4th Grade Clay

Native American Shield

• When clay is wet, it is easy to mold & form. Clay can feel cold to the touch because it contains water.

• As it dries the water in the clay evaporates & the clay hardens. We call this stage of a project greenware. At first greenware will feel cold to the touch, but as the water evaporates that coolness dispates. When it feels more like room temperature leather to the touch it is called "bone dry." Our projects will be bone dry in about a week.

Clay is made of very fine particles of decomposed rock that stick together. Native Americans dug clay from the earth & used it to make pots, plates & other useful items.

• A kiln is a special oven that heats to very high temperatures. Firing is the term for heating the clay in the kiln.

• Our kiln slowly heats up to almost 2000 degrees Fahrenheit. Heating slowly allows the water to evaporate over time so our clay doesn't shatter.

• It takes 48 hours in our kiln to transform greenware into bisque or bisqueware (clay that has been fired).

The Kiln

Today we will use clay to create a Native American dream catcher, war shield or medicine shield.

Examples of completed projectsFired, glazed and unadorned project

Native American Dream Catchers:

The traditional dream catcher was intended to protect a sleeping

child from nightmares & bad dreams, while

letting positive dreams through.

Native American War Shields:

Carried on the arm to deflect dangerous objects

(rocks, arrows, spears). NO GUNS

Medicine Shields:

Sacred object decorated with symbolic designs used

for spiritual, rather than physical protection.

PictographA pictorial (picture) symbol for a word or phrase

Use pictographs to tell a short story on your shield or dream catcher

Ideas:• a large pictograph in the center with

design or symbols around it• a pictograph story laid out in a

spiral, circle or left to right

Note:Glaze will happen after the first firing.Embellishments like hanging rope and beads will be added after glazed and fired a second time.

Instructions • Roll out clay to 1/4 inch thick. • Roughly trace around the circle (or other shape) template. • Cut out the shape on the traced line using the skewer. • Write your name on the back of the shield with the skewer. • Use your finger to create the edge of your shield:

wavy, pinched, jagged, smooth, ripped, cut, etc. (Not too thin)• Use pictographs or create your own symbols to…• Write your pictograph story on scratch paper. Meanwhile…• Adults will punch holes for hanging & embellishment. • Use the bamboo skewer to etch your pictograph story into the clay – deep

enough, but no more than halfway.• Gently brush off any crumbs as you work.

Possible Edging Details

Pinched (bottom left)

Cut (top right)

Manipulated/wavy (bottom right)

Combination(top left)