📖

Flat Clay Shapes

Playing with Clay

Day 34of 180
Week 7of 36
20Minutes
← Day 33Day 34 of 180Day 35
🖨️ Download Worksheet (PDF)

Learning Objectives

1

Learn to flatten clay into a smooth surface

2

Use hands and tools to create simple geometric shapes

3

Develop fine motor skills through clay manipulation

Genesis 2:7

Yahweh God formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

Genesis 2:7 (WEB)

Just as God carefully formed humans, children will learn to shape and form clay with intention and care

📦 Materials Needed

  • Modeling clay
  • Clay mat or work surface
  • Optional clay tools or plastic knife
  • Flat surface for working

Lesson Plan

1Opening (3 min)

Today's BibleMouse lesson continues our clay exploration! Yesterday we made clay balls, and now we'll learn how to flatten our clay.

💭 Review Question: Can you show me how you rolled clay into a ball yesterday?
2Teaching (7 min)

Let's learn how to make our clay flat like a pancake! We'll use our hands to press and smooth the clay.

📌 Key Talking Points:
  • Press clay down with flat hands
  • Smooth out bumps and lumps
  • Use gentle, even pressure
💬 Discussion Questions:
  • What shapes can we make when the clay is flat?
  • How does the clay feel when you press it?
3Activity: Flat Shape Creations (8 min)
hands-on

Children will flatten clay and create simple shapes using hands or tools

📝 Instructions:
  1. Take a small piece of clay
  2. Press clay flat on work surface
  3. Use hands or tool to cut out simple shapes like circles, triangles, or squares
🔄 Variations:

Simpler: Parent helps child flatten and cut shapes

Challenge: Try creating more complex shapes or layering shapes

4Closing (3 min)

Let's look at the wonderful shapes we created today!

📝 Review Questions:
  • What shape did you make?
  • How did you flatten your clay?

Coming up: Tomorrow we'll create our very own clay sculpture using everything we've learned!

Teaching Notes

📚 Background:

Clay work helps develop hand strength and fine motor skills

💡 Teaching Tips:
  • Use gentle guidance when helping child flatten clay
  • Praise effort over perfect results
  • Allow child to explore and experiment
🤔 Common Struggles:

Young children might find it challenging to flatten clay evenly

👀 Signs of Understanding:

Increasing control and intentionality in clay manipulation

Extension Activities

  • Trace shapes onto flattened clay
  • Create a simple clay picture frame
  • Use BibleMouse Printables Library shape tracing worksheets

Ready for Tomorrow?

Great job completing today's lesson!

Continue to Day 35Back to Art