Hello!
Welcome to Clay Projects for Schools.
Simple, fun, creative, tried and tested projects for children using clay.
No experience necessary from adults or children.
All projects are made with up to four simple shapes, a ball, a bean, a sausage and a carrot.
Each resource has a demonstration, step by step photographic instructions and preparation notes.
I have over 25 years experience creating clay projects for children in schools and museums and am also a TA in Primary Schools.
Hello!
Welcome to Clay Projects for Schools.
Simple, fun, creative, tried and tested projects for children using clay.
No experience necessary from adults or children.
All projects are made with up to four simple shapes, a ball, a bean, a sausage and a carrot.
Each resource has a demonstration, step by step photographic instructions and preparation notes.
I have over 25 years experience creating clay projects for children in schools and museums and am also a TA in Primary Schools.
Here’s how to make Diya (lamps) for Diwali using the pinch pot/thumb pot method. This resource includes video demonstrations and easy to follow, child friendly, step by step instructions.
Suitable for children aged 7 and upwards including SEN children and any child needing additional support. If you are new to clay, allow a whole afternoon to make this project if you can. This project also works as a one to one activity or in small groups.
There are two videos included in this resource, how to make a Diya and put patterns on it and how to decorate it when it is dry. There are two powerpoints to accompany the making video and one powerpoint to accompany the decorating video which include step by step instructions.
What you need:
clay
pencils
lolly sticks
LED tea lights
paintbrushes
acrylic paints
What you get:
Video showing how to make a Diya with suggestions for patterns
Video showing suggestions on how to decorate your lamp
Powerpoint step by step instructions - I can make a Diya
Powerpoint step by step instructions - I can put patterns on my lamp
Powerpoint step by step instructions - How to decorate your lamp
Information for teachers:
How the projects work
Things you will need
Lesson plan
Preparing for your workshop (including tips for decorating)
Health and Safety
How to recycle your clay
Handling clay
Looking after your clay
Certificate of Achievement
These projects help children learn and practice basic skills which can then be used to create their own projects and enhance their own creativity. Although your children are making the same project, they will all look different.
Here’s how to make a clay fish step by step. Suitable for children aged 4 and upwards including SEN children. Great for nature, underwater or seaside themed topics. This also works well for after school clubs, as a golden time activity and can be completed in the space of a lesson (up to an hour and a half).
What you need:
clay
lolly sticks
pencils
old paintbrushes
pots of slip or water.
What you get:
Powerpoint step by step instructions - ‘I can make a fish’ and ‘I can make different types of fish’
Printable step by step instructions for ‘I can make a fish’.
Video animation showing how to make a fish and how to make a fish with stick on scales.
Video showing how to make four basic shapes
Video showing how to press your clay flat
Information for teachers:
How the projects work
Things you will need
Lesson plan
Preparing for your workshop (including tips for decorating)
Health and Safety
Certificate of Achievement
Here’s how to make a clay crown step by step. Suitable for children aged 7 and upwards including SEN children. Great for topics involving fairytales, castles or royalty. This also works well for after school clubs, as a golden time activity and can be completed in the space of a lesson (up to an hour and a half).
What you need:
clay
lolly sticks
pencils
old paintbrushes
pots of slip or water.
What you get:
Powerpoint step by step instructions - ‘I can make a crown’
Powerpoint step by step instructions showing how to make a star close up
Printable step by step instructions for ‘I can make a crown’.
Video animation showing how to make a crown
Video showing how to make four basic shapes
Video showing how to press your clay flat
Information for teachers:
How the projects work
Things you will need
Lesson plan
Preparing for your workshop (including tips for decorating)
Health and Safety
Certificate of Achievement
Here’s how to make a clay crown step by step. Suitable for children aged 8 and upwards including SEN children. Great for topics involving fairytales, castles or royalty. This also works well for after school clubs, as a golden time activity and can be completed in the space of a lesson (up to an hour and a half). This project works best as a one to one activity or in small groups.
What you need:
clay
lolly sticks
pencils
old paintbrushes
pots of slip or water.
