pencil or tool to trace the outline before cutting.


To help you plan your year 2 art and design lesson on: Sculpture: make a simple clay animal, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Print simple animal silhouettes on card for pupils to perforate around, or offer animal-shaped cutters for those who need extra support. Set up a texture station with tools like forks, leaves, or shells, and remind pupils to press gently to avoid flattening their clay shape.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Air-dry clay (or standard modelling clay) animal templates, toothpicks or blunt pencils, rolling pins, clay tools or plastic cutlery, water pots, table covers and aprons.

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Prior knowledge starter quiz

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4 Questions

Q1.
What is a template used for?

To play with playdough
Correct answer: To help make a shape
To make playdough hard
To clean up playdough

Q2.
Match the word to its meaning:

Correct Answer:Template,A shape you can draw or cut around

A shape you can draw or cut around

Correct Answer:Plaque,Flat shape with writing or a picture

Flat shape with writing or a picture

Correct Answer:Texture,How something feels or looks

How something feels or looks

Q3.
Put the steps in the right order to create a playdough plaque:

1 - Roll out the playdough
2 - Use the template to cut out the shape
3 - Press in textures to decorate
4 - Let it dry

Q4.
What do we call how something feels, like bumpy or smooth?

Correct Answer: Texture, Textures

Assessment exit quiz

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4 Questions

Q1.
What does it mean to perforate clay?

To break it in half
To press it flat
Correct answer: To make small holes
To paint it

Q2.
Match each art word to what it means:

Correct Answer:Texture,The feel or appearance of a surface

The feel or appearance of a surface

Correct Answer:Perforations,A line of tiny holes that helps you to cut or tear something easily

A line of tiny holes that helps you to cut or tear something easily

Correct Answer:Sculpture,A 3D artwork

A 3D artwork

Q3.
Adding texture helps your artwork look more .

Correct Answer: Realistic, real

Q4.
Put these steps in the right order to make your clay animal:

1 - Roll the clay into a ball
2 - Shape the clay into an animal
3 - Add texture and details
4 - Let it dry

Additional material

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