CLAY MODELING


 Clay is one of the most popular
 materials with young children. It
 is pliable and responsive and feels
 good in the hands. In some schools
 the custodian assumes the responsi-
 bility of mixing it. More often the
 teacher must do it, and to save her
 strength and valuable time she can
 use some short cut methods.

 Take a bag such as a flour sack
 or burlap bag and fill it as full as de-
 sired with flour clay. Tie the bag
 with string and suspend it in a pail
 of water. The clay will absorb the
 water overnight and the bag can be
 lifted out and allowed to dry to the
 consistency desired.


 Some schools place a mediul size
 garbage can in each room, which
 keeps clay ready for use at all times.
 The clay can be mixed in the can.
 Put in the clay-flour and water, and
 stir with a good stout stick. Use
 about four times more clay than
 water. Let soak a day or so if pos
 sible. If too wet, leave the lid of
 so the water will evaporate. The clay
 can be formed into good sized balls
 j which can be passed out readily when
 needed.

 Two ways in which older
 school children can mix their own
 clay are: (i) Empty two or three
cups of clay flour into small individual bags, either 5 pound sugar
sacks or small bags made at home from rags, or two paper sacks one
inside of the other. Place on oil cloth or newspaper. Dig a hollow
in the clay and fill with water. The clay will quickly absorb the
water through the cloth. (2.) Empty several cups of clay flour into a
2. pound coffee can. Add a little water gradually and mix by hand.
Repeat until clay is the correct consistency. Clay that is sticky and
clings to the hands is too wet and should have more clay flour added.
Clay that cracks is too dry and needs water.