Scotch College

Working with Clay in the Junior School

Ask any boy in the Junior School which part of the Visual Arts he really likes and the answer will be 'working in clay.” The boys love the tactile feel of the clay and all the exciting items that can be moulded and made from this wonderful earthy substance.

From the earliest classes in Prep, five and six- year-old boys start to work in clay. They play with the clay to see what it will do, stretch, stand-up, fall-over and bend. It is very pliable and creative. Prep boys make dinosaurs and a mould of their hand from clay as a present for their parents.

Boys in the upper grades make mythical creatures like dragons and gargoyles that have many creative and flexible possibilities. These are often made from terra-cotta clay that is very strong when fired. Boys often make a range of animals in clay as well as utilitarian items like bowls, dishes and plates. Some items are glazed in bright colours like the Year 5 rhubarb leaf plates.

There are two electric kilns under the Art room in the Junior School and these kilns are used to fire about 1000 pieces of clay each week for Terms Two and Three. Boys make many models and it takes considerable time to fire all their work. It is exciting to open a kiln and see all the boys fired work when it has cooled down after days of firing.

Year 6 boys used the slab method of construction this year with white stoneware clay to make models of old -fashioned cars. These models required good joining skills and considerable clay construction skills to complete. After firing, the cars were painted and decorated.

Mrs S Ferres
Head of Visual Arts - Junior School