Creating with Clay: Realistic-Looking Ceramic Leaf Plates for Grades 3 & Up

Kids of all ages LOVE working with clay! This easy ceramics project is perfect for grades 3 and up, or for younger students with some assistance. Elementary-aged kids (and adults!) enjoy creating these ceramic leaves which are beautiful when painted or glazed with fall colors or shades of green. It’s amazing how realistic they look! This is a perfect clay project for spring or fall. These ceramic leaves make great gifts for any holiday and will become treasured keepsakes.

Students will learn and practice several techniques that are key to working with clay as they make their ceramic leaves. They will roll out their slab, add texture, trace and cut around their leaf or pattern, properly recycle or store their extra pieces of clay, score and slip to attach their stem to the leaf’s edge for strength and smooth the edges of their leaf. Then students will raise the edges slightly to allow for warp-resistant drying.

Photos of each step accompany my instructions for your use as you demonstrate or create your sample. Or, print them out to project with a document camera or hand them out for students to follow along. I also include a handy 1-page summary of steps that you can print out and follow, just like you would a recipe in your kitchen.

Then, I suggest different glaze treatments along with photos of student examples.

I also explain how to use air-dry clay if you don’t have a kiln, what its limitations are, and when air-dry clay should not be used. 

This 30 page PDF digital file Includes:

• The secret for making beautiful ceramic leaves that look realistic
  
• The tools and supplies you’ll need 

• What to do if you don’t have a kiln
  
• How to make a slab with uniform thickness, step by step with text and photos

• How to make slip, step-by-step with text and photos

• How to score and slip your clay when attaching pieces so they will stay where you put them 

• Step-by-step instructions for making leaf plates, with photos of each step
  
• How to glaze your leaf plates, with photos and instructions for different options

• How to use a template if you’re not able to use a real leaf

• How to enlarge or reduce your template

• 10 leaf templates, plus 1 blank template to use with your own leaf rubbing

• 1-page summary of "how-to" steps to print out and have handy while you’re demonstrating or for student reference - just like following a recipe!

• Lots of tips for success throughout 
  

I was an Art major in college with an emphasis in Ceramics, and I hold a K-12 teaching credential in Art. I've taught ceramics in grades K-8 as well as in adult education programs and to disabled adults at our community college. I create all of my “Creating with Clay” resources for teachers who may not have a lot of ceramics experience. I share plenty of photos, detailed explanations, and helpful tips so you can teach with confidence and be successful with each project.

Are you new to working with clay? If so, check out my resource, "Creating with Clay: Tools, Techniques, & Tips for Success” for all the basics to get you set up for a successful teaching experience with clay! Whether you’re new to teaching ceramics or you’ve been using clay with your students for a while, you’re sure to find plenty of tips in this pdf to help your students experience success, and to help YOU enjoy teaching with clay! (Follow me on TPT for more clay projects coming soon!)

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Cheryl Trowbridge is the founder of Teach Kids Art, a website for anyone who wants to share the JOY of ART with the kids in their life! Visit www.TeachKidsArt.net for more K-8 Art lesson plans, tips, and inspiration. And while you’re there, sign up for my email list to receive my “Tip of the Month” plus my FREE download: “5 Fun Art Activities Kids Can do with a Pencil & Paper”.