Making Bugs With Earthenware Clay
Insects make a fascinating study because of their variety and colorfulness.
Modeling insects in earthenware clay gives children an opportunity to use their imaginations and creativity in a fun classroom project which can be keyed to studies in science.
To begin with, the teacher should explain to the students that if they take time to observe, they can see art everywhere, particularly in nature.
The students should be urged to go beyond the disgust or fear which insects supposedly invoke and look at them a source of inspiration.
They were among the first animals on the earth, and they will probably be the last.
They are survivors who can live in the hottest or coldest climates who can fly, crawl, and live under things.
The insect world is fascinating to study because there are so many of them, and they are all so different.
The students should be encouraged to look at as many different visual resources as are available: photos, pictures in books, movies, slides, and real insects.
Real insects should be brought into the classroom since many students have never seen insects up close.
The students can use magnifying glasses to examine insects closely and observe their body parts - head, thorax, abdomen, legs.
Beetles are recommended for this clay project since they are large insects, they come in many different forms and colors, and they can be very beautiful.
Like all insects beetles have six legs, tow antennae, and the three body parts: head, thorax, and the abdomen.
Beetles usually have two pairs of wings, but they are difficult to see because they are hidden beneath a hard outer cover.
The rear pair of wings is used for flying and is covered by their hard fore wings.
To model insects, soften the clay by kneading it.
To make a beetle, roll a ball or oval for the body and press down to flatten it or use an oval push mold to form the basic shape.
An electric clay extruder can also be used to form an oval coil which can be cut into individual flat ovals.
Then, cut three wires about 3 inches long to make the legs.
Place the wires flat on the clay oval so that the front and back pairs point forward and backward (the center pair of legs should be straight).
Roll three more small balls of colored clay, one about ½" diameter for the head; one about ¾" diameter for the thorax, and one about 1" diameter for the abdomen.
These body parts should then be shaped to the form desired, and placed in their proper places on the oval base (so that the wire legs are between the body parts and the base), and gently pressed down to stick.
Beads can be used for the eyes, pressing them into the clay head to make them stick.
Antennae can be made of two wires or straight pins inserted into the head.
Wings can be drawn on the body with texturing tools.
Fire the clay bugs, keeping the legs flat.
After firing, allow the bugs to cool and bend the legs so that the insects stand erect (it may be necessary to trim the legs to make them the same length).
Modeling insects in earthenware clay gives children an opportunity to use their imaginations and creativity in a fun classroom project which can be keyed to studies in science.
To begin with, the teacher should explain to the students that if they take time to observe, they can see art everywhere, particularly in nature.
The students should be urged to go beyond the disgust or fear which insects supposedly invoke and look at them a source of inspiration.
They were among the first animals on the earth, and they will probably be the last.
They are survivors who can live in the hottest or coldest climates who can fly, crawl, and live under things.
The insect world is fascinating to study because there are so many of them, and they are all so different.
The students should be encouraged to look at as many different visual resources as are available: photos, pictures in books, movies, slides, and real insects.
Real insects should be brought into the classroom since many students have never seen insects up close.
The students can use magnifying glasses to examine insects closely and observe their body parts - head, thorax, abdomen, legs.
Beetles are recommended for this clay project since they are large insects, they come in many different forms and colors, and they can be very beautiful.
Like all insects beetles have six legs, tow antennae, and the three body parts: head, thorax, and the abdomen.
Beetles usually have two pairs of wings, but they are difficult to see because they are hidden beneath a hard outer cover.
The rear pair of wings is used for flying and is covered by their hard fore wings.
To model insects, soften the clay by kneading it.
To make a beetle, roll a ball or oval for the body and press down to flatten it or use an oval push mold to form the basic shape.
An electric clay extruder can also be used to form an oval coil which can be cut into individual flat ovals.
Then, cut three wires about 3 inches long to make the legs.
Place the wires flat on the clay oval so that the front and back pairs point forward and backward (the center pair of legs should be straight).
Roll three more small balls of colored clay, one about ½" diameter for the head; one about ¾" diameter for the thorax, and one about 1" diameter for the abdomen.
These body parts should then be shaped to the form desired, and placed in their proper places on the oval base (so that the wire legs are between the body parts and the base), and gently pressed down to stick.
Beads can be used for the eyes, pressing them into the clay head to make them stick.
Antennae can be made of two wires or straight pins inserted into the head.
Wings can be drawn on the body with texturing tools.
Fire the clay bugs, keeping the legs flat.
After firing, allow the bugs to cool and bend the legs so that the insects stand erect (it may be necessary to trim the legs to make them the same length).
