An Art Teacher Has a Total of 78 Pound of Clay
What some fine art teachers would consider a necessity and staple in their art rooms, other art teachers survive day in and day out with out one.
What is it? A Kiln.
The reality is, kilns are expensive, and not all schools have the budget for the expense of purchasing, running and maintaining a kiln. Because working in 3D is one of the hallmarks of a balanced art curriculum, many creative teachers effectually the state are finding ways to give their students a quality 3D fine art experience without breaking the budget.
Although I personally have experience using a kiln for most of my ceramic needs in the classroom, sometimes budget, traveling schedules and elementary ease, I often find information technology beneficial to turn to culling methods of clay to make full in the gaps of my clay curriculum. Today I would like to review some methods I have used in the by, also as some other products floating around out in that location. This guide is meant to help all art teachers (and art enthusiasts) brand the best conclusion when working without a kiln, but nonetheless accept that passion and desire to expose their students to quality clay experiences.
i. Modeling Clay
Modeling clay is a prissy clay for practicing before an actual clay project. Because it doesn't harden completely, great for practicing, but the consistency is not that of real clay, so there is a fleck of a disconnect and I observe it to be sticky and oily.
ii. Crayola Air Dry Clay
Not besides shabby of a project. Acts and attaches like earthenware clay. Paint adheres "ok" – The colors aren't every bit bold, simply I had skilful luck with water color paints or tempera cakes on them then doing a spray finish to make it glossy and seal information technology. Metallic paints piece of work great on air dry clay, and actually cover up whatever imperfections. The toll is reasonable.
3. Marblex Air Dry Clay
This product is found in the Amaco catalog, and works much similar earthenware. You tin paint information technology in one case the product is fully dry, and the greyness color is realistic to actual earthenware clay. At $ten for 5 lbs, my earthenware is nearly three/4ths the cost, all the same, if y'all cull smaller projects, this might stretch your budget nicely.
4. Rainbow Air Dry Clay
This product is from Minnesota Clay. It'due south an air dry clay that acts similar earthen ware, and comes in a variety of colors. Someone has fifty-fifty thrown on the wheel with it! I saw some finished pieces of this clay at a conference, and I was impressed. Tomorrow I am going to be conducting a more detailed review of this production and a giveaway of this clay, and then please come up back for more 'air dry clay' fun.
5. Crayola Model Magic
Yes, I've used this for pinch pots in Kindergarten and it works fairly well. You can depict on this with thin markers, which was kind of fun, after information technology dried. However, when given the choice, I would option the Crayola Air Dry or Rainbow Clay over this product whatsoever day. Mainly because you tin slip and score with the other, and treat it more like real clay. Model Magic does have its identify, but I would use sparingly. It tin exist difficult for students to dispense, and 'bounces back' when they effort to mold information technology. Plus, it's expensive and drys out very chop-chop if y'all buy a large tub.
half-dozen. Sculpey
Some teachers swear by this product. This polymer clay product is probably all-time for middle school or secondary students who want to make smaller sculptures, and because it's expensive, all you can afford is a smaller scale project, anyway. The things people can create with sculpey go on to accident my mind. This product has it's place in art rooms, if you tin can afford information technology.
Other Ideas to Stretch Your Clay (and Upkeep) Farther
Keep Projects Small-scale
You could have students create jewelry, Amulets from Egypt, smaller medallions, medals, etc. Students could make small-scale pinch pot critters, small boxes for kids to concord paper clips or jewelry or fiddling lego pieces. As far every bit color goes, I actually stuck with obviously white, but like I said, information technology'south a huge process to paint, and and then glaze or spray a clear gloss over the air dry, and so maybe color would be kind of fun and eliminate a step or two. Then you lot could only paint on a clear acrylic seal and it would be shiny an polished.
Split up and Conquer
You lot could also consider doing ceramics with merely one-half of the school and possibly doing paper mache, newspaper sculpture, wire mobiles, etc (other forms of 3D art) and trade off grade levels each twelvemonth. My favorite wire to use for sculptures (a la Calder) is Twisteez Wire.
Please share how you handle "Teaching Clay Without a Kiln"
What other products do you use and love? What products aren't worth the coin?
Magazine articles and podcasts are opinions of professional education contributors and practise not necessarily represent the position of the Art of Education University (AOEU) or its bookish offerings. Contributors employ terms in the style they are most often talked most in the telescopic of their educational experiences.
Source: https://theartofeducation.edu/2013/01/21/how-to-teach-clay-without-a-kiln-an-art-teachers-resource/
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