Elementary Art Curriculum: K-5 Clay Unit, 7 Projects, Activities, Handouts, More

This clay elementary curriculum will teach your art students the basics of working with clay from learning how to mold it to pinch pots to coils to sculpting. This kindergarten through 5th grade clay curriculum focuses on teaching students hand-building with clay techniques.

This clay unit focuses on the basics of working with clay. Your students will learn about building with pinch pots, coils, sculpting, and glazing and painting clay. These projects use low-fire clay and include glaze and paint options for finishing projects.

You get 7 projects, 1 per grade level in kindergarten through 5th grade with one bonus holiday project suitable for any grade level.

In addition to resources for students, this pack also includes resources for teachers to help walk them through the process of introducing clay in the classroom even if they have zero experience. This unit is from a former elementary art teacher with over 30 years of experience teaching clay in an elementary art classroom.

All in all this clay unit includes: 

Kindergarten Art, Clay Flowerpot Project

All in all this lesson includes: 

• Lesson plan (including essential questions, objectives, vocabulary, cross-curricular and national standards, step-by-step instructions, and so much more)
• Teacher notes (with tips on setup and implementation)
• Project template
• Step-by-step guide handout
• 2 PowerPoints to introduce steps and display goals for the day
• Early finisher activity
• Project checklist

1st Grade Art, Clay Coil Bowl Project

All in all this lesson includes: 

· Lesson plan (including essential questions, objectives, vocabulary, cross-curricular and national standards, step-by-step instructions, and so much more)

· Teacher notes (with tips on setup and implementation)

· Bowl template

· Step-by-step handout

· Coil design reference guide

· PowerPoint (to visually show steps and project information)

· Crazy lines face early finisher

· Project checklist

2nd Grade Art, Clay Coil Picture Frame Project:

All in all this lesson includes: 

· Lesson plan (including essential questions, objectives, vocabulary, cross-curricular and national standards, step-by-step instructions, and so much more)

· Teacher notes (with tips on setup and implementation)

· Frame template

· Photo template

· Step-by-step handout

· Coil design reference guide

· PowerPoint to introduce steps and display goals for the day

· Crazy lines frame early finisher

· Project checklist

3rd Grade Art, Coil Top Pinch Pot Clay Project

All in all this lesson includes: 

· Lesson plan (including essential questions, objectives, vocabulary, cross-curricular and national standards, step-by-step instructions, and so much more)

· Teacher notes (with tips on setup and implementation)

· Cube Template

· Step-by-step handout

· Coil design reference guide

· 2 PowerPoints to introduce steps and display goals for the day

· Crazy lines pot early finisher

· Project checklist

4th Grade Art, Clay Pinch Pot Person

All in all this lesson includes: 

· Lesson plan (including essential questions, objectives, vocabulary, cross-curricular and national standards, step-by-step instructions, and so much more)

· Teacher notes (with tips on setup and implementation)

· Cube Template

· Step-by-step art project handout

· Step-by-step clay facial features handout

· 3 PowerPoints to introduce steps and display goals for the day

· Crazy lines face early finisher

· Project checklist

· Critique reflection and activity

5th Grade Art, Clay Choice Animal Shelf Sitter Project

All in all this lesson includes: 

· Lesson plan (including essential questions, objectives, vocabulary, cross-curricular and national standards, step-by-step instructions, and so much more)

· Teacher notes (with tips on setup and implementation)

· Pinch Pot Template

· Step-by-step art project handout

· Step-by-step clay hollow form handout

· 3 PowerPoints to introduce steps and display goals for the day

· Crazy lines face early finisher activity

· Project checklist

· Critique reflection and activity

Bonus Art Lesson, Clay Snowman Project

All in all this lesson includes: 

· Lesson plan (including essential questions, objectives, vocabulary, cross-curricular and national standards, step-by-step instructions, and so much more)

· Clay snowman template

· Step-by-step handout

· Who is your snowman information sheet

· Decoration ideas

· Snowman design sheet

· 3 PowerPoints to introduce steps and display goals for the day

· Project checklist

· Teacher tips and notes

· Sneezy the Snowman bulletin board printables to display finished projects.

Do you have access to a kiln? Check out a standard clay + glazing project unit here. 

Check out more elementary products below:

· Autumn leaf painting

· Kindergarten through 5th grade Europe lesson

· Early finishers fish handout 

· Kindergarten fish monoprint project

· Under the sea early finisher activity

· Op art squiggles

· Face vase handout

· Wacky Warhol activity

· Moody landscape activity

· Draped coil bowl

✳Check out my other products here.

This product was created in collaboration with my amazing, wonderful mother, Anne Ward. She is a retired elementary art teacher of over 30 years. She has a wealth of knowledge in the art education field and still teaches private lessons, and summer sessions, and acts as a resource for her former school county. My mom is the reason I became an art educator and now I am so excited to team up with her so she can help inspire other art teachers!

Short: Elementary clay curriculum for kindergarten through 5th-grade art classes. 7 clay projects are included, everything you need to teach clay in elementary.