Crayola makes an AIR-DRY CLAY that’s so easy to work with, it’s perfect for making landform models with kids. The clay typically dries in about 48 hours and then it can be finished with acrylic paints. According to Crayola’s directions, the hardened clay can even be carved, although we haven’t tried that. Sounds cool though!
I’ve always been a teacher who believes art should be an integral part of our weekly lessons. We miss a large portion of our children when we dismiss creative activities and say, “There just isn’t time for art.” There are too many benefits to ignore. When we observe kids being creative, we get to notice important things like:
- What makes this child’s thought process unique?
- Are there any examples of out-of-the-box thinking?
- Do I notice any fine motor or OT needs, such as grip, poor hand strength, or lack of stamina?
MAKING LANDFORM MODELS
In the example of making landform models, the added benefit is that the art becomes a tangible way for you to observe what kids understand about the physical features of landforms.
For me, there’s a difference between art lessons that are solely for the purpose of exploring creative possibilities and art that supports science standards. When one of our science lessons includes artwork, we generally work with realism in mind, meaning hills tend to be green, not purple, and oceans are larger than lakes.
And, sadly, as much as I LOVE glitter, there’s really no place for it on our islands and volcanoes. Although I did have a child once say that snow sparkles in the sunlight, so maybe on top of a snow-capped mountain or a sunny glacial flow?😉
The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) support this activity, so grab your clay and paints and get started!
- NGSS 2-ESS2-2👉 Develop a model to represent the shapes and kinds of land and bodies of water in an area.
LANDFORMS KIDS CAN EAT
In a previous blog post, I shared examples of landform models kids can make AND eat. Each snack starts with a graham cracker and a thin layer of frosting. Then we use tiny crackers and candies to represent landforms such as hills, mountains, islands, and deserts. They’re so simple to make! You can see more photos in this post👉 ACTIVITIES FOR LANDFORMS.
Happy teaching!
