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Wednesday, October 26, 2022

Right Beneath Your Feet


Visual Culture for Kindergarten

Nancy Walkup 

        Even very young children can start observing, thinking about, and talking about elements of the visual culture that surround them. A good place to start is right underneath their feet – the designs on the bottoms of their shoes. Through this lesson, students become aware of the designs, compare them with the designs of their neighbors, speculate on the possible reasons for such designs, and press their shoes into a slab of clay to make ceramic tiles.

Starting Out Feet First

        I begin by asking students to look at the bottom of their shoes and to share what they see. We talk about the different kinds of designs (geometric, cartoon characters, other figures from popular culture that appeal to children, brand names) and compare them with their neighbors.

        Then we talk about possible reasons may be that shoes have designs on their soles (for traction, for decoration, to advertise a product, to promote a movie). We compare my shoes to theirs and I ask them to compare theirs with their parents when they get home. 

Stamping Our Feet

        Next we talk about texture and the different kinds of textures on their shoes. I explain that we are going to use the texture on the bottom of their shoes to create a clay impression. I demonstrate the procedures for making a clay tile, distribute materials, and then they create their own as I circulate around the room, offering assistance as needed.

The Process

        Give each student a small ball of clay and show them how to shape into a patty, one that is not too thin. Then have them take off a shoe, carefully press the ball of the foot into the clay, and slowly pull it apart. DO NOT let them put the clay on the floor and step on it. That will just make a mess of dirty clay you will have to scrape off the floor. Have them write their names on small pieces of paper and place them under the clay pieces. We talk a bit about the nature of clay and how it changes when it is fired.

         When students are finished working with the clay, we review the steps they have taken and have them search for other examples of texture in the room. I challenge them to look for examples at home to share later. 

        At the end of the day, using their name papers as a guideline, I stamp or write their names on the bottom of the clay pieces and push a hole through one edge with a straw so they can be hung on the wall when finished. If possible, I return their fired tiles to them the next time they return to art. They dry fairly quickly because of their size. When they are fired, students can glaze them with one color and they can be fired again or they could also be painted with acrylics. This is the first clay project I do with early childhood students.

Materials

  • stoneware or earthenware moist clay, cut into slabs about the size and thickness of a hamburger patty, one per student 
  • pieces of paper a little larger than the clay, one per student
  • crayons to write names on paper
  • shallow bowl of water for each table
  • texture tools such as pencils, craft sticks, paper clips
  • straws (to punch holes for hanging)
  • yarn for hanging
  • low fire ceramic glazes or paints
  • bread tray or other clay drying rack                                                                  

        Distribute waxed paper pieces and clay. Have each student dip a finger in the water and then use the wet finger to smooth the rough edges of the clay. Tell students to each take off one shoe and hold it upside down securely in his or her lap. Ask them to carefully position the clay over the ball of the shoe and then slowly press it down onto the sole (without flattening the clay too much). Have students place their clay texture side up on the waxed paper. Demonstrate adding textures on smooth areas and the sides of the clay with simple tools then have students add textures to their tiles.

        While students work, go around the room and write their names on the waxed paper under their work. As students finish, collect their tiles and set them aside to dry (write their names on the bottom of the clay as soon as you have time). I often use a drinking straw to poke a hole in one edge of the tiles so that they can be hung on a wall when complete.

        If you let the tiles get bone dry, you can glaze them and fire them just once. I usually apply the glaze for kindergarteners but you may choose to have them do it. Just remember the bone dry clay is very fragile and too much glaze may soften the edges of the stamped patterns. 

Nancy Walkup

nancywalkup@mac.com

 

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