Pinch Pot Rattle

The after-school art class begins this week.  For the first project we are going to make a rattle out of clay. Ceramic rattles appear throughout history in many different cultures.  They were used (and still are!) as musical instruments and children's toys.

To begin the project, all of the children will receive a baseball-size lump of clay that they will need to break into three pieces.  The easiest way to get kids to make the pieces round is to have them "clap" with the lump of clay between their two hands.

 

Next, have the children make two pinch pots.  The children should hold a ball of clay in one hand to form the pinch pot.  (If it is formed on the table they will end up with a flat bottomed pot.)  Then, slip and score the lip of both pots.  Here is the magic part - use small bits from the third ball of clay to make round "beads".  Wrap each bead in newspaper and put inside one of the pots.

 

Why put the beads inside paper?  To keep them  from sticking inside of your wet pot!  The paper will burn away during the firing and those little bits will make music.  Carefully put the two pots together, smoothing away the seam.

 

Now the kids have a hollow ball that can be lightly paddled into shape. The clay left over from their third lump can be used to add on features.  I am going to have the kids make an animal head.  For my example, I made an homage to Julius - I am a huge Paul Frank fan!

 

Make sure there the kids poke at least one hole in the rattle to allow air to escape.  

I am  looking forward to seeing what the kids come up with.  I'll post pictures of their work in progress.