Kids Need Clay

Impressive work from students in the high school gallery at . Wow!

Congratulations to the winner of our lesson plan contest and a new KMT-1022 kiln: Grace Gihm from Semiahmoo Secondary School in British Columbia, Canada.

We’re so excited for the entire school community who rallied to win this kiln!

🐦 Class Whistle: Bird Ocarina 🐦
Students design and build a small clay ocarina inspired by bird forms. Using pinch-pot construction, they create a sealed air chamber, carve a windway and sound window, and test their instrument by adjusting airflow and finger holes. This STEAM-focused project blends ceramics, sculpture, and sound while building craftsmanship, problem-solving, and perseverance.

Created by Grace Gihm, a high school art teacher at Semiahmoo Secondary School in British Columbia, Canada, who has spent 18 years inspiring students through hands-on artmaking and joyful learning in the studio.

💬 Vote for this lesson plan by leaving a comment telling us what you love about this project or why kids need clay.

🔗 Contest details + all lesson plans at the link below.
https://skutt.com/kidsneedclay/learn-create/lesson-plan-contest/

We’ll share the winner of the kiln this Tuesday, March 24th, at noon. A huge thanks to everyone who participated!

🏺 Roberto Lugo–Inspired Portrait Pots 🏺

Students explore coil-building and contemporary ceramics while reflecting on identity, influence, and personal history. Inspired by artist Roberto Lugo, students create vertically constructed coil pots featuring portraits, symbols, text, and imagery honoring influential people in their lives. This project builds advanced handbuilding and surface design skills while encouraging storytelling, self-reflection, and cultural awareness through clay.

Amy Shapiro teaches high school ceramics and is passionate about helping students use clay as a voice for personal expression. Having worked with clay since childhood, Amy brings deep technical knowledge and a love of contemporary ceramic art into the classroom—guiding students through complex processes with intention and care.

💬 Vote for this lesson plan! Leave a comment sharing what you love about this project.
🔗 Contest details + all lesson plans at the link: https://skutt.com/kidsneedclay/learn-create/lesson-plan-contest/

🌀 Coil Heritage Vessel 🌀

Students explore traditional coil-building while reflecting on personal identity through a heritage-inspired vessel. After researching their cultural, ethnic, or ancestral background, students design and build a coil-constructed form that incorporates meaningful symbols, textures, patterns, or motifs. This project strengthens handbuilding skills while encouraging storytelling, cultural awareness, and pride through clay.

Michele Banks teaches high school visual arts at The Independent School in Wichita, Kansas. Teaching is a second career for Michele, and ceramics is a favorite—her pottery classes are always full of enthusiastic potters eager to explore technique and meaning.

💬 Vote for this lesson plan! Leave a comment sharing what you love about this lesson plan.
🔗 Contest details + all lesson plans at the link: https://skutt.com/kidsneedclay/learn-create/submit-lesson-plan/

🏗️ Built to Succeed: A Pinch + Coil Approach 🏗️

Students build confidence and construction skills by combining pinch and coil techniques in this scaffolded ceramics project. Beginning with a solid pinch pot base, students add coils using repetition, compression, and thoughtful design to create a stable vessel. The process helps beginners experience success while developing strong handbuilding habits.

Melanie Rasmussen teaches high school ceramics at Ellet CLC in Akron, Ohio, and has over 30 years of experience in Akron Public Schools. Her teaching centers on simple, structured processes that empower students to see themselves as capable artists.

💬 Vote for this lesson plan! Leave a comment telling us what you love about this lesson plan.

🔗 Contest details + all lesson plans at the link: https://skutt.com/kidsneedclay/learn-create/submit-lesson-plan/

🚪 Pottery Portals 🚪

Students create imaginative mini ceramic doors using slab construction and relief techniques, focusing on precision, texture, and storytelling through detail. From tiny coils and hand-sculpted surfaces to carefully attached architectural elements, this project invites students to imagine what—or who—might live just beyond the door. With manageable scale and open-ended design, students build confidence while mastering clean slabs, strong attachments, and thoughtful surface design.

Created by Elizabeth Anderson, who has been teaching high school art in Northeast Wisconsin since 2005. She designs projects that prioritize student success and craftsmanship, helping every learner take genuine pride in their work while leaving plenty of room for creativity and imagination.

💬 Vote for this lesson plan! Leave a comment telling us what you love about this project.

🔗 Contest details + all lesson plans at the link: https://skutt.com/kidsneedclay/learn-create/lesson-plan-contest/

✨ Illuminated Letters ✨

Students explore the rich history of medieval illuminated manuscripts and transform a single letter into a freestanding ceramic sculpture. Using slab construction, texture, and symbolic surface design, each letter becomes a three-dimensional narrative—blending historical inspiration with personal themes, color, and sculptural detail.

Created by Alexis Harper, a painter and ceramic artist who has taught art for 15 years and currently teaches ceramics at Rogers High School. Her classroom centers clay as a creative outlet that supports mental wellness and emphasizes the power of art to build community and personal connection.

💬 Vote for this lesson plan! Leave a comment telling us what you love about this project.
🔗 Contest details + all lesson plans at the link: https://skutt.com/kidsneedclay/learn-create/lesson-plan-contest/