Outcomes:  To have the experience of creating with clay, making a ‘coil’ with clay, and learning about the concept of form following function and art that serves a physical purpose. 

Materials:  Low fire earthen ware clay that has the AP symbol on it-safe for young children to work with (make clay into egg sized balls ahead of time and seal into a plastic bag to keep moist),soft oil clay (modeling clay), cloth to spread on tables (or large sheet of paper), a pencil that you don’t mind getting clay on, incense sticks, and the children’s own two hands.

Art History component:  Look at pieces of pottery from history that are also ‘works of art’ and when talking about them discuss how they are functional useful pieces first and beautiful second.

Websites to get pictures and examples from- British Museum, History For Kids: Art .  There are many more out there, but the British museum is my favorite site for a lot of art history projects. 

If possible have a piece of pottery, perhaps a clay incense burner, to show as an example.  Talk about where clay comes from-its dirt from the ground J. 

Steps

1. Talk about pottery and clay and show examples.  Take questions and discuss. 
2. Show an example of what they will be making (a coiled snail with flat bottom that sits up-coil starting in the middle and radiating out to form a circular lid shape with the end of the coil peeked up to form the head, then stand upright slightly squishing the bottom to form the base, and put at least one hole in center of top of form to create a place for the incense-just use the incense stick only make the hole a little wider.  Have this done before hand for an example.)
3. Have cloth or paper already taped onto tables so that it does not roll around when they are making their coils, have children sit at their spots.
4. Demonstrate the coil method on the table and show them how to roll in up into a snail. 
5. Pass out oil clay for a practice run.  Soft oil clay will more closely resemble the consistency of the actual clay, and that’s important as you don’t want them to smash the coils when they go to make their actual project. 
6. Observe and correct the making of the snail, re-teaching when necessary and when the children are making good coils and seem to have the hang of rolling them up (remember they are wee little things and not to expect too much!) go ahead and pick up the oil clay and pass out the pre made balls of low fire clay. If time does not allow the completion of project in one period stop at the oil clay and continue with low fire clay next time.
7. As coils are made, make sure children are successful in rolling up into snail form, help as needed.
8. If children are successful, and time allows, pass out second bit of clay to make into little antennae onto head of snail.
9. When finished, teacher will scratch children’s name into bottom of snail with pencil and put hole into top with a stick of incense (make a  little larger than stick as the clay will shrink slightly in kiln.)
10. Let dry to green ware and fire following firing instructions on clay and kiln.  Enjoy!

More Activities and Lesson Plans for Kindergarteners

• Clay Tiles
• Create a Crayon Box
• Weaving Paper Placemats
• An Art Lesson Plan for Kindergarten Through Second Grade