PBL: ClayTales — Day 3
Date: 14th October, 2022; Friday.
Facilitators: Auindrilla, Sonai, Sanmoyee, Drishti, and Priyanka.
Participants: Adrived, Dhriya, Divit, Maryam, Meher, Nitara, Parth, Rishit, Ruhani, Shannaya, Sharlav, Shivansh, Shivanshika, Shivanyaa, Vaanya, Yuvaan (Mehra).
Tags: art, sensory, exploration, pbl
Welcome back to another instalment of ClayTales! The Arthlings have explored a variety of tools and techniques to use with clay. They will now discover its storytelling potential!
PLANNING AND SETUP
The activity was divided into the following steps:
1. Actions with Clay: Flashcards depicting various actions with clay, and the corresponding action words, were printed and stuck in different parts of the class.
2. Experimenting with Tools and Techniques: Clay was divided and kept ready for use. Trays were arranged with wooden stamps, silicone moulds, leaves, twigs, shells, rollers, string, wooden knives, safety scissors, and cookie cutters. Jute sacks were provided as a surface to work on.
3. Building My ClayTale: The Arthlings received their work from the previous day to use as a starting point.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Experimenting with Tools and Techniques: After a brief warm-up session, the Arthlings gathered at the tables to work on their ClayTales! They were introduced to a new action — stamping! The children discovered that pressing a wooden stamp into the clay left a ‘design’ or imprint. Seashells were available on the menu too! The shells could be pressed into the surface to leave an imprint, and could also scoop or hold small amounts of clay.
Right after stamping came moulding! The children were introduced to basic cupcake moulds, but also moulds shaped like hearts, pumpkins, stars and flowers! These moulds served as a source of inspiration for many. Vaanya asked if the silicone moulds were for making diyas. Divit used his mould to make a clay bowl!
A warm-up squeeze…
…And a warm-up stretch!
Dhriya works on her clay.
Dhriya’s hands are covered in mud!
Yuvaan (Mehra) holds up a flattened disc of clay.
Divit experiments with moulds.
Nitara offers some food to Auindrilla Didi…
…So that she can taste it!
Rishit uses a roller and mould.
Shivansh uses a shell on his clay.
Shivansh piles his mud.
Shivansh and his mud pile!
Parth experiments with moulds and rollers.
Building My ClayTale: Each Arthling went through several rounds of construction and destruction before settling on a final ClayTale. Shapes were made, broken, and made again. Rishit and Nitara initially planned to make cars, but ended up creating food! Rishit made makhana and chapatis, while Nitara made 'yum' maggi. Ruhani made a birthday cake decorated with leaves and 'gems'. Shivanshika also made a birthday cake… but she used broken earbuds and a seashell to represent candles! Shivansh piled mud together to make a pizza, but then broke it to make a bus. Shivanyaa and Maryam made an unusual kind of dinosaur; the dinosaur had hands and eyes, but no face! At Drishti Didi’s suggestion, Shivanyaa also constructed a dinosaur house with a garden and a tree. Meher was inspired by her favourite animal, the duck. When Sanmoyee Didi poured water on the clay, Meher told her that the duck was swimming!
Vaanya, Divit and Sonai Didi collaborated on a story together. The story began when Sonai Didi explained that her ClayTale was inspired by her father, who works at an office. Divit volunteered to make an office for Sonai Didi’s father, which he decorated with leaves and named ‘Aqua Piece’. Vaanya made a model of her own father, to accompany Sonai Didi’s father in the same office!
Vaanya makes a model of her father.
Vaanya’s finished creation.
Shivanshika experiments with different materials…
…To add to the surface of her cake!
Shivanshika’s birthday cake with candles!
Shannaya works on her ClayTale,
Divit moulds a ball of clay.
Divit and his decorated ClayTale.
Meher’s canvas with a swimming duck!
SKILLS USED
Fine motor skills
Hand-eye coordination
Cooperation
Creativity
Curiosity and exploration
OUTCOME AND FUTURE
The Arthlings have mastered a host of different clay-working techniques! In the process, they are learning to use their hands and fingers in new and exciting ways!
Stay tuned for the next episode of ClayTales!