What you get:
Powerpoint step by step instructions - ‘I can make a crown’
Powerpoint step by step instructions showing how to make a star close up
Powerpoint step by step instructions showing how to make a cross close up
Printable step by step instructions for ‘I can make a crown’.
Video animation showing how to make a crown
Video showing how to make four basic shapes (you only need to watch the first three shapes)
Video showing how to press your clay flat
Information for teachers:
How the projects work
Things you will need
Lesson plan
Preparing for your workshop (including tips for decorating)
Health and Safety
Certificate of Achievement
Here’s how to make a reindeer out of clay with a video demonstration and easy to follow, child friendly, step by step instructions. This project can be used alongside animal or Christmas topics or just as something fun to make! If you are a forest school you could have a separate activity for the children looking for small twigs for the antlers. Ideal as part of an art day/art week.
Suitable for children aged 7 and upwards including SEN children and any child needing additional support. If you are new to clay, allow a whole afternoon to make this project if you can.
This project is made using four basic shapes, a ball, a bean, a sausage and a carrot shape. There is also a video included demonstrating how to make these shapes.
This project can also work as a one to one activity or in small groups. There are no variations of this project.
What you need:
clay
pencils
lolly sticks
brown felt tip pens
craft matchsticks
small twigs for the antlers
pots of slip or water
paintbrushes
acrylic paints
What you get:
Powerpoint step by step instructions - ‘I can make a reindeer’
Powerpoint step by step instructions - ‘How to paint your reindeer’
Video showing how to make a reindeer
Video showing how to make four basic shapes
Information for teachers:
How the projects work
Things you will need
Lesson plan
Preparing for your workshop (including tips for decorating)
Health and Safety
How to recycle your clay
Handling clay
Looking after your clay
Certificate of Achievement
These projects help children learn and practice basic skills which can then be used to create their own projects and enhance their own creativity. Although your children are making the same project, they will all look different.
Mini makes are fun projects to make that use very small amounts of air-drying clay.
Here’s how to make Christmas tree star decorations with video demonstrations and easy to follow, child friendly, step by step instructions. These decorations are simple to make and great practice for improving dexterity and fine motor skills. Once finished, you could use the decorations to decorate a classroom tree before the children take them home.
There are three versions to choose from that cover nearly all ages and abilities. The easiest decoration uses a lolly stick and is suitable for children in Reception and Year 1.
The other two versions use strips of thin cardboard to make the stars and are suitable for children aged 7 and upwards. This project is also suitable for children with special educational needs and those who need help with their mental wellbeing.
This project also works best as a one to one activity or in small groups and is suitable for after school clubs or as a golden time activity.
What you need:
DAS clay
pencils
lolly sticks
pots of water
Paintbrush
Strip of thin cardboard
Paperclip
Ribbon or string
Mat to work on
What you get:
Powerpoint step by step instructions - ‘I can make a Christmas tree star decoration 1.’
Powerpoint step by step instructions - ‘I can make a Christmas tree star decoration 2.’
Powerpoint step by step instructions - ‘I can make a Christmas tree star decoration 3.’
Video showing how to make a Christmas tree star decoration version 1.’
Video showing how to make a Christmas tree star decoration version 2.’
Video showing how to make a Christmas tree star decoration version 3.
Video showing how to fix big cracks in the clay’
Information for teachers:
How the projects work
Things you will need
Lesson plan
Preparing for your workshop (including tips for decorating)
Health and Safety
Certificate of Achievement
These projects help children learn and practice basic skills which can then be used to create their own projects and enhance their own creativity. Although your children are making the same project, they will all look different.
Mini-makes are fun projects for your children that use very small amounts of air-drying clay. Here’s how to make an Easter egg decoration. Although the shape is simple to make, the children can create a variety of different ways to decorate their eggs which are demonstrated in this resource. There is also information on how to turn this project into a display to brighten up your classroom for Easter.
Suitable for children aged 7 (Year 2) and upwards including children with special educational needs and those who need help with their mental wellbeing. This also works well for after school clubs or as a golden time activity. Also suitable for Forest schools if you wish to make an Easter egg tree.
