I usually teach high school level chemistry but I was teaching middle school science for the first time last spring. When I was teaching the 5th and 6th grades about fossils and how they form I had the idea of letting them make their own "fossil" by pressing a shell, or making an animal "track", in some low fire clay. Once the students had done that, I fired the clay to bisque in my home kiln and then brought it back to school for glazing. I then refired the "fossils" and the students had some very nice pieces that they could make a Mother's day present from. I also used the lab to reinforce some ideas from the chemistry unit, about the difference between physical and chemical changes.
This brings me to my hot dog days of summer project. It's way too hot to fire right now but it's great clay drying weather. So I'm making some "pinch pot" critters: rats, mice, bug-eyed dogs and the like. I'm also working on some more "serious" medallions and hand-pressed tiles.
I love working with clay, whether it's on the potter's wheel or just pinching some off of the 50 lb block and sculpting something freehand with it. There is something very basic and satisfying about squeezing and molding clay. I loved doing it as a child and I have rediscovered that passion! Stay tuned for pics! Cheryl
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