Incentive Create colourful minibeasts on leaves out of modelling clay -Line-Shape-Space-Colour-Texture-Form Supplies Clay board or plastic place mat Plastic wrap to cover board if it is not plastic Small rolling pin (plastic is best) Zig zag edged scissors Coloured soft modelling clay Skewer wooden stick or something with a point (can use sharpened pencil) Lesson 1 Children will need a board or place mat of some type so as not to damage desks. Cover board or place mat with plastic wrap if it is not already plastic. This helps to peel off clay when it is rolled out. 2 Roll a piece of green modelling clay in hands to make it pliable and soft. Size will depend on availability of clay and age of children. Younger children require larger amounts as it will be easier for them to work with. Roll clay into a ball and place on board. 3 Use a rolling pin to roll out the shape of a leaf. Children may need to manipulate shape further using their fingers. We used a pair of zig zag edged scissors to trim edges of dark green leaf shown in samples. 4 Mark each leaf with leaf veins using the skewer or sharp pencil. 5 Next begin minibeast with contrasting modelling clay colours to leaf. They don’t need to be the real colours of the minibeast. Encourage children to stick to main body parts. We have supplied some simple outlines as examples of keeping it simple. Minibeast legs are thin and difficult to work with so possibly, skip this part…especially with younger children. ** Children will need to make minibeast slightly smaller than the leaf they made. 6 When minibeast has been sculpted, place on top of leaf. These can be displayed around the room on a flat surface. Or each child can be photographed with their creation to write about later. Similarly, the artwork itself can be photographed and added to the child’s art journal or displayed.