This project works best as a one to one activity or in small groups.
Please note, due to the fact that the clay needs to dry, this project needs to be completed over a few sessions.
What you need:
DAS clay
Pot of water
Paintbrush
Strip of thin recycled cardboard
Paperclips
Paper plate
Palette
Acrylic paints
Metallic acrylic paint
Palette
Ribbon or gold thread
Mat to work on
Tea towel
What you get:
Powerpoint step by step instructions - ‘I can make an Easter egg decoration’.
Powerpoint step by step instructions - ‘How to decorate your egg’.
Video showing how to make an Easter egg decoration.
Video showing things to watch out for when making.
Information for teachers:
How the projects work
Things you will need
Lesson plan
Preparing for your workshop (including tips for decorating)
Health and Safety
Certificate of Achievement
These projects help children learn and practice basic skills which can then be used to create their own projects and enhance their own creativity. Although your children are making the same project, they will all look different.
Here’s how to make a snowman out of clay with video demonstrations and easy to follow, child friendly, step by step instructions. This project can be used alongside Christmas or winter topics or just as something fun to make! If you are a forest school you could have a separate activity for the children looking for small twigs for the arms. Ideal as part of an art day/art week.
There are three versions to chooses from:
Snowman
Snowman with a scarf
Snowman with a scarf and hat
The snowman is suitable for children aged 5 and upwards, the other two versions are suitable for children aged 7 and upwards including SEN children and any child needing additional support. If you are new to clay, allow a whole afternoon to make this project if you can. I have made this project with children in Year 1 and would suggest making it in small groups at a time.
This project is made using three basic shapes, a ball, a bean and a sausage shape. There is also a video included demonstrating how to make these shapes.
This project can also work as a one to one activity or in small groups.
What you need:
clay
pencils
lolly sticks
pots of slip or water
paintbrushes
acrylic paints
small twigs for the arms
What you get:
Powerpoint step by step instructions - ‘I can make a snowman’
Powerpoint step by step instructions - ‘I can make a snowman with a scarf’
Powerpoint step by step instructions - ‘I can make a snowman with a scarf and a hat’
Powerpoint step by step instructions - ‘How to paint your snowman’
Powerpoint step by step instructions - ‘How to paint your snowman with a scarf’
Powerpoint step by step instructions - ‘How to paint your snowman with a scarf and a hat’
Video showing how to make a snowman
Video showing how to make a snowman with a scarf
Video showing how to make a snowman with a scarf and a hat
Video showing how to make four basic shapes (ignore the carrot shape)
Information for teachers:
How the projects work
Things you will need
Lesson plan
Preparing for your workshop (including tips for decorating)
Health and Safety
How to recycle your clay
Handling clay
Looking after your clay
Certificate of Achievement
These projects help children learn and practice basic skills which can then be used to create their own projects and enhance their own creativity. Although your children are making the same project, they will all look different.
Here’s how to make two versions of a Harvest wheatsheaf with video demonstrations and easy to follow, child friendly, step by step instructions. This project can be used alongside Harvest festival celebrations or just as something fun to make!
Suitable for children aged 7 and upwards including SEN children and any child needing additional support. If you are new to clay, allow a whole afternoon to make this project if you can.
This project is made using four basic shapes, a ball, a bean, a sausage and a carrot shape. There is also a video included demonstrating how to make these shapes.
This project can also work as a one to one activity or in small groups.
What you need:
clay
pencils
lolly sticks
pots of slip or water
paintbrushes
acrylic paints
What you get:
Powerpoint step by step instructions - ‘I can make a Harvest wheatsheaf version 1.’
Powerpoint step by step instructions - ‘I can make a Harvest wheatsheaf version 2.’
Video showing how to make a Harvest wheatsheaf version 1.
Video showing how to make a Harvest wheatsheaf version 2.
