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Project Three for Schools with Ceramics Facilities:
Working with texture and pattern

Suitable for key stage 1 and up NOTE: This stage is NOT suitable for Key Stage 1

Stage 3 - make a pot from the textured slab
Pupils could use their textured slab to make a flat dish – see Project 1 for instructions – or they could use it to make a simple slab pot. They will need some sort of “former” such as a rolling pin, cardboard tube, yoghurt pot etc., to support the pot during making. See Slab Building in the working with clay section.

Click on one of the pictures below to open a new window with a larger image.
Step one and two Step three, part one Step three, part two
 
Step four Step five  
1. Cut out a rectangle of clay from the slab. It will need to be long enough to wrap around the rolling pin with a bit left over. (Note, you may wish to make a template for the pupils to use to make sure they get the right size.) Make sure you have another small piece of plain clay rolled out as well to make the base.

2. Wrap a sheet of newspaper around the rolling pin - this will prevent the clay sticking to it.

3. Wrap the piece of clay around the rolling pin, making sure that the one of the edges of the slab is lined up with the end of the rolling pin. (This will make it easier to join the base.) Score the overlap, apply sticking slip and carefully press together. You should now have a cylinder of clay wrapped around the rolling pin.

4. Place the rolling pin/ cylinder on the other piece of clay and draw around to make the base. Cut out, score edges of cylinder and base, apply slip and join. The pot should be able to support itself now, so carefully remove the rolling pin. If it starts to sag, leave for a little while, and try again. Note: do not allow clay to dry on the rolling pin, or it will crack as it dries.

5. If all the pupils have used rolling pins as a former, their pots should be very similar in shape and size. They will probably look very different however, due to the different textures used. Get the pupils to discuss this.