Clay Hatchlings

The main idea for this clay project was that students would create pinch pots out of clay and then shape them into eggshells with creatures hatching out of them. I gave them perhaps too much creative liberty with this, because while the majority of them sculpted creatures that would traditionally hatch from eggs, I also had a lot of off-the-wall projects, like an egg "hatching" a bowl of spaghetti or a puppy. In the future, I might adapt this project to be dragons hatching from eggs only and do a study on folklore in advance.

This is a beginner clay project and allows students to gain a basic vocabulary for clay sculptures, such as pinch pots, scoring and slipping, wedging, glazing, and how to use the various tools. They brainstorm in their sketchbook and then they have to stick with the plan they choose. After the pieces have been fired in the kiln to bisque-ware, they are glazed and fired once more.