Shaping Clay (Grades 1–4)

Shape something out of clay

Are you a Lower School student who loves creating with your hands? Using clay as a medium, you’ll learn to shape functional and sculptural pieces with coils, slab construction, and pinching methods. Students create multiple pieces and learn how to glaze bisque ware to produce finished artwork. Projects change regularly, so students can return session after session to keep developing their skills. No prior experience is needed — just your hands, curiosity, and a willingness to play.

LED BY  Alexis Grinbold and Sani vanderSpek, La Jolla Country Day Ceramics Educators.

Program highlights

• One-on-one guidance in a group setting: individual attention on hand-building while working alongside classmates.
• Builds fine motor skills: strengthens hands and develops hand-eye coordination and spatial awareness.
• Develops problem-solving: students experiment with different shapes, sizes, and forms of clay.
• Focus and concentration: molding and shaping clay to a desired form builds a child’s ability to stay with a task.
• A social craft: opportunities to share ideas, collaborate, and learn from one another.
• A tool for self-expression: clay lets children communicate thoughts and ideas nonverbally.
• Students leave with: multiple finished, glazed artworks to take home.