You will need the following items:
- Clay
- Paint
- Paint brushes
- Cups
- Water
- Newspapers
- Ornament Hooks
- Knife or carving tools (toothpicks)
Follow the steps below to make some classroom Christmas ornaments:
Step 1: Lay some newspaper on each student's workspace area to protect it. The teacher should also be wearing old clothes or an apron as this can be a messy project.
Step 2: Give a block of clay to each student. Place a glass of water in the corner of each desk where the student can reach it.
Step 3: Use a knife or carving tool to cut away at the clay until you get the amount needed for the ornament. Teacher should do this part if students are very young. Prepare the students come to school with some ideas about the kind of ornament that they would like to make.
Step 4: Directions (model) for students: Shape the ornament with your hands to mold the clay and smooth it out. Dip your hands in the water from time to time and that will help you smooth out the clay. A great ornament to make is a candy cane. Just curve the clay at the top and leave the rest of the clay straight down like a stick. Ball ornaments are classic and very easy to make with clay. Take a chunk of the clay and roll it up like a ball between the palm of your hand and the table. Don't worry about decorating the ball yet, that will come later. Or you can make a Christmas wreath out of clay. Cut out a large circle of clay and then cut out the middle. Create a clay ribbon and attach it to the top. You may also want to add some small balls of berries to go with the leaves that you will etch in step five. Another ornament you may want to consider making is a flat Christmas tree. You can roll out your clay and use a Christmas tree cookie cutter. It's simple and fun to decorate later.
Step 5: Use the knife, toothpick or carving tools to make etchings in the clay. For example, using the toothpick, spell out your name. Dig "KAYLA" into the middle of the ornament, but do not press too hard! You can also create zig zag or diamond patterns in your ornament. Feel free to be creative and make the ornament unique. If you love football then create a football shape and etch some laces in to the football.
Step 6: Stick the bottom part of the ornament hook into the top of the clay while it is still soft. Allow the clay ornament to dry overnight.
Step 7: When dry, paint the ornament and remember to paint in the crevices that were created.
Step 8: Allow the paint to dry and hang it on the classroom tree.
Tips:
It is safest to use toothpicks to carve etchings in to the clay. Only use carving clay knives for older students.
Warnings:
Some clay requires baking. Make sure you check the directions on the package when you buy it before you discard the package and ruin the ornament by not following the directions.