Video showing how to make four basic shapes
Video showing how to press your clay flat
Information for teachers:
How the projects work
Things you will need
Lesson plan
Preparing for your workshop (includes tips for decorating)
Health and Safety
How to recycle your clay
Handling clay
Looking after your clay
Certificate of Achievement
These projects help children learn and practice basic skills which can then be used to create their own projects and enhance their own creativity. Although your children are making the same project, they will all look different.
Here’s how to make a nocturnal animal out of clay with video demonstrations and easy to follow, child friendly, step by step instructions. This project can be used alongside nature/animal/habitat topics or just as something fun to make! I have made this project in the past with children who had the book ‘Owl Babies’ as their English topic. Ideal as part of an art day/art week.
There are three versions to chooses from:
Oval owl in a tree
Oval owl in a tree with the moon
Round owl in a tree with a spider’s web (this version would be suitable for Halloween.)
Suitable for children aged 7 and upwards including SEN children and any child needing additional support. If you are new to clay, allow a whole afternoon to make this project if you can. I have made this project with children in Year 1 and would suggest making it in small groups at a time.
This project is made using three basic shapes, a ball, a bean, and a sausage shape. There is also a video included demonstrating how to make these shapes.
This project can also work as a one to one activity or in small groups.
What you need:
clay
pencils
lolly sticks
Lid of a marker pen (for the moon)
pots of slip or water
paintbrushes
acrylic paints
What you get:
Powerpoint step by step instructions - ‘I can make an owl in a tree’
Powerpoint step by step instructions - ‘I can make an owl in a tree with a spider too’
Powerpoint step by step instructions - ‘I can make an owl in a tree with the moon’
Powerpoint step by step instructions - ‘How to paint your owl’
Video showing how to make an owl in a tree
Video showing how to make an owl in a tree with a spider too
Video showing how to make an owl in a tree with the moon
Video showing how to make paint your owl
Video showing how to make four basic shapes (ignore the carrot shape)
Video showing how to press your clay flat
Information for teachers:
How the projects work
Things you will need
Lesson plan
Preparing for your workshop (including tips for decorating)
Health and Safety
How to recycle your clay
Handling clay
Looking after your clay
Certificate of Achievement
These projects help children learn and practice basic skills which can then be used to create their own projects and enhance their own creativity. Although your children are making the same project, they will all look different.
Here’s how to make a head of a lion out of clay with video demonstrations and easy to follow, child friendly, step by step instructions. This project can be used alongside nature/animal/habitat topics or just as something fun to make! Ideal as part of an art day/art week. It also works well as a one to one activity or in small groups.
Suitable for children aged 7 and upwards including SEN children and any child needing additional support. If you are new to clay, allow a whole afternoon to make this project if you can.
This project is made using four basic shapes, a ball, a bean, a sausage and a carrot shape. There are video demonstrations as well as powerpoint step by step instructions included in this resource.
What you need:
clay
pencils
lolly sticks
wooden forks (optional)
pots of slip or water
paintbrushes
acrylic paints
What you get:
Powerpoint step by step instructions - ‘I can make a head of a lion’
Powerpoint step by step instructions - ‘How to paint your lion’
Video showing how to make a head of a lion
Video showing how to paint your lion
Video showing how to make four basic shapes
Video showing how to press your clay flat
Information for teachers:
How the projects work
Things you will need
Lesson plan
Preparing for your workshop (including tips for decorating)
Health and Safety
How to recycle your clay
Handling clay
Looking after your clay
Certificate of Achievement
These projects help children learn and practice basic skills which can then be used to create their own projects and enhance their own creativity. Although your children are making the same project, they will all look different.
Here’s how to make an underwater tile out of clay with easy to follow, child friendly, step by step instructions. This is a step up from my clay fish project and can be used alongside nature/seaside/underwater topics or just as something fun to make! Ideal as part of an art day/art week.
Suitable for children aged 7 and upwards including SEN children and any child needing additional support. If you are new to clay, allow a whole afternoon to make this project if you can.
There are three videos included in this resource, how to make an underwater tile, how to make a starfish and how to paint your underwater tile.
