Birdhouses

I beagan making birdhouses with my first graders about 5 years ago. In kindergarten I teach them how to make a pinch pot, how to make slabs, and how to make coils. In beginning first grade, they learn how to slip and score. We also make paper castles in the first semester of first grade. I teach them how to make a cylinder and a cone. All of this helps them to use clay skills to make a basic birdhouse and then use art elements to add to it. 

On birdhouse day I make 50 lumps of clay and run them through the slab roller before the students get to art. I used to have them bring me their lump and I would roll it while they watched how it worked. Our art time has been shortened to 50 minutes, so I try to have everything ready. 

I start the class by giving students a piece of clay and have them roll it into a ball. They then flatten it into a hamburger and lay it aside. I remind them the rule about clay: the more you touch it, the drier it gets. 

Next, I give students a paper rectangle (4X14), a plastic knife, and a texture plate. They lay the paper on the slab and cut around it and then add texture if they so desire! While they are doing this, I go around and roll out the hamburger to a pancake, this will be the bottom of their birdhouse. I also pass out slip and pringles cans. When everyone is finished, all at once, we flip over our slabs of clay. 

I show the students how to wrap the paper around the pringles can so it will slip off easily. I pass out tape (putting it on the ends of table so they can get it when they are ready). Then I show them how to roll the slab onto the paper, smush the end on (we do not slip and score that part), and then slip the cylinder off of the can. Again, I pick up materials they are finished with (texture plates and knives) and I pass out plastic bottle tops. I show them how to hold a hand on the inside of the cylinder and "cookie cutter" the plastic bottle top through to make the hole. Students add slip to their pancake slab and lay the cylinder on top. They use the plastic knife to cut the extra clay off. Every year I have students who try to cut the pancake first....I make it a point to emphasize, "put the cylinder ontop and then cut". 

 

 

And then....tada! It's a basic birdhouse! At this point, they will still have about 15 minutes to add extras to their house. I have lots of example houses for them to look at. I also remind them to slip everything on or it will fall off as it dries. I also give them pencils to add extra line or texture. This is the most creative part of the process. My favorite art projects for my students are the kind that teach skill and still allow creativity. Next time I will show how we make the roof!