At Little Elms, we've started exploring Christmas. We have been looking at different decorations as well as making our own Christmas tree.

It was suggested by one of the children that we could make some stars to hang on our Christmas tree. 

So that is what we did. 

First we had to find a cutter that was in the shape of a star. After a look around Little Elms, we discovered one. 

Next we got out the clay and used a cutter to cut the clay. A grown up had to help as it was tricky for us. 

Once we found the cutter, we used rolling pins to roll out our clay. We enjoyed rolling out the clay but it was hard work. 

After we had rolled out our clay, we then used our star shaped cutter to press out the stars. We had to push the cutter into the clay to make a star.

 Once we had pushed the cutter into the clay, a star shape was made. 

We then thought about how we wanted to decorate them and decided we wanted to put glitter onto them. 

We chose lots of different colours and enjoyed sprinkling glitter on, to make our starts really sparkly, just like real stars in the sky. 

Once they were dry they looked really twinkly. Instead of hanging them on our tree at Little Elms, we have decided to give them to our friends at Heaton House as a Christmas present. 

We can't wait to see their faces when they open them! 

Today we explored clay as a way of developing confidence in creating something unique and spontaneous. 

The children were provided with a chunk of clay each with a wide variety of natural and open ended resources and given the freedom to create. 

Initially some of the children were tentative, and immediately recognised how cold it was which seemed to take them by surprise. 

Some, however, enjoyed the anticipation that exploring a large portion of clay could bring. 

“It is very soft” a child announced as he pinched the clay between his finger tips. 

“It isn’t soft it is really hard, I can’t nearly roll mine!”

The exchange of observational language from the children was quite spontaneous and throughout the experimentation of the clay children’s language was minimal but relevant to their individual discoveries. 

“I’m making holes”

One of the children fully immersed himself in the experience and spent the entire morning session collecting self chosen resources that he used to create different patterns in his evolving creation. He knew where to find specific resources that he wanted to use and although the experience was intended to be open ended with no specific agenda, he obviously had his own that occupied his mind for an extended period of time. 

Providing freedom for children to explore making marks and challenging themselves to try new things develops an inner confidence that will ooze from them in other areas of their being. Understanding their own boundaries, pushing themselves to explore the unknown and try new ways of approaching things, opens their minds to a new way of thinking. 

The children’s fascination was evident as they created patterns using different types of resources. 

As the children manipulated and investigated more, they communicated less as they lost themselves in their own explorations and thought processes. Each child seemed to have their own agenda that was unravelling before them. It was clear to see the enjoyment of their evolving imaginations as they added their self chosen resources. 

“I have made a snowman”

To continue our ‘Creative Me’ experiences our second session has seen the children exploring their individuality through the medium of clay. 

The children used a selection of natural objects, including some they found on the beach, to add features to their clay faces. 

 One child chose to use a crab claw as a nose!

Each child created their own interpretation. 

There was no expectation set for the children to meet so all the children could create what they wanted. 

At Little Elms, we've been exploring clay.  

Today we looked at freely manipulating clay without making a finished product.  

By giving the children freedom to use their own imagination and take ownership of their own creations, we have enabled them to recognise their own ability and confidence in what they can achieve. 

On our ‘Creative Me ‘ Monday sessions at Little Elms, we've been busy exploring Autumn.

This Monday we looked at making autumnal leaf tiles. The children were able to freely explore the clay allowing them to mold the clay however they liked. Many different resources were provided to help them choose how they wanted to shape their clay. Some children enjoyed using a rolling pin to flatten out their clay. Some children enjoyed using their hands to manipulate and shape their clay as well as rolling it into a ball with their hands. 

Autumnal materials were provided to allow them to explore their creativity such as autumn leaves, leaf sequins, beads, red and gold glitter, autumn inspired paints and buttons. Some of the children used leaves to press into the clay while other’s enjoyed pressing buttons, beads and leaf sequins into their creation. 

Some of the children explored paint mixing , using it to decorate their clay.  One of the children discovered that they could mix orange if they mixed red and yellow paint together. They spent the whole morning telling the other children how they had done this. Other children added leaves to their clay and then painted the leaves with different colours.  

This child enjoyed adding paint to their creation. They liked using paint to change the colour of their leaf. 

This child wanted to add little leaves onto their big leaf and recognised that they were turning their brown leaf orange. They also added glitter to make their leaf sparkly and shiny. 

This child enjoyed making holes in her clay using a paintbrush. She liked pressing her paintbrush into the clay and then used paint to fill the holes back in. 

We have all enjoyed exploring clay. I wonder what we'll use clay to make next?