This project will give K–5 students meaningful access to three-dimensional artmaking through air-dry clay and sculpture. Students will use clay to create expressive, durable artworks that communicate identity, culture, imagination, and personal stories.
Many students have limited opportunities to work with clay or build in three dimensions. This project provides a tactile, inclusive learning experience that supports sensory exploration, fine-motor development, spatial reasoning, and creative expression. It aligns with Florida Visual Arts standards for creating, refining, and presenting artwork; using art vocabulary; and connecting art to personal and cultural experience.
The project supports district priorities related to whole-child learning, student voice, engagement, and culturally responsive instruction.
Students will investigate how artists use clay and sculpture to tell stories. They will learn foundational techniques such as pinch, coil, slab, scoring, slipping, joining, texture-making, and surface design.
Primary students will create small imaginative creatures or “kindness bowls” that connect art to social-emotional learning. Intermediate students will design symbolic relief tiles or narrative sculptures inspired by a personal memory, a local environmental theme, or an artist/culture studied in class. Students will plan with sketches, participate in demonstrations and collaborative critique, and write a short artist statement describing their ideas and processes.
Students will develop stronger fine-motor skills, spatial awareness, persistence, and confidence in expressing original ideas. The project particularly benefits students who communicate most effectively through hands-on and visual learning experiences.
Success will be demonstrated through completed sculptures, process photographs, student artist statements, and teacher rubrics measuring planning, use of clay techniques, craftsmanship, and reflection. At least 85% of students will successfully use two or more clay-building techniques and explain how their artwork communicates an idea.
Grant funds will provide clay, tools, work surfaces, paint, sealer, and storage materials for approximately 600 K–5 students to participate in hands-on sculpture experiences. Air-dry clay makes clay instruction possible without requiring a kiln, while tools and modeling mats allow students to safely practice foundational building techniques such as pinch, coil, slab, scoring, and joining. Paint and sealer will enable students to finish and preserve their work, and storage containers will protect works in progress between classes. Each item directly supports students’ development of fine-motor skills, spatial reasoning, persistence, creative expression, and ability to communicate a personal or cultural story through three-dimensional art.
486
Air-dry clay, 25-lb boxes (x6)
174
Clay tools, classroom set (x2)
58
Acrylic paint, assorted classroom packs (x2)
54
Paintbrushes, assorted classroom packs (x2)
38
Clear acrylic sealer, bottles (x6)
48
Modeling mats/nonstick work surfaces, class set
64
Plastic storage containers set for works in progress
