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Making Activities Project Four for Schools without Ceramics Facilities: Press Moulds / relief work / repetition / plaster plaques Suitable for all key stages Back at School Get each pupil to roll out a thick slab of clay. See Slab building in the Working with Clay section. Get the pupils to experiment with pressing different objects into the clay. Once they have found an effect they like, get them to experiment with repeating the image. Click on the pictures below to open a new window with a larger image. If they do not like the effects of pressing objects into the clay, they can also draw a picture in the clay, or they may want to do a combination of the two. Note: If they after pressing various objects in / drawing on the surface of they clay, they don’t like the image they end up with, they can just smooth the surface of the clay over and start again. Once the pupils have an image they want to keep, they need to build a small wall of clay, at least 1 inch high, around it. It is very important that this is done carefully, and that the clay wall is joined properly to the slab as the next step is to pour plaster of paris into it to make the plaque, and this will run out if there are any gaps / holes. Note: You are actually using the clay as a mould for your relief panel. Once the wall is secure, mix a small amount of plaster of paris, and pour it in until it reaches the top of the wall. This means the plaster will be at least 1 inch thick. Once the plaster is dry, peel off the clay. You will be left with a plaster of paris relief panel, which is strong, durable and can be painted if wished.