Project for Kids: Clay Sea Sculptures

Materials and Tools:

sculpting clay
cookie sheet
newspaper
toothpicks
string

Steps:

1. Choose a clean work surface, and be sure to lay down newspaper so that the clay won't stain your surface.
   
2. Lay out the colors you want to use for your sea animals. Have fun with it! Who says a sea turtle has to be green? Maybe a shark can be purple.
   
3. Start molding. Pick your colors and form clay into different shapes. To make the body of a fish, you can pick up a piece of clay and roll it between your palms until it forms into an oblong shape. Then, choose a different color for the eyes and roll the clay between your thumb and pointer finger to make a ball. Put the ball on either side of the fish's head so that it can see. Finally, choose a flat piece of clay and make a triangular shape with it. Press it onto the fish's body, and you've got your first sea creature.
   
4. If you are hanging the creatures from an object or from the ceiling, use a toothpick to poke one small hole into the top edge of each creature. The hole must be wide enough for you to hang string through it.
   
5. Thread string through the holes.
   
6. Place your school of fish onto a baking sheet.
   
7. You'll need an adult to help you with this step. Follow the directions on the clay packaging to bake the clay until hardened. This should take approximately 10-15 minutes. Keep an eye on the pieces to make sure they don't burn.
   
8. After the pieces are pulled from the oven, wait about 5 more minutes for them to cool down. Have an adult make sure that they have hardened enough to play with.
   
9. Choose the place where you want them to hang and have an adult screw hooks into that place.
   
10. Hang the creature by the string from the ceiling or wall.
    
11. Enjoy your underwater friends!