Cookie Cutter Ceramic Bowls

This is a clay project I did a while back when I taught a clay hand-building course 

to a class of 6 and 7 year olds. This was one of the final projects we did and I have to say it was quite challenging for them but overall, they did a great job!  I found the idea for the lesson here on the Bryn Mawr school website in Baltimore. You can see their lovely finished examples on their website; unfortunately I didn't get any finished pics of my kids final glazed pieces.

So what you essentially need for this project is:

an assortment of cookie cutters, rolling pins, molds to make bowls (sturdy paper plate bowls work great)

Roll out the clay so it's about 1/4" thick. For my young students, I have them hold up their thumbs and tell them the clay can't be any thinner than their thumb, or it will crack and break as it dries.

Then, punch out some shapes using a cookie cutter. Lay these inside the bowl mold 

(we used a bunch of bisque fired bowls we have specifically for making handmade bowls, but a paper plate bowl works well also.) Slightly overlap each shape and carefully 'scratch and attach' using water (I never use slip- plain water works just as well) and a fork or toothbrush. Smooth out any rough edges with your finger and a bit of water. Keep overlapping and filling the bowl shape until you have the size you want. 

Let these dry slowly in the mold until leather hard, remove from the mold (a couple days later), let dry another few days or so, bisque fire, then paint them or glaze them. 

They make lovely little decorative bowls!