Ceramic art projects are always a hit with kids! Even if you are not a professional ceramic artist or teacher, this post is for you! From simple flower clay pinch pots to complex double-pot sculptures, we love this list of creative pinch pot ideas you can make with kids.
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Why You Will Love Our Clay Ideas
KID FRIENDLY – Even the youngest children can make these fun pot shapes with some adult assistance.
NO NEED TO ATTACH CLAY – You only need a small amount of clay to build these basic pinch pot crafts.
CAN MODIFY SUPPLIES – Most of our clay projects can also be built with air dry clay.
Pinch pots are the perfect beginner clay build for children and adults alike. They are a great way to understand how to form clay for the first time. Pinch pots (sometimes known as thumb pots) are also one of the primary clay-building techniques used when making ceramic projects.
An easy way to teach different hand-building techniques is to combine pinch pot techniques with other clay-building ideas.
Other clay techniques to consider adding to pinch pots:
slab building
combining double pinch pots
adding a coil of clay to create new ideas.
Have fun exploring a pinch pot method and create all sorts of DIY gifts.
TIP: Remind children to pinch to the bottom of the clay and not only the top. A common problem is that children pinch the top clay wall, not the bottom. The goal should be to make the walls as even as possible.
Ceramic pinch pots are a great lesson plan for kids, whether as a stand-alone project or as a structural base for new builds (like one of these clay animal ideas). Here are nine clay art lesson plans that have been very successful with our students over the years.
12 Cute Clay Pinch Pot Ideas
1
Pinch Pot Ceramic Flower
This easy pinch pot idea is perfect for beginners and young children. Kids will love creating their own clay flower pinch pot cup. This clay project can be a perfect Mother's Day gift. A limited skill level is needed for this small pinch pot. Even if they make a few mistakes with their pinch pots, they still end up with a cute clay flower art project. Follow the step-by-step instructions to create a fun clay keepsake.
These heart pinch pots are a fun and easy clay build for children. You can even make these with air dry clay and acrylic paint. Kids will love giving the gift of love.
This clay turtle art project is a simple clay build for children. Create a fun sea turtle or regular turtle using a pinch pot technique and then just flip it over. Kids can create a regular tortoise or sea turtle. We think this is a great clay art project for kids in 2nd grade and older if done with a large class since you will have to attach some turtle body details.
This simple clay owl build can be done in about 30 minutes. 2nd-grade students and above will love adding their own unique details to this easy ceramic owl project. This project works really well as the first lesson on how to attach clay together. If they don't do it well, they will always remember when their owl eyeball fell off. Don't worry though, you can always hot glue the eye or wing back on at the end.
This more advanced pinch pot project is great for kids to complete after they have done a ceramic project like the owl listed above. The body is created by attaching two pinch pots together to form a hollow shape. We have had great success with 3rd-grade students and older. Have students create 3 sketches and use their imagination to think about what they can add to this double pinch pot project.
This fun ceramic monster project is great for kids ages 7 and up. Children will love sharing their creativity by making their own pinch pot monsters. Each child will be able to add their own monster details to showcase their personality. This non-cookie cutter project will yield all sorts of awesome and unique clay projects from your students.
This classic ceramic lesson is perfect for kids of all ages. Start with a simple pinch pot and then add coils to finish the vase or design. Teach children how to build a simple “snail” coil to add a little more interest to their ceramic pieces.
We love using an elephant as inspiration, but any animal could work for these clay animals. Encourage kids to research animals, sketch and decide how to build off a pinch pot base to create a unique clay project. Kids can design a pinch pot animal based on their own ideas. This clay project encourages students to think like artists and plan their final shape accordingly.
You can even make pinch pots at home with air dry clay. The littlest ones will enjoy learning this simple ceramic technique. Add your own little drawings in these fun keepsakes.
This will depend on who is making the pinch pot. It is best to start with a small clay ball that will fit in your hand when making a pinch pot. This is the easiest way for children to create their own clay pot.
Ceramic pinch pots are a great lesson plan for kids, whether as a stand-alone project or a structural base for new builds. We hope these pinch pot ideas inspired you and your kiddos to create incredible clay sculptures.
As a former art teacher, artist and mom, Erin knows how important expressing your creativity is. Even the youngest children can enjoy the process of artmaking with their families.