This project is made using three basic shapes, a ball, a bean, and a sausage shape. There is also a video included demonstrating how to make these shapes.
This project can also work as a one to one activity or in small groups.
What you need:
clay
pencils
lolly sticks
pots of slip or water
paintbrushes
acrylic paints
What you get:
Powerpoint step by step instructions - ‘I can make an underwater tile.’
Powerpoint step by step instructions - ‘I can make a starfish.’
Powerpoint step by step instructions - ‘How to paint your underwater tile’
Video showing how to make an underwater tile
Video showing how to make a starfish
Video showing how to paint an underwater tile
Video showing how to make four basic shapes (ignore the carrot shape)
Video showing how to press your clay flat
Information for teachers:
How the projects work
Things you will need
Lesson plan
Preparing for your workshop (including tips for decorating)
Health and Safety
How to recycle your clay
Handling clay
Looking after your clay
Certificate of Achievement
These projects help children learn and practice basic skills which can then be used to create their own projects and enhance their own creativity. Although your children are making the same project, they will all look different.
Here’s how to make a nature tile out of clay with easy to follow, child friendly, step by step instructions. This project could be used alongside nature topics or just as something fun to make! Ideal as part of an art day/art week.
Suitable for children aged 8 and upwards including SEN children and any child needing additional support. This also works well for forest schools.
There are three videos included in this resource, how to make a nature tile, a slightly different version of how to make a nature tile and a speeded up version of how to paint the finished model.
The powerpoint is split into two parts (due to file size). The first part is how to make the base and the leaves for the background, the second part is how to make the flower.
This project is made using four basic shapes, a ball, a bean, a sausage and a carrot shape. There is also a video included demonstrating how to make these shapes.
Suggestions for variations are shown plus step by step instructions for decorating the finished model after it has dried. This project can also work as a one to one activity or in small groups.
What you need:
clay
pencils
lolly sticks
strips of cardboard
pots of slip or water
paintbrushes
acrylic paints
What you get:
Powerpoint step by step instructions - ‘I can make a nature tile part 1.’
Powerpoint step by step instructions - ‘I can make a nature tile part 2.’
Powerpoint step by step instructions - ‘I can make a nature tile variations.’
Powerpoint step by step instructions - ‘How to paint your nature tile’
Video showing how to make a nature tile
Video showing how to make a slightly different nature tile
Video showing how to paint a nature tile
Video showing how to make four basic shapes
Video showing how to press your clay flat
Information for teachers:
How the projects work
Things you will need
Lesson plan
Preparing for your workshop (including tips for decorating)
Health and Safety
How to recycle your clay
Handling clay
Looking after your clay
Certificate of Achievement
These projects help children learn and practice basic skills which can then be used to create their own projects and enhance their own creativity. Although your children are making the same project, they will all look different.
Here’s how to make a clay Eye of Horus with easy to follow, child friendly, step by step instructions.
Suitable for children aged 7 and upwards including SEN children. Great for topics about Ancient Egypt. This also works well for after school clubs, as a golden time activity and can be completed in the space of a lesson (up to an hour and a half). This project works best as a one to one activity or in small groups.
What you need:
clay
pencils
pots of water.
What you get:
Powerpoint step by step instructions - ‘I can make an Eye of Horus’ (for children who are right handed)
Powerpoint step by step instructions - ‘I can make an Eye of Horus’ (for children who are left handed)
Printable step by step instructions for ‘I can make an Eye of Horus’ (both left and right handed versions).
Video animation showing how to make an Eye of Horus
Video showing how to make four basic shapes (you only need to watch a ball and a sausage)
Video showing how to press your clay flat
Information for teachers:
How the projects work
Things you will need
Lesson plan
Preparing for your workshop (including tips for decorating)
Health and Safety
Looking after your clay
How to recycle your clay
Looking after your clay
Handling clay
Certificate of Achievement
There is also information regarding painting the Eye of Horus when it is dry.
These projects help children learn and practice basic skills which can then be used to create their own projects and enhance their own creativity. Although your children are making the same project, they will all look different.
Here’s how to make a monkey face out of clay with easy to follow, child friendly, step by step instructions. This project could be used alongside rainforest or habitat topics.
Suitable for children aged 7 and upwards including SEN children and any child needing additional support. This also works well for after school clubs or as a golden time activity and can be completed in the space of a lesson (up to an hour and a half). Suggestions for variations are shown plus step by step instructions for decorating the finished model after it has dried. This project works best as a one to one activity or in small groups.
What you need:
clay
pencils
lolly sticks
strips of cardboard
pots of slip or water
paintbrushes
acrylic paints
What you get:
Powerpoint step by step instructions - ‘I can make monkey face’
Powerpoint step by step instructions - ‘How to paint your monkey face’
Powerpoint step by step instructions - ‘Monkey face variations’
Video showing how to make a monkey face
Video showing how to make four basic shapes (you only need to make three of them)
Video showing how to press your clay flat
Information for teachers:
How the projects work
Things you will need
Lesson plan
Preparing for your workshop (including tips for decorating)
Health and Safety
How to recycle your clay
Handling clay
Looking after your clay
Certificate of Achievement
These projects help children learn and practice basic skills which can then be used to create their own projects and enhance their own creativity. Although your children are making the same project, they will all look different.
Here’s how to make and decorate a flat clay snowman with easy to follow, child friendly, step by step instructions. A fun project to make for Christmas!
Suitable for children aged 6 and upwards including SEN children. This also works well for after school clubs or as a golden time activity and can be completed in the space of a lesson (up to an hour and a half). Differentiation suggestions are shown plus step by step instructions for decorating the finished model after it has dried. This project works best as a one to one activity or in small groups.
What you need:
clay
pencils
lolly sticks
pots of slip or water
paintbrushes
acrylic paints
PVA glue
silver glitter
What you get:
Powerpoint step by step instructions - ‘I can make a snowman’ (includes instructions for decorating the finished model)
Powerpoint step by step instructions - ‘I can make a snowman with a hat on’ (differentiation version, includes instructions for decorating the finished model)
Video animation showing how to make a snowman
Video animation showing how to make a snowman with a hat on
Video showing how to make four basic shapes (you need to watch a ball, a bean and a sausage)
Video showing how to press your clay flat
Information for teachers:
How the projects work
Things you will need
Lesson plan
Preparing for your workshop (including tips for decorating)
Health and Safety
How to recycle your clay
Handling clay
Looking after your clay
Certificate of Achievement
These projects help children learn and practice basic skills which can then be used to create their own projects and enhance their own creativity. Although your children are making the same project, they will all look different.
Here’s how to make a clay spider on a web with easy to follow, child friendly, step by step instructions.
Suitable for children aged 7 and upwards including SEN children. Great for topics about nature and mini beasts. This also works well for after school clubs, as a golden time activity and can be completed in the space of a lesson (up to an hour and a half). Differentiation suggestions are shown plus tips for painting the finished model. This project works best as a one to one activity or in small groups.
What you need:
clay
pencils
lolly sticks
pots of water.
What you get:
Powerpoint step by step instructions - ‘I can make a spider on a web’.
Printable step by step instructions for ‘I can make a spider on a web’
Powerpoint step by step instructions - ‘Different types of web and a small spider’ left handed version (differentiation)
Powerpoint step by step instructions - ‘Different types of web and a small spider’ right handed version (differentiation)
Powerpoint step by step instructions - ‘How to paint your spider on a web’
Video animation showing how to make a spider on a web
Video animation showing how to make different types of web and a small spider
Video animation showing how to paint your spider on a web
Video showing how to make four basic shapes (you need to watch a ball, a bean and a sausage)
Video showing how to press your clay flat
Information for teachers:
How the projects work
Things you will need
Lesson plan
Preparing for your workshop (including tips for decorating)
Health and Safety
How to recycle your clay
Looking after your clay
Handling clay
Certificate of Achievement
These projects help children learn and practice basic skills which can then be used to create their own projects and enhance their own creativity. Although your children are making the same project, they will all look different.