My grade 2’s made the cutest clay birds. 

We used earthenware clay which was unfortunately never fired.  Had it been fired the beads would have run so beautifully down the figures.

We started in my usual favourite way by looking at photos stored in a file from the internet and discussing them.  The different parts of the bird – what makes it look like a bird and not another animal.

I encouraged my children to create fantasy birds.  This ment the birds had to have all the parts which identified them as birds but simultaneously freed the children from making mistakes.  A fantasy bird can be a square shape, have fluffy feet and a skew beak!

All smiles.  Even the most difficult of children usually love to create something from clay.  It’s just a magical medium to work with.