15 Feb How to Make a Clay Model of a Pear

“How are you going to teach clay modelling to your kids?” my friend asked me, somewhat incredulously.

“I’m not.” I replied, confusing her even further. I knew she was asking me because I had no experience with clay modelling. But what you’ll soon learn (if you haven’t already), is that you don’t teach much of anything in homeschool. Children learn on their own, if you can just provide them with what they need. I’ve seen this over and over and over again, and it’s so beautiful to see. And so far, it’s exactly what I am seeing in our little clay modelling adventure.

When the time presents itself to do clay modelling, my daughter sets everything up. She saw what we needed on the very first day of clay modelling, so she simply emulated that. She then reads the instructions in the book and proceeds to follow the instructions. This week she made a clay model of a pear.

Materials Needed

• The book, A Manual of Clay Modelling by Hermione Unwin (or free online HERE)
• Modeling Clay (the book suggests red terra cotta clay)
• Clay modeling tools (this kit includes many tools, along with a sponge and wire to cut the clay)
• An modelling board with an armature – hopefully you’ve made this with us already
• A bowl of water.
• An apron or paint shirt to protect your clothing
• Newspaper, or plastic covering to protect your table
• A pear

Happy Handicrafts Video: How to Make a Clay Model of a Pear

The results speak for themselves. Wouldn’t you agree? I usually watch in awe as the shape of the model emerges under my daughter’s fingers. Even when I want to interject and point out a weird lump or indentation, I’m learning to keep quiet and allow her to work through the process. It’s a thing of beauty to watch.

“Self-education is the only possible education; the rest is mere veneer laid on the surface of a child’s nature.”

(Charlotte Mason, Towards a Philosophy of Education, Volume 6)

Time and time again, Charlotte Mason’s philosophies have proven to be right.

Now that we are getting deeper into the process, we are able to answer our own questions. A big one was “Why do we need a modelling board with an armature?” The modelling board itself is a great way to contain the mess that comes with clay. A quick rinse of the board and tools upon completion and you mostly done your cleanup. The armature holds your clay in place and allows you to remove all unsightly fingerprints with just a little water.

It’s not too late to join us in our clay modelling series! We publish everything on our YouTube channel, Happy Handicrafts. Even if you aren’t excited about clay modelling, you can look at the Playlists and see what other handicraft would be of interest to you or your family. We make these videos to take the pressure off of homeschool moms, who already have so much on their plates.

If you’d like to start from the beginning of our clay modelling series, I’d suggest An Introduction to the Handicraft of Clay Modelling to give you the WHY. We then help you through building a modelling board with an armature, and then on to each model in the book. Don’t be intimidated (like we were!). We’re here to walk you through every step. Come join